2027 MLB All-Star Game to be held at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO – With its ivy-covered walls and storied history, Wrigley Field has long been considered one of the crown jewels of baseball. And over the past decade-plus, the Cubs have worked to transform not only the ballclub, but also the neighborhood surrounding the Friendly Confines.

The Cubs already ended a 108-year World Series drought in 2016. Bringing the All-Star Game and all its festivities back to Wrigley Field for the first time since 1990 has also been a consistent goal for the organization. Wait ‘til 2027. The All-Star Game is returning to Chicago.

“It is my honor to award the 2027 All-Star Game to the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Friday from a podium near home plate. “The amazing transformation that has taken place at Wrigley Field and, indeed, Wrigleyville will provide a great setting for one of our most important events.”

Fittingly, the news arrived on Friday morning – ahead of one of the Cubs’ famous 1:20 p.m. afternoon games at Wrigley Field. Major League Baseball and the Cubs announced in a ceremony at the ballpark that the 2027 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard would be played on Tuesday, July 13, amid the week’s celebration and events.

The Phillies are set to host the 2026 All-Star Game in recognition of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Beyond Manfred’s attendance on Friday morning, Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts was on hand, along with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other team executives and state officials. Former Cubs All-Stars and team greats Andre Dawson and Shawon Dunston were also part of the day’s announcement.

“It’s the greatest ballpark in existence. It truly is,” Dawson said. “The city, the fans, they’re all looking forward to it. There’s a lot of work to be done yet, but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be exciting.”

During the game in 1990, Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg – a 10-time All-Star across his Hall of Fame career – was in the starting lineup for the National League, along with Dawson. Dunston, the Cubs’ shortstop at the time, was among the NL’s reserves for that contest. Sandberg also won the Home Run Derby that week.

The news of the All-Star Game’s return to Wrigley Field comes after Sandberg – a Cubs icon revered not only for his play on the field, but his quiet, caring personality off it – passed away on Monday after a battle with cancer. Outside the ballpark, fans have left flowers, hats, photos, notes and other mementos at the base of Sandberg’s statue.

Dunston stopped by the statue on Thursday and stood among some fans who were gathered.

“It’s beautiful. It’s well-deserved,” Dunston said of the tributes. “I walked by yesterday when I came in. I just looked at it – people didn’t recognize me. I just moved out of the way.”

A white ‘23’ was painted into the grass behind the plate in Sandberg’s honor on Friday morning and there was a moment of silence before the All-Star Game announcement.

“It’s especially fitting that we make this announcement as we mourn the loss of Cubs great Ryne Sandberg,” Ricketts said. “Fitting, because Ryne played in 10 All-Star Games. … But of course, all of us who were lucky enough to know Ryne Sandberg, remember him as more than a baseball player, but a friend and a great family man.”

Ricketts told a story of how he lived near Wrigley Field in 1990, but was unable to afford a ticket to the game. Funny enough, one of the morning’s speakers, Chicago Sports Commission executive director Kara Bachman, pulled out an All-Star Game ticket from that day 35 years ago and jokingly offered it to the Cubs chairman.

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong – one of the team’s three All-Stars earlier this year – smiled while looking around the ballpark, envisioning the event in the famous building.

“It’s probably one of the coolest places you could ever do it,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s the best place to do it. I think people love coming to Chicago just to come watch us play, and come out to any sort of series. For an All-Star destination, I think that’s pretty special.”

During the multi-phase renovations of Wrigley Field and areas around the ballpark between 2014-19, the Cubs prioritized maintaining the stadium’s classic look, feel and elements, while modernizing the venue. The Cubs began their process of trying to secure the game again eight years ago, and kept at it after multiple bids.

A key step in landing the All-Star Game was improving security measures around the ballpark, and the Chicago City Council passed a plan in June to help address that component.

“I think the perimeter security program was kind of the last issue that needed to be resolved,” Manfred said. “Hats off to the state of Illinois and the city for working with the Cubs to get it done.”

When the All-Star Game arrives at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets again, it will mark the fourth time that the Cubs have hosted the Midsummer Classic. The North Siders also had the All-Star Game in 1947, ‘62 and ‘90. Wrigley Field will join Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium and old Yankee Stadium in New York as the only ballparks to host a fourth time.

“All Cub fans are very proud of Wrigley Field,” Ricketts said. “And we can’t wait to show fans who have never been here before, what kind of experience this place is, what kind of a special ballpark we have and what an incredible neighborhood we have around Wrigley Field.”