The Chicago Cubs are going to host the MLB All-Star Game in 2027, and for fans who’ve been waiting, this announcement feels long overdue. For nearly a decade, Wrigley Field has been tossed around as a potential host site for baseball’s midsummer classic, but for one reason or another, it just hadn’t materialized. Now, it’s official, and for Cubs fans and baseball traditionalists alike, it’s a chance to see the sport’s biggest names light up one of the most iconic ballparks in the game.
This has been in the works for a while. You could trace the conversation back to around 2014 or 2015. But back then, the stadium was in the middle of a massive renovation project—removing the outdated infrastructure while trying to preserve the charm of a ballpark that opened in 1914. It wasn’t just a facelift either. The renovations at Wrigley were extensive and came with years of scaffolding, construction noise, and plenty of growing pains. New video boards were added, bullpens were moved under the bleachers, clubhouses were upgraded, and premium seating areas were built. You can’t exactly host the All-Star Game in the middle of all that.
So year after year, the Cubs were passed over. Other cities—like Cleveland in 2019, Los Angeles in 2022, and Seattle in 2023—got the nod while Chicago kept waiting. And every time the league would announce the next All-Star Game site, you’d see a mix of frustration and acceptance from Cubs fans. It wasn’t that Wrigley wasn’t worthy; it just wasn’t quite ready. But with the renovations now long complete and the surrounding Wrigleyville area transformed into a fan-friendly entertainment district, the stage is finally set.
When Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said that Wrigley Field was being considered as the location for the 2027 ASG, it felt like a moment of validation. Chicago is a world-class sports city, and Wrigley is a ballpark that belongs on the big stage. Sure, it hosted the All-Star Game before—back in 1947, 1962, and most recently, in 1990—but with how much the park and neighborhood have changed since then, 2027 will feel like something entirely different.
And think about the timing. By 2027, the Cubs’ current crop of young talent should be in their prime. Guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Justin Steele, and maybe even Cade Horton could be making a case for themselves to represent the Cubs in front of their home crowd. There’s always something special about having your own players in the All-Star Game when you’re hosting. Think of the Reds in 2015 when Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby, or the Guardians in 2019 when Carlos Santana got a huge ovation during pregame introductions. Now picture someone like Crow-Armstrong getting a standing ovation as the leadoff hitter in the National League lineup, right there at Wrigley. Goosebumps.
But there’s more to this than just the game itself. The All-Star break is a week-long celebration. You’ve got the Futures Game, the Celebrity Softball Game, the Home Run Derby, and the game itself. Wrigleyville is going to be absolutely packed with fans from all over the country, walking around Clark Street with jerseys from every team, taking pictures in front of the famous marquee, checking out Gallagher Way, and just soaking it all in. And you better believe the city of Chicago is going to roll out the red carpet. Events at Navy Pier, fan fests at Grant Park, concerts, parties—you name it. The city knows how to do big events, and they’re going to make sure this one is memorable.
There’s also the nostalgia factor. Wrigley isn’t just any old stadium. It’s the kind of place where you feel the history the moment you walk through the concourse and see the ivy-covered walls for the first time. It’s where Ernie Banks played. It’s where Sammy Sosa launched home runs onto Waveland Avenue. It’s where the Cubs finally broke the curse in 2016. There’s a sense of magic in the bricks and bleachers, and for the players who make the All-Star roster in 2027, this will be a game they never forget.
But let’s not pretend the All-Star Game is always perfect. It’s changed a lot over the years, and not everyone is thrilled with the format. For starters, it’s a single game in a sport that’s built on series. You don’t usually determine a winner in baseball with just one matchup—that’s why we have three-game and four-game series during the regular season and best-of-seven series in the postseason. Baseball needs time to breathe, to play out. The All-Star Game doesn’t allow that.
Then there’s the issue of playing time. With so many All-Stars being selected, not everyone gets a fair shot to make an impact. Some players only get one at-bat or pitch to one batter. Others get left on the bench entirely. It’s great to be recognized as an All-Star, but it can be a little disappointing if you don’t actually get to play. Add in the fact that fans vote for the starters—and sometimes it becomes more of a popularity contest than a reflection of who’s actually having the best season—and it’s clear that the system isn’t perfect.
Still, for the host city, all of that falls into the background. The spectacle of the event—the national spotlight, the energy, the sense of pride—it all overshadows the flaws. And for Cubs fans, this is about more than just one night in July. It’s about finally being recognized after years of waiting. It’s about showing the rest of the country what Wrigley Field looks like under the summer lights with the eyes of the baseball world watching. It’s about proving that Chicago still belongs among the elite baseball cities.
Here’s the thing, folks: The Cubs front office will want to field a competitive team by 2027, not just for the sake of their fans but to match the moment. It’s one thing to host the All-Star Game, but it’s another to do it with an exciting, contending team. The last time the Cubs hosted in 1990, they were right in the middle of a down stretch. By 2027, they’ll want to be back on the rise.
With that… Here we are—two years away from one of the biggest events in baseball coming back to Chicago. The countdown has already begun, and while there’s still plenty of baseball to be played between now and then, you can feel the anticipation starting to build. The league finally said yes. The city is ready. Wrigley Field is ready. And the fans who’ve been waiting for ten long years? They’re more than ready.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!