Mastercard Sponsoring Late-Night Metro For MLB All-Star Events

MLB sponsor Mastercard has agreed to sponsor late-night Metro rail service in DC during next month’s MLB All-Star Game events, a move that seeks to alleviate concerns about the transit system’s operating hours during the event. The deal will involve keeping the Metro system open as late as 12:48am ET, or 30 minutes after the completion of the July 16 Home Run Derby and July 17 All-Star Game, whichever is later. The move follows similar corporate-sponsored Metro extensions during the Capitals’ recent Stanley Cup run and other major sports events in DC.

The cost to extend Metro beyond its regular 11:30pm weeknight closing time typically is $100,000 per hour, with that deposit often refunded if the rail service is profitable during the extended service window. MLB and Metro are also producing for the upcoming event 200,000 SmarTrip cards for Metro service featuring All-Star Week designs.