In what had to the worst kept secret in New York over the past few days, MLB announced that the 2013 All-Star game will be hosted by the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 16.
The announcement was made at a news conference at City Hall with commissioner Bud Selig, Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in attendance. Even Mr. Met was there to share in the fun.
The Mets last hosted the annual event in 1964 at Shea Stadium— the year the old Flushing ballpark was opened. In 2008, the New York Yankees hosted the game— the final season of the old Yankee Stadium.
While MLB decided over four years ago that the Mets would get to host the game at their new ballpark, they held off the announcement until agreements with city agencies for the main event and related services like the FanFest could be reached. Selig said the Mets' financial problems caused by the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme had no bearing on the delay.
"I have great faith in the Wilpons and the family," said Selig. "And I was very confident they would work things out, and they have. I had no trepidation at all."
Mets fans cringed at the remark.
Bloomberg then pulled out an old script he uses at every Mets or Yankees presser and said, "I'm counting on a Subway Series this year."
Yankees fans laughed at that remark.
This year, Kansas City will host the game and the 2014 game is expected to be played at Minnesota's Target Field.
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