Chicago Cubs: When will the Friendly Confines host another All-Star game?

Last season, the Chicago Cubs had both Anthony Rizzo and rookie phenom Kris Bryant represent the organization during the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Cincinnati.

Not only did they see action during the actual game itself but they participated in the Home Run Derby against guys such as Albert Pujols and the hometown hero, Todd Frazier. Frazier would go on to winning the contest.

When looking at this roster, you can’t help but notice how many All-Stars that Joe Maddon has available to him. There’s Jon Lester, Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, Miguel Montero, John Lackey, Trevor Cahill, Rizzo and Bryant who have experience in the Summer classic.

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And of course, this club is stacked from top to bottom with talent that will be named to their first All-Star games between this upcoming season or in 2017.

Next season, Giancarlo Stanton and the Miami Marlins will be hosting the 2017 All-Star game while our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C. will have the opportunity to do so the following year. So when will Wrigley Field get another shot?

Believe it or not, the North Side of Chicago hasn’t hosted the All-Star game in 26 years. At the time, the game itself was broadcasted on ABC with Jack Buck and Tim McCraver calling the action.

Hall of Famer and Cubs great, Mr. Cub Ernie Banks threw out the first pitch before the action and second baseman Ryne Sandberg won what was one of the worst Home Run Derby’s in history. Granted, the wind played a huge factor as it usually does.

Which is surprising considering the amount of talent that participated in the event. The list of participants included Mark McGwire, Ken Griffrey Jr., Jose Canseco, Cecil Fielder, Darryl Strawberry, Matt Williams, Bobby Bonilla, and Sandberg himself combined for a total of five long balls.

You read that correctly. With all that power on both the National League and American League squads, only five pitches left the yard. And Sandberg accounted for three alone.

Now according to CBS Chicago, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said that the All-Star game will find its way back to Wrigley Field sometime in the near future. When exactly, has yet to be decided.

"“It makes sense the Cubs get an opportunity ahead after new renovations are complete. This will provide the Cubs and Ricketts family a chance to showcase the unbelievable renovation they are in the midst of doing for Wrigley Field. Timing-wise we have the schedule of cities set through Washington (2018). We will have an open and complete competition for the All Star Game beyond that time.”"

Construction workers will and have been busy as the renovation continues. Soon, a hotel will be standing right across the street from the Friendly Confines where McDonald’s used to be. It recently closed its doors, making way for the future as reported by DNA Info.

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I personally visited that restaurant whenever I was in Wrigleyville and loved the atmosphere. Inside the building was filled with nothing but Cubs memorabilia which made things even more comfortable for fans who were stopping by for a bite to eat.

But nonetheless, it’ll be exciting to see how this project turns out. Hopefully, by the time the league is ready for the Cubs to host the All-Star game, they’ll have themselves a World Series title or two under their belts.

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