Padres Do It Right, Receive High Marks as ASG Host

It seems like the past few years (or decade or so) the San Diego Padres can’t do many things right. They trade away your favorite player after you just bought his jersey. They don’t have enough giveaway nights. They won’t bring back the brown permanently. The sell and sell and sell seemingly every year. The Friars are 0 for 2 in World Series appearances. They have not made the playoffs since 2006.

However, the 2016 All-Star Game and all its festivities were a huge hit. MLB orchestrated a lot of what happened this week but we need to give credit where credit is due. The city of San Diego and the Padres organization absolutely nailed All-Star week.

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For fans who had been waiting 24 years and especially since the announcement was made in the winter of 2015, this was well worth the wait. The national media frenzy raved about the quality of the hosting city and its coordination.

https://twitter.com/ColinCowherd/status/753252329592197120

Throughout the media coverage during the week, many people were heard saying something along the lines of “Heck, why don’t we have the All-Star Game in San Diego every year?”

Good question.

San Diego hit this out of the park. FanFest was awesome at the Convention Center. San Diego is a city where there is plenty do to. You can get some of the best Mexican food (sorry, Wil Myers) in the country while sitting on a beach all about 5 to 10 minutes from Petco Park. The sunsets are stunning, the people are nice and the beaches are free(mostly).

The media seemed to love all the shots of the bay and downtown. San Diego is so photogenic, isn’t it? I am sure many of you, as I did, watched this game and broadcast swelling with pride over your hometown city. San Diego did something right. We will worry about a Chargers stadium after this week, but for now this is a moment to enjoy. It was a well put-together event in a classy city by classy people and San Diegans should be proud.

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I for one was choking back tears of pride and joy before the game even started. The MLB presented the new award for the National League batting title as the Tony Gwynn Batting Title. What a moment for a city and for their beloved hometown son.

We all certainly hope the All-Star Game and all it brings does not take another 24 years to make another trip back to America’s Finest City.