Hartford selected to host Eastern League All-Star Game in 2021

The sun sets over Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford. The Yard Goats will host the Eastern League All-Star Game in 2021.

HARTFORD, October 22 – The All-Stars are coming to Hartford in two years.

The Eastern League announced on Tuesday that the Hartford Yard Goats will host the 2021 Eastern League All-Star Game at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

It will be the first time that the Eastern League All-Star Game will be held in Hartford. It will be a multi-day event, showcasing the Yard Goats franchise and the greater Hartford region.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont was at the announcement along with EL president Joe McEacharn, Yard Goats owner Tim Restall and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. Binghamton, N.Y. will host the 2020 All-Star Game and that was also announced early in August 2017. The announcement for Richmond being awarded the 2019 All-Star Game was made in July 2017.

“We are honored that the Eastern League selected the Yard Goats and City of Hartford as hosts for the 2021 Eastern League All-Star Game at Dunkin’ Donuts Park,” Restall said. “This speaks volumes about this community and our wonderful fans, and we look forward to putting on a great show.”

It’s not the first time that the Eastern League All-Star Game is coming to Connecticut. New Britain Stadium hosted the All-Star Game twice in 2013 and 2003. The EL also came to Beehive Field in New Britain in 1987. In 2013, the All-Star Game drew a record 8,633 fans at New Britain Stadium.

Some recent Major League All-Stars who recently played in the Eastern League include Colorado’s David Dahl, an outfielder with the Yard Goats; Boston’s Mookie Betts, who played with Portland, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who played in Trenton and the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard, who played in Binghamton.

“The decision to bring the 2021 Eastern League All-Star game to Hartford reflects the complete community engagement the Yard Goats achieve,” McEacharn said. “The Yard Goats ownership and management made a compelling case on the impact their very significant investment to host the game can have in greater Hartford. We couldn’t be more proud to be part of that effort and look forward to an amazing time in the summer of 2021.”

Hartford, the Double A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, opens the 2020 season on April 9, at 7:10 p.m., against Portland, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.