Tensions continue to rise in regards to Major League Baseball's decision to move the 2021 MLB All-Star Game from Atlanta, Georgia to Denver, Colorado.
The nation's largest professional baseball league first garnered criticism in late March when fans began to raise issues with a restrictive voting rights bill that was making its way through Georgia's legislature. In response, fans began to push for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game to be moved to a different location. Ultimately, the league made the decision to move the game out of Atlanta to Denver in early April.
In the weeks following the MLB's decision, lawmakers in Georgia and other groups pushed for the league to reverse its decision. After those efforts seemingly failed, a group by the name of the Jobs Creators Network filed a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages to small businesses in the area and $1 billion in punitive damages. One week after the federal lawsuit was filed, MLB has opted to issue a response.
“JCN has been vocal in opposing MLB’s decision, but that does not give it a basis for federal civil rights claims,” lawyers representing the league stated.
“Moreover, despite its claims of exigency, JCN spent the last two months putting up billboards in Times Square and running inflammatory advertisements in The New York Times. When its publicity campaign had no effect, JCN decided to sue, but this Court’s time should not be wasted on political theatrics.”
Court proceedings have been expedited after the JCN filed for an emergency injunction. Now, attorneys representing the Job Creators Network and Major League Baseball are set to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on June 10.
“There is no emergency that justifies the extraordinary relief JCN seeks,” Major League Baseball stated.
“It is in the public interest for Defendants’ decision to move the All-Star Game to Denver to be upheld, thereby protecting Defendants’ right to demonstrate their values and preserving their freedom as private entities to determine where to hold their events."
As it stands now, Major League Baseball is slated to move forward with this year's all-star game on July 13 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.
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