Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Commissioner of Major League Baseball Allan (Bud) H. Selig today announced that Yankee Stadium will host the 2008 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, the first Midsummer Classic played in New York City since 1977.  The 79th All-Star Game will serve as one of the highlights of the last season that the Yankees will play in the current Yankee Stadium, before the team moves to its new home in 2009.  Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff, President and CEO of NYC Big Events and Chief Marketing Officer Maureen Reidy, New York City Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba, New York Yankees General Partner Steve Swindal, and New York Yankees Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost also attended the announcement at City Hall.

“On behalf of 8.2 million New Yorkers, I thank Commissioner Selig and Major League Baseball for selecting a place that has been synonymous with success over its unrivaled 85-year history as the 2008 All-Star Game venue,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Considering the Yankees have gone to the World Series each time the All-Star Game has been played at The House That Ruth Built, I’m confident that baseball will continue to be played at Yankee Stadium well into the fall of 2008. The All-Star Game and its accompanying week will also be an economic boon to the City, generating an estimated $148 million in economic activity and attracting more than 175,000 visitors.”

“Major League Baseball is delighted that the 79th All-Star Game will be held at Yankee Stadium,” Commissioner Selig said. “Baseball fans from around the world will be able to celebrate our great game in one of baseball’s great cathedrals.  Yankee Stadium has been the site of numerous historical moments since its opening in 1923, and the 2008 All-Star Game will help provide a proper farewell to this splendid ballpark.”

“It is always a great honor for a team’s home stadium to serve as host for the All-Star Game, and the Yankees are proud and delighted to have been selected for the honor in 2008,” said George Steinbrenner, principal owner of the Yankees. “It will be one of many historic moments in the 2008 season as we say good-bye to a great facility and look forward to our new ballpark.  I am especially glad that so many of the sport’s great players and New York’s great baseball fans will have the opportunity to participate in what will be an especially significant All-Star Game.”

Prior to today’s announcement, the All-Star Game was held at Yankee Stadium three times (1977, 1960, and1939). The Yankees went on to play in the World Series in each of those three years, taking home two World Championships. Other New York City sites that have hosted the All-Star Game include: The Polo Grounds (1942, 1934), Shea Stadium (1964) and Ebbets Field (1949).

“The 2008 All-Star Game is another example of how the Administration is growing our economy and supporting the booming tourism industry through aggressively courting big events,” said Deputy Mayor Doctoroff.

“It’s only fitting that the MLB would bring its All-Star Game to New York City, since both the event and the venue represent the best of the best,” said NYC Big Events CEO Reidy. “The All-Star Game and its huge fan base from across the country is just the kind of big event New York City is pursuing – events that showcase New York City to as many potential visitors as possible.  We look forward to working with MLB to create a week full of excitement for visiting baseball fans from around the globe.”

“Major League Baseball’s selection of Yankee Stadium as the site for the 79th All-Star Game could not be more appropriate,” said Commissioner Podziba.  “The 2008 Midsummer Classic will undoubtedly serve as a celebration of the many All-Stars who have played inside ‘The House That Ruth Built’ or donned pinstripes.  We expect that this event will capture the rich tradition of baseball in New York City, as it did in 1939 when Yankee Stadium hosted its first All-Star Game.”

In addition to the actual game, the City will host a week-long series of festivities, featuring events such as Fan Fest, the Futures Game and the always popular Home Run Derby.  Through various partnerships, NYC & Company will also be promoting the week throughout all five boroughs. The City’s Economic Development Corporation projects an overall estimated economic impact of $148.4 million, with 176,239 more visitors coming to the City as a result of the week.

MLB’s choice of Yankee Stadium comes after a lengthy selection process.  In 2006, NYC Big Events, a division of NYC & Company, began leading the negotiations to bring the All-Star Game back to the Big Apple for the first time in 31 years.  Every year the game is watched by tens of millions of baseball fans at home and abroad, and New York’s unique ability as the leading media market should increase awareness, exposure and ratings for the game.

About NYC & Company:
Mayor Bloomberg has combined the formerly separate entities of NYC Marketing, NYC Big Events and NYC & Company under one banner—while keeping the NYC & Company name—creating the world’s leading organization dedicated to building New York City’s economy and positive image through tourism, marketing, events and convention development. Primary among CEO George Fertitta’s many objectives is to achieve Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of attracting 50 million visitors to New York City by 2015. For more information go to nycvisit.com or call 212-484-1222.

About The New York City Sports Commission:
The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and/or scholastic sports events in New York City. In recent years, the Sports Commission has played a role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, and the NYC Half-Marathon.

For more information on the All Star Game, please visit www.mlb.com. The game will air live on FOX at 8:00 PM EST on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.