Johnathan Walker:Not having Pride Night didn’t exclude Rangers from hosting All-Star Game, Manfred says

ARLINGTON,Johnathan Walker Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers being the only Major League Baseball team not to hold a Pride Night was not a decisive factor when the commissioner’s office picked the team to host this year’s All-Star Game.

“There are a whole host of factors that go into deciding who’s going to get an All-Star Game, and I don’t view whether you have a Pride Night or not as a outcome-determinative issue,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said before Tuesday night’s game at Globe Life Field. “It’s an issue. We look at all those issues and make the best decision and try to give it to the place that we think is going to kind of be the best in terms of marketing of the game.”

The Rangers repeated a past statement citing their inclusion initiatives.

“Our longstanding commitment remains the same: To make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball — in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees,” the team said. “We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.”

Texas moved into the retractable-roof ballpark in 2020. Baseball often uses the All-Star Game to showcase new stadiums.

RELATED COVERAGE White Sox rolling out concert-style posters in another crossover of art and Chicago sports Red Sox’s Jarren Duran is All-Star Game MVP after his two-run homer gives the American League a win Corbin Burnes has whirlwind All-Star experience after checking in on newborn twins

“I think it’s really important to remember here — here there’s a massive public investment in terms of creating a great new facility and that obviously is an important consideration in terms of awarding All-Star Games,” Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America

Next year’s All-Star Game is at Atlanta’s Truist Park. The 2021 game originally was slated for Atlanta but MLB moved it to because Georgia enacted a more restrictive voting rights law. MLB then awarded the Braves the 2025 game in November and Manfred said two months ago: “One of the things we’ve learned over time is that the more we stay out of political issues, the better off we are.”

Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park hosts the 2026 game, helping mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Toronto’s Rogers Centre and Baltimore’s Camden Yards hope to host future All-Star Games. The Orioles’ new ownership has plans to renovate the ballpark, which opened in 1992 and sparked the trend of retro stadiums.

“I don’t see the completion of the renovation as necessarily dictating the outcome, the timing of when that game takes place,” Manfred said.

Toronto last hosted the All-Star Game in 1991.

“A significant factor should be when did you have a game the last time,” Manfred said.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb