Salt Lake to host 2011 Triple-A All-Star Game

Branch Rickey, the president of the Pacific Coast League, admitted that the annual Triple-A All-Star Game is usually held in a new or newly remodeled ballpark.

That won't be the case in 2011, however.

Instead, the baseball diamond now known as Spring Mobile Ballpark will be the site of the annual midseason exhibition game 13 years after Salt Lake City hosted it for the first time.

While there were certainly other factors that came into play, Rickey admitted that returning the Triple-A All-Star Game to the ballpark formerly known as Franklin Covey Field was "partly a sentimental choice."

"Personally, I would like to think of this as a somewhat belated honoring of (the late former Bees and Utah Jazz owner) Larry Miller," Rickey said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, announcing the selection of Salt Lake City as the host of the 2011 game.

The Triple-A All-Star Game is traditionally played the day after the Major League All-Star Game and will be held on July 13, 2011. It will pit the stars from the 16-team PCL against the stars from the 14-team International League.

"We're honored to bring the Triple-A All-Star Game back to the great baseball fans of Salt Lake City and the state of Utah," said Randy Rigby, the president of Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment. "We welcome the opportunity to showcase major league baseball's top prospects and future stars."

Bees general manager Marc Amicone pointed out that Salt Lake City will be the first host city to host the midseason game in the same ballpark twice. Franklin Covey Field, in its third year of existence, had 15,500 fans attend the 1996 game.

"Salt Lake City has a wonderful legacy in the PCL," said Rickey. "The 1996 All-Star experience was great for every team in the league, and there is widespread enthusiasm about returning."

This year's Triple-A All-Star Game will be held at the home of the PCL's Portland Beavers on July 15. Three Bees players have been selected to participate — outfielder Terry Evans, infielder Brandon Wood and relief pitcher Jeremy Hill. Next season it will be the International League's turn to host, as the game will be played in Allentown, Pa. before returning to Salt Lake City two years from now.

This year's game will be televised on ESPN2. The current TV contract is expiring, but Rickey said he fully expects the 2011 game from Salt Lake to be televised nationally.

E-MAIL: lojo@desnews.com