A tourism official in Georgia said the “estimated lost economic impact” of the decision by Major League Baseball to move this year’s All-Star game from Georgia to protest the state’s restrictive election laws, is more than $100 million.
Holly Quinlan, Cobb Travel and Tourism chief told CNN that many Cobb County hotels “saw single digit occupancy numbers” early on in the pandemic and the game would have been a big boost for the tourism industry in the state, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and is trying to recover.
“The 8,000-plus MLB contracted hotel room nights that will not actualize as a result of the MLB All-Star Game relocation will have a negative impact on Cobb’s hospitality industry and other local businesses, further delaying recovery,” Quinlan said.
MLB announced on Friday that they are moving this year’s All-Star game and draft from Atlanta in protest of the state’s new election laws which critics have called the modern day Jim Crow.
Several organizations have publicly criticized the new law including the leaders of Georgia based companies Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola.
Democrats in Georgia say they are disappointed being the move but they understood the stance the MLB was taking.
Republicans meanwhile are criticizing the MLB and any other company who voice their opposition to the new rule.
