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Durham Bulls to host '14 Triple-A All-Star Game

Feb 21, 2013

Durham, N.C. — The top talents at the Triple-A level will all convene at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in July 2014 as the Durham Bulls were announced as the host for the Triple-A All-Star Game Thursday.

The 27th annual Triple-A All-Star Game will take place on July 16, 2014 pitting the best players in the Pacific Coast League against the premier talents of the International League. It will be the first time that the Triple-A All-Star game will be played in Durham and will be the headliner during a five-day gala of festivities including the home run derby and the Fan Fest. 

“Hosting the Triple-A All-Star Game is a tremendous honor and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase not only the Bulls organization, but Durham and the entire Triangle community,” said Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling. "This is really a five-day showcase of minor league baseball,"

While no secrets were revealed as to the ever-creative home run derby targets, DBAP does come naturally outfitted with one.

"There is no other ballpark in the country with a more iconic home run target," Birling said of the snorting bull beyond the left field fence.

Durham, which will again host the ACC tournament this year, served as the backdrop to the best in Triple-A a year ago when the Triple-A National Championship was played at DBAP. Despite a sizeable amount of rain, the game was played and drew over 8,000 fans. That was a major factor in the mid-summer contest coming to Durham. More Info     More Bulls Stories

"In large part due to the success of that event, when the decision of where to play the 2014 All-Star Game came about, Durham went to the top of the list," International League President Randy Mobley said.

According to Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau President Shelly Green, the All-Star festivities will bring an estimated $3.3 million in visitor spending to the area. The game has averaged over 13,500 fans in the past five years, although DBAP seat roughly 10,00

Rotating annually between International League and Pacific Coast League host cities, the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game will take place at Aces Ballpark in Reno, NV. Similar to the Major Leagues, the winning league of the Triple-A All-Star Game earns home field advantage for its eventual champion in the Triple-A National Championship Game.

Durham Bulls 2013 ticket package holders will have priority in purchasing tickets for the 2014 Triple-A All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. The game will be televised on MLB Network.

The Durham Bulls begin the 2013 International League season on the road before returning to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on April 8th for their home opener against the Gwinnett Braves.