Months after the MLB All-Star Game was moved out of their ballpark over a slate of restrictive voting laws in Georgia, the Atlanta Braves will now play in baseball's crown jewel—the World Series.
The Braves won the National League pennant Saturday, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to two in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) after winning Game 6 with a score of 4-2.
Atlanta now advances to their first World Series since 1999, when they were swept by the New York Yankees in four games. They will face the Houston Astros, who won the American League pennant over the Boston Red Sox.
The Braves, though, won't have home-field advantage and will play Games 1 and 2 on the road in Houston. Atlanta will host Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday this week, and would host Game 5 on Sunday if necessary.
However, controversy may still arise in the aftermath of the situation that surrounded the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.
While the game and its surrounding festivities were supposed to take place in Atlanta, things would soon change after the Georgia General Assembly passed the Election Integrity Act of 2021.
The GOP-backed bill was signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and was heavily criticized for allegedly making it more difficult for minorities to vote, mainly by implementing restrictive voter identification policies.
In protest of the bill, Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game out of Atlanta's Truist Park, instead choosing to host the festivities at the home of the Colorado Rockies, Coors Field.
The MLB was just one of a number of Georgia-based corporations, including Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola, that released statements against the law after numerous nationwide protests and boycotts.
President Joe Biden told ESPN that he would "strongly support" the MLB's decision to move the game out of Atlanta. One of the bill's strongest opponents, the president has referred to it as "Jim Crow on steroids."
At the time, the Braves had stated that they stood in solidarity with equal voting rights, but lambasted the league's decision to move the All-Star Game.
"[The voting bill] was neither our decision nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city," the team said. "The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion."
However, the Braves are likely eager to get the World Series started due to the notoriety and promotion that the Fall Classic will bring to their city. In 2017, it was reported by KPRC Houston that the Astros' World-Series winning playoff run that year brought in nearly $125 million for the city.
City officials will likely be eager to recoup some of the lost revenue from the All-Star Game. It was estimated that moving the All-Star Game out of Atlanta cost the city $100 million in revenue.
One of the ways that the Braves may look to generate significant income is at the box office. Ticket prices for World Series games typically skyrocket, and this year is no different.
Newsweek has reached out to the MLB's Executive Relations department for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
