What to know about the MLB All-Star Game in Arlington
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All-Star Week kicks off today with the HBCU Swingman Classic. Photo: Chris Torres/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Arlington, Texas, is hosting the MLB All-Star Game next week for the first time in nearly 30 years, and the dayslong event is expected to bring nearly $90 million into the city.
Why it matters: The All-Star Game and surrounding events give even the most casual baseball fans a chance to see the best in the game.
State of play: The All-Star break is the midpoint in the grueling 162-game baseball season and gives teams a chance to take a breather.
- The reigning World Series champions — and hosts of this year's game — might most be in need of a reset. The Texas Rangers have a losing record and are third in their division.
The latest: The MLB All-Star Week starts Friday in Arlington with the HBCU Swingman Classic, which showcases athletes from historically Black schools. The event will also feature a battle of the marching bands between Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University.
- The game starts at 7pm at Globe Life Field. Tickets start at $15.
Context: The All-Star Village will open Saturday inside Choctaw Stadium, the former home of the Rangers. There will be events and autograph opportunities inside the village all weekend.
- The activities and events leading to Tuesday's All-Star Game are drawing enough visitors to bring at least $85 million in economic impacts, per the Fort Worth Report.
Flashback: Arlington last hosted the MLB All-Star Game in 1995, a year after the city opened the Ballpark in Arlington.
- The American League, where the Texas Rangers play, lost that game 3-2.
Fun fact: Rangers catcher Pudge Rodriguez played in the 1995 All-Star Game. This year he is one of the All-Star ambassadors along with Texas favorites Adrián Beltré and Michael Young.
- Ken Griffey Jr., who also played in the 1995 game, is hosting the Swingman Classic Friday night and helped select the team rosters.
All-Star Saturday: The day's events start with the All-Star Futures Game, which pits the top prospects in the American League against the young talent of the National League. The game starts at 3:10pm at Globe Life Field.
- Beltré will manage the AL team and Young will manage the NL team. Former Ranger Prince Fielder will serve as the batting coach for the AL prospects and former Ranger Ian Kinsler will be bench coach for the NL team.
- The MLB Celebrity All-Star Softball Game follows at 7:45pm. Former Cowboys players Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant are among the players.
Home Run Derby: The Derby is probably the most popular of the All-Star events. Baseball's best sluggers will battle to see who can hit the most homers. The event is 7pm Monday.
- Adolis Garcia of the Rangers will compete against seven others, including Baltimore Oriole Gunnar Henderson, one of the top home-run hitters in the MLB
All-Star Game: The Rangers only have two players on the All-Star roster: second baseman Marcus Semien and pitcher Kirby Yates.
- Park gates open at 4pm Tuesday. The game starts at 7pm. Tickets start at $300.
How to watch: The Swingman Classic, Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game will air on the MLB Network. The Derby will be on ESPN.
- Tuesday's All-Star Game will air on Fox.