Once upon a time in a far, faraway kingdom called ‘SkyDome’, the Toronto Blue Jays hosted their first (and only) ever MLB All-Star Game.. Zooming out, this was the second ever Midsummer Classic played in Canada after the Montreal Expos hosted the event in 1982 at Olympic Stadium.

Turning back the clock to 1991, here is how the last All-Star Game in Canada went:

The Midsummer Classic in Toronto featured star-studded rosters from both the American and National League, with well over 10 players being inducted to the Hall of Fame later on. Some of the most notable players included Craig Biggio, Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, Barry Larkin, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryne Sandberg. The AL team manager at this time was Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics, while the NL team manager was Lou Piniella of the Cincinnati Reds.

The American League got the chance to establish itself as a titan by winning its fourth All-Star game in a row, as Cal Ripken Jr. came through with his clutch hitting skills and power. The league then recognized Ripken Jr. as the MVP, and Dennis Eckersley earned the save, making him the first All-Star pitcher with three Midsummer Classic saves. It was a star-studded event that packed the stadium and the downtown Toronto area, and has fans still talking about the event to this day.

Ever since Toronto hosted the All-Star game in the 1990s, it hasn’t been played outside of the States for over three decades. While the selection process for the All-Star game may be subjective, as Major League Baseball selects the venue for each season, Toronto has a strong case to host the game again, considering some of the caveats that usually go into why certain teams get chosen. Atlanta will host the game this season, and the Philadelphia Phillies will host the 2026 version.

The 2027 event is currently up for grabs. Robert Manfred even visited the Blue Jays’ stomping grounds last year, a signal that things might be trending in the right direction for Toronto to host again.

So, what is the case for Toronto to host the Midsummer Classic in 2027? Here are a few reasons MLB should consider:

In case you haven’t noticed, the Blue Jays have spent over $400 million on their stadium upgrades as of 2025. These renovations updated two-thirds of Rogers Centre to create a fan-friendly space. It all began with the Outfield District, which offered more space for fans to watch the game with or without seats, and updated the outfield walls and the bullpen areas. This area also featured more spots for fans to enjoy the beauty of the ballpark while giving more access to entertainment and dining.

One of the major changes the Blue Jays made through this renovation was transforming the stadium into a baseball-only stadium. Previously, the stadium was used for other sports such as football, but Toronto now had the reins to change the stadium for one sport only. This involved removing all the seats and positioning them so they all face home plate. With the newest renovations taking place just this past offseason, the Blue Jays are now offering more premium club sections with a closer view of the live action.

Before the renovation, Rogers Centre didn’t have the best reputation for being a fan-friendly stadium, but the changes now allow the city to provide a more unique and fun experience for a wide range of fans. Toronto’s stadium is no longer a disadvantage, and these upgrades need to be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind summer baseball experience.

Baseball is no longer just a North American game. This isn’t a particularly new concept because the sport has been thriving outside of the continent for a long time now. Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have had a strong interest in baseball, and many Latin American countries have produced a robust flow of talent to MLB. With international stars like Yordan Alvarez, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jung-Hoo Lee, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr., thriving in the majors, the game needs to take place somewhere outside of the States to make a statement for non-American stars.

In all fairness, the league is now putting on games in England, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea to generate more interest and garner further fandom, but it never hurts to host more games outside of the United States. Canada is the perfect international location for the All-Star game to take place, and the city of Toronto has long been lauded by opposing teams for its nightlife, friendly atmosphere, and diversity.

Another chance for the league to signal that baseball is indeed a game for everyone all around the world.

This year’s All-Star game is taking place in Truist Park, which is the Atlanta Braves’ home stadium, and next year’s game will be hosted by Citizens Bank Park, which is the Philadelphia Phillies’ stomping ground. Both teams are in the National League, which warrants a case for a team in the American League to host the game in the next round.

While this reason may not be the strongest for Toronto to make its case, it does help to establish the foundation for bringing the Midsummer Classic to the north of the border, given that the league tries to elect a host city fairly based on the history of the Game, among other factors. Sure, the Tampa Bay Rays haven’t hosted any All-Star Games at all, but the team will be busy fixing its stadium in St. Petersburg this year. Consequently, this logic provides Toronto with an opportunity to finally host the game in the 21st century.

Frankly, another All-Star game in Canada has been long overdue – it’s time for Toronto to seize that chance.

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