ATLANTA , -- Atlanta lost baseball's All-Star Game this summer. But it now has the World Series. Republicans are exulting.
After the Braves won the National League pennant on Saturday, Republicans started shaming Major League Baseball and Democrats for July's All-Star Game being removed from Truist Park as a protest against Georgia's restrictive voter laws.
Republicans attacked baseball and Democrats when the game was moved to Denver in a culture war uprising that, in part, served to soothe the Georgia GOP's internal wounds. Although they claimed that All-Star celebrations would harm low-wage workers, and the metro Atlanta economy would suffer, economists claim these claims are exaggerated. Some business owners who participated in the Republican protests in April against the decision say that they now look forward more than ever.
Sandra Cook, Catered Southern Events caters for many hotels in the vicinity of Truist Park in suburban Cobb County. Cook was joined by Kevin McCarthy, Republican House Minority Leader, at an event decrying the game's end. She said that restaurants across the region had "lost so much" because COVID-19 cases spiked earlier in the year. Cook expressed gratitude for the baseball boost that is now available to businesses.
She said, "Maybe it'll make the World Series back up,"
However, many Georgia GOP leaders stepped back in the batter's box to play political baseball.
Republican Governor. Brian Kemp tweeted shortly after the Braves won the National League.
Republican Attorney General Chris Carr recorded a video in front Truist Park, calling it "poetic Justice" that the World Series would take place in Atlanta after the All-Star Game had been "stolen from them."
Abrams, who is considering a rematch with Kemp in 2022. He publicly called for the boycott of Georgia by baseball despite Republicans' desire to paint Kemp as a traitor. Other in-state Democrats opposed the pullout. They claim that Kemp signed a new law that was influenced by Republicans and made significant changes to Georgia's electoral law. Donald Trump supporters put pressure on Republicans, believing, despite the lack of evidence that the ex-president was cheated of Georgia's 16 electoral vote.
Trump called Major League Baseball Wednesday to request tickets for Saturday's game against Houston Astros. A spokesperson for the Braves stated that Trump did so. A spokesperson for MLB did not respond to an email seeking comment. Trump called for people to boycott baseball and all of those woke companies that interfere with free and fair elections in April.
Teri Anulewicz is a Democrat in Georgia's state House whose district contains Truist Park. She said that Republicans are "continuing to try to stoke discord."
Anulewicz stated, "I am so disconcerted that leading Republicans have decided that they will exploit this moment in joy and the success Atlanta Braves have had and try to make it into a talking point regarding the All-Star Game."
Rob Manfred, the baseball commissioner, has stated that he decided to move the All-Star events following discussions with players and the Players Alliance. This alliance was formed by Black players after George Floyd's death last year. The league also opposed restrictions on the ballot box. Manfred said Tuesday that the Braves had "earned their right to be" in the series.
Manfred stated, citing a wide fan base, "We have always tried to be politically neutral." "Obviously, there were some notable exceptions this year. We want to make sure that there is no exception to the general rule.
Opponents blamed the relocation of the All-Star Game on economic losses. However, many economists doubt the numbers that were used, most often $100 million.
J.C. Bradbury is an economist from Kennesaw State University. He claims that a whole baseball season can generate an additional $150 million in Cobb County spending. Bradbury stated that people spend money in Atlanta they would not normally spend at other places. It is a small fraction of the $422 billion regional economy.
Bradbury stated that it was mainly a redistribution in dollars.
Corey Stephens, a partner in Thompson Brothers Barbecue, Smyrna said that his restaurant located less than a mile away from the stadium might get a few more customers but he doesn’t anticipate a large influx.
Stephens stated that although they may have come before the All-Star game, we are more of a neighbourhood place and didn't consider moving it a major concern.
The Battery, a neon-lit entertainment district around the stadium, was packed with fans during the team’s last home game of the National League Championship Series.
Thomas Brown, a manager at Baseballism, an apparel shop in the development, said that people without tickets gathered outside for a closer look. He stated that he would have loved to seen the Braves become history by hosting the All-Star Game as well as the World Series simultaneously. He'll accept the World Series.
Brown stated, "With them taking away the All-Star Game, that week was just dead." "Everyone was just devastated; everyone was just lost. We'll now have a whole week of events with World Series, rather than two days with the All-Star Game.
