UPDATE: MLB moves All-Star game out of Georgia over voting law
Unlike some marquee sports events that come to town — the Super Bowl, for example — the 2021 MLB All-Star game at SunTrust Park will have many tickets available for sale to local fans.
While MLB sponsors and business partners from out of town will gobble up a large number of seats, there will be enough left to accommodate Braves season-ticket holders and some others, according to Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller.
“The All-Star game has traditionally and historically been a very accessible event for fans,” Schiller said.
All Braves season-ticket holders will get an opportunity to purchase tickets, he said. By comparison, only 1,344 Falcons season-ticket holders — the holders of the most expensive personal seat licenses — were guaranteed the right to buy tickets for face value to Super Bowl LIII earlier this year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After accounting for All-Star game ticket sales to Braves season-ticket holders, as well as the tickets allocated for MLB purposes, there will be a limited number available for sale to the general public, Schiller said.
“There are approximately 40,000 seats in SunTrust Park, and after our season-ticket base (is accommodated) and whatever MLB takes as their allocation for VIPs, partners and player families, there will be tickets that become available,” Schiller said. “But clearly the best opportunity to ensure you’ll have access to tickets and other events affiliated with All-Star week is to be a season-ticket holder.
“Our season-ticket holders will certainly have the first and best opportunities toward the tickets.”
Schiller said decisions haven’t been finalized regarding how much the tickets will cost, when they will go on sale and other details. “We are a ways away on that,” he said.
The prices are set by MLB.
The date of the game will be July 13, 2021, MLB spokesman Pat Courtney confirmed.
Tickets for the All-Star game typically are sold in packages that also include tickets to the Futures Game (held two days before the main event), Home Run Derby (one day before) and FanFest.
MLB teams often use hosting the All-Star game as an incentive to drive season-ticket sales or other business.
“It’s … great for the clubs’ business,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “People market off having the All-Star game.”
Fans with and without tickets are likely to fill The Battery Atlanta during All-Star festivities. Manfred expects that energy to create a unique environment for the event.
“I think the biggest thing for the fans is the opportunity to have all this hospitality right alongside the ballpark,” Manfred said. “It will make the celebration that much bigger. All the people come together earlier, stay later, and I think it’s going to be a great few days.”
Atlanta Sports Council president Dan Corso said he expects fans from throughout “Braves Country” to attend the game and festivities.
“We think that the Braves’ appeal and their reach within the Southeast will be a good thing for this event because you’ll have drive-in markets that come in,” Corso said. “We think those Braves fans will be able to experience All-Star week by driving in.”
> RELATED: Braves’ bid chosen over “a list of 10 teams waiting in line for All-Star games.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
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