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The city of Arlington could hit an economic home run in July when it hosts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Globe Life Field, with some estimates of the game鈥檚 economic impact approaching $90 million.

The game will be played July 16 and accompanied aimed at luring baseball fans and tourists to the city鈥檚 hotels, restaurants and retailers. By all accounts, the game will be a financial boon for the city.

After all, when Major League Baseball announced in November 2022 that Arlington would host the game, no one could have known that the hometown Texas Rangers would win the World Series in 2023 and heighten interest in the sport. The All-Star Game will attract fans from across the world, city officials said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at $85 million in direct and indirect economic impact,鈥� said Matt Wilson, senior vice president of sports & events at the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau and executive director of the Arlington Sports Commission. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 obviously a huge lift to Arlington and all the areas around it, but I think what it does for us, even more so than that, is gives us another thing to put on our roster of events.鈥�

According to Baseball Almanac, previous All-Star Games have resulted in similar economic impacts. In 2020, it said, Los Angeles of $89 million.

Wilson said the All-Star Game has a far-reaching impact.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a local event, it鈥檚 not a regional event, even the United States 鈥� it is a global event,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s baseball has grown in popularity, overseas and at home, the eyes of the world will be on Arlington, Texas.鈥�

That rising popularity could influence fans from places such as Japan to travel to watch baseball in the United States.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to be able to come to Arlington, and we鈥檙e ready for that,鈥� Wilson said.

Of course, having three stadiums in the Entertainment District and an increasing number of hotel rooms helps the city sell itself for big events such as the All-Star Game.

鈥淎rlington is definitely on the short list, because there aren鈥檛 very many places that can do what we can do and do at a very high level,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very fortunate that the citizens of Arlington have been so supportive to build these stadiums and these hotels 鈥� all those good things.鈥�

Gus Garcia, economic development director for the city, said that major events such as the All-Star Game generate a lot of tax revenue for the city and plenty of business for restaurants, hotels and retailers in the Entertainment District in particular.

Among the big events during the All-Star Game week is the Capital One All-Star Village, MLB鈥檚 marquee fan festival, which will host visitors from around the world for four days, July 13-16.

For the first time, the All-Star Village will take place in a former Major League ballpark, Choctaw Stadium, next door to Globe Life Field.

The village includes the youth participation-focused Capital One PLAY BALL PARK, which will make use of the nearby Esports Stadium and the North Lawn to create a uniquely one-of-a-kind baseball theme park in the heart of the Arlington Entertainment District.

鈥淭he Entertainment District was designed to be able to generate these types of entities,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淭here were a lot of economic development agreements established and executed for this exact purpose.鈥�

He said the Entertainment District鈥檚 venues and allure increase both the hotel tax revenue that comes in and the sales tax generated by businesses benefiting from increased foot traffic and purchases.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 going to have a significant, direct effect on our ability to not only provide services to the city but make good on those agreements and deliver what we planned,鈥� Garcia said.

The All-Star Game is just one in a series of major sports events announced for the city.

Earlier this year, FIFA announced that AT&T Stadium in Arlington would , including a semifinal match. That鈥檚 more than any of the other 15 host venues for soccer鈥檚 biggest event.

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