Board kickstarts MLB All-Star Game planning
UPDATE Nov. 28 - The Board of Commissioners approved the below agenda items with a 5-0 vote.
"We are in a very fortunate position to have another bite of the apple of having the All-Star Game here in Cobb County," Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. "I am pleased we are geared up and ready to host this event once again and appreciate the preparation that is already starting to take place with many of our staff members and members of the community."
Board to approve MLB All-Star Game planning expenses
Weeks after Major League Baseball announced the 2025 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Atlanta Braves and played at Cobb County’s Truist Park, the Board of Commissioners will kickstart the planning process. The board is expected to approve using contingency funding to help law enforcement handle safety, security, and transportation expenses associated with hosting the game.
An agenda item sent to the board by Public Safety Director Mike Register notes the game and associated activities will be a week-long affair. The All-Star game and related events are designated a Department of Homeland Security Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level III, indicating a heightened awareness status.
The item seeks $1,589,752.00 to ensure the costs associated with hosting the 2025 MLB All-Star Game and other MLB-sponsored events do not substantially impact annually adopted County resources.
Register states in the agenda item that the game is expected to impact the Cobb economy significantly. “Based on data provided by Baseball Almanac, the economic impact shows the Midsummer Classic is a significant economic boom for hosting cities. We anticipate this event's enormous sociological and economic impact on the County. In the past, hosting cities have experienced an economic impact ranging from $37M to $190M. Our surrounding hotels/motels, restaurants, and event venues will benefit significantly from the AllStar Game. We anticipate a robust return on this requested investment. The County will continue to work with its partners to cover and/or seek reimbursement for costs associated with the All-Star Game and other MLB-sponsored events.”