More than $150M has been spent by Dodgers ownership on upgrades to Dodger StadiumGETTY IMAGES
Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten said the team is planning its "next set of upgrades, renovations and additions to Dodger Stadium" in advance of the MLB All-Star Game returning there in '20, according to Bill Plunkett of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Kasten, appearing at Dodger Stadium yesterday where MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred officially announced the game, said, "The next two years will be very active for us." Kasten would "not reveal any specifics about what upgrades might be coming." He said he does not have the "full plan yet." In recent years, the Guggenheim ownership group has spent more than $150M on "upgrades and renovations to the 56-year-old facility." Manfred said that the investment was a "factor in the Dodgers finally being awarded" the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, Plunkett notes the All-Star Game FanFest "will be held at the L.A. Convention Center, a major logistical hurdle that had to be cleared." Kasten: "There were legitimately conflicts. ... It’s one of the busiest convention centers in America. We also plan a robust program of events throughout the city" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/12). In L.A., Dylan Hernandez writes under the header, "Give Dodgers Ownership Kudos For Landing The 2020 All-Star Game." Hernandez: "Go ahead and complain about how the Dodgers vanished from television under Guggenheim Baseball Management. Disagree with how the group has empowered a baseball operations department that lacks a personal touch." But at the same time, acknowledge the role that Dodgers Owner & Chair Mark Walter and his partners have "played in the improvements that have taken place over the last six years" (L.A. TIMES, 4/12).
STILL WORK TO DO: In Chicago, Mark Gonzales writes MLB's decision to give Dodger Stadium the All-Star Game "hardly put a dent in the Cubs’ plans to bring the Midsummer Classic to Wrigley Field in the near future." The Cubs will continue their "pursuit of being host for the game as upgrades and renovations continue to enhance Wrigley’s chances." Along those lines, many Cubs execs from the business and baseball operations departments have "spent hours going over issues manager Joe Maddon and players brought up regarding the new dugouts, which were widened and received a warm response." Some "tweaking is in store, particularly the widening of the entrance from near the bat rack to the on-deck circle." The Cubs last hosted the game in '90 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/12). THE ATHLETIC's Patrick Mooney wrote the Cubs "need to find more common ground" with city Alderman Tom Tunney and put the "finishing touches" on the ballpark renovations. After Tuesday’s home opener, Maddon "bounced some dugout ideas" off Cubs VP/Wrigley Field Restoration & Expansion Carl Rice and Assistant GM Randy Bush. Maddon: "Everybody’s on the same page. Everybody expected some kind of an adjustment period and the fixes that we’re talking about are relatively simple" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/11).
MAYBE NEXT TIME: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker noted the Braves had "sought to bring the mid-summer event to SunTrust Park" as early as '20. The Braves’ bid also included the '21 game, which is "still pending." MLB "hasn’t said when it will award" the '21 game. The Braves last hosted the All-Star Game in '00 at Turner Field. Tucker noted MLB is also "considering bids" for the '22 event (AJC.com, 4/11).
