June 26, 2023
Kau’ilani Robinson
(206) 251-8920 | [email protected]
Jared Dionne
(206) 461-5807 | [email protected]
SEATTLE – With only a few days remaining until baseball’s premier event brings together the sport’s brightest stars and passionate fans in the vibrant Emerald City, Visit Seattle is thrilled to provide an update for residents and visitors alike regarding the exciting activations scheduled during Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Week, set to take place from July 7th to 11th.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for Seattle,” said Tammy Canavan, President & CEO of Visit Seattle. “Collaborating with the dedicated Visit Seattle team and our esteemed community partners to present our city in its utmost splendor has been truly inspiring. Our goal is for all the baseball enthusiasts visiting during All-Star Week to create unforgettable memories that will endure a lifetime. We hope they leave with a strong desire to return and experience even more of what Seattle has to offer.”
Visit Seattle projects MLB All-Star Week will generate over $50 million in economic impact to the community through various events. A full schedule of official MLB-produced events can be found here.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Mariners, community organizations, and elected officials, Visit Seattle is curating and celebrating events and activations throughout the city, ensuring there are plenty of engaging experiences for everyone to enjoy beyond the official MLB activities.
“We can’t wait for everyone to experience All-Star Week in Seattle. It will be a city-wide celebration thanks to the tremendous collaboration with Major League Baseball, Visit Seattle and the Seattle Sports Commission,” said Catie Griggs, Seattle Mariners President of Business Operations. “This year’s lineup of All-Star Week events and activations will showcase the best of our city and provide fans with a lifetime of memories.”
“Since 2019 when the Seattle Sports Commission first began working on the MLB All-Star Week bid with the Mariners and Visit Seattle, we all saw this as a catalyst for an exciting future in our region,” says Beth Knox, President & CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission. “Hosting the first premier sporting event in over 20 years is a thrilling precedent to establish as we carry this momentum forward into our planning for the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regionals and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seattle has quickly established itself as a world-class sports market and travel destination.”
Read on for a look at All-Star Week events everyone can enjoy – from start to finish.
Community Events
Seattle Center Monorail art activation – Late June
In advance of All-Star Week, Visit Seattle worked with the Seattle Monorail Services, Seattle Center, and Climate Pledge Arena to bring about the first-ever art installation on the Seattle Center Monorail’s guideway columns. Conceived by local muralist Brady Black, the monorail columns will be adorned with murals depicting eight stars of the game and eight Seattle sports fans, signifying the connection between baseball and the greater community. In designing the murals, Black developed a paint-by-number system that allowed youth artists from Urban ArtWorks and Seattle residents to take part in their creation. The murals are set to be installed in late June with the hope of activating the Monorail columns as a public art gallery for future citywide events.
“I am thrilled to announce an extraordinary public art program that celebrates the talents of our local artists and pays tribute to the stars of baseball,” says Marshall Foster, Interim Director of Seattle Center. “This groundbreaking initiative merges the worlds of sports and art, captivating our community and visitors alike. The Seattle Center Monorail, an iconic symbol of our city, will transform the support columns along 5th Ave into a moving gallery, adorned with stunning renderings created by our talented local artists. We invite everyone to join us in experiencing this unique installation downtown as we celebrate and welcome MLB All-Star Week to Seattle and embrace the dynamic fusion of athletics and art!”
Reflecting on the Seattle Center Monorail’s importance as a community connector – especially during major citywide events – Seattle Monorail Services President Megan Ching says, “Seattle Center Monorail was built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair to provide a fast, direct connection between downtown and the Fairgrounds. Sixty years later, the system continues to serve as an important transportation link to Seattle Center and its surrounding neighborhoods. We look forward to welcoming baseball fans to our city! We are excited to play our part in supporting local artists, promoting major civic events, and helping to re-energize downtown Seattle with new and interesting art displayed on this historic system.”
MLB All-Star Week Green Path – July 7-11
Throughout the entirety of the All-Star Week proceedings, fans are encouraged to walk or bike to T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field using the Green Path. Developed by the MLB and the Mariners as a sustainable method of transportation between downtown, the Waterfront, and the stadiums, the path also drives attendee spending to local businesses curated by Intentionalist. Additionally, Visit Seattle and Intentionalist have collaborated on a map that highlights BIPOC-, women-, and LGBTQ+-owned small businesses along this route to encourage support for local places to eat, drink, and shop that make Seattle special. Collaborating with Gigs4U and the Seattle Sports Commission, Visit Seattle will showcase the Pacific Northwest’s strong music culture with performers entertaining fans as they travel along the Green Path.
Laura Clise, CEO & Founder of Intentionalist shares the value of exploring Seattle through the lens of small businesses and the diverse people behind them.
“Small businesses are a wonderful way to get to know Seattle, because they reflect and celebrate the diversity of the region,” Clise says. “From restaurants and shops that have been a part of the city for generations, to the cafes and galleries that infuse our city with new energy and cultural perspectives. We’re proud to collaborate with Visit Seattle to put diverse small businesses on the map, and make it easy for fans to get to know and support them as part of their All-Star Week Seattle experience.”
Occidental Square – July 7-11
Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) will bring all manner of activities to Occidental Square during All-Star Week. Further details are available here.
Jennifer Casillas, DSA’s Vice President of Public Realm and Ambassador Operations, says, “Just a line drive away from T-Mobile Park we’re bringing free events to Occidental Square for the entire family to enjoy. From an 80-foot roller skating rink and a pop-up arcade featuring classic games to face-painting, music and food, you can truly make a day of it in the neighborhood.”
Official MLB All-Star Week Events
HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation – July 7
Leading off MLB All-Star Week’s official events on July 7, this is a new MLB event helmed in large part by Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. The game will air on MLB Network and showcase 50 prospects from Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) on a national stage. Fans are welcome to stick around afterward for post-game fireworks. With tickets available for $10, this is a fantastic opportunity for families to take part in the All-Star Week experience. Purchase tickets here.
Capital One PLAY BALL PARK – July 8-11
Baseball fans of all ages will enjoy Capital One PLAY BALL PARK which runs throughout the majority of MLB All-Star Week. Located in and around Lumen Field, PLAY BALL PARK allows fans to take batting practice, meet legendary players, participate in baseball or softball clinics, and more. While plenty of fun activities are freely available outside of the stadium, indoor activities do require a PLAY BALL PARK-specific ticket. View ticketing options here.
2023 MLB Draft – July 9
On Sunday, July 9, the MLB Draft takes place in Seattle for the first time as part of All-Star Week. With the Draft stage located on Lumen Field inside Capital One PLAY BALL PARK, fans have free access to watch Major League teams select future stars. For more information, visit AllStarGame.com.
About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.
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