London to host Red Sox Vs Yankees: the first Major League Baseball game to be played in Europe

By

Foam fingers and giant hot dogs at the ready – baseball is coming to the UK.

Red Sox to take on Yankees at the London Stadium

Baseball comes to the London Stadium. Photo by Steve Rose/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will face off against each other this June in London, the first Major League Baseball game to be held in a European country.

The game, which will see two of the sport’s most famous teams (and fiercest rivals) go head-to-head in back-to-back games over two days, will be held at the London Stadium on 29 and 30 June. As well as being the first MLB game to take place in Europe, it will also be the first time the two sides have faced each other outside of their native USA.

London Stadium to host baseball giants

Yankees will take on the Boston Red Sox at the London Stadium. Photo by: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Speaking about attempts to grow the sport, which is considered America’s national pastime, in Europe, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told the Boston Globe, “If you’re going to get people excited about the game, particularly in a city like London, bringing two great rivals is about the best plan you can come up with.”

Baseball has grown significantly in popularity in Europe during the last decade, in part thanks to the introduction of the World Baseball Classic in 2006. The international tournament is held every four years (next in 2021) and sees teams from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, competing alongside outfits from Canada, China and the USA to be crowned ‘World Champions’.

Baseball giants to square off in London for the first time

Boston Red Sox fans cheer on their team at Fenway Park. Photo by: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said the event is part of a bigger attempt to grow the sport of Baseball in London, stating on the London Stadium’s website that he’s “been determined to bring baseball to the city,” and is “really pleased we have been able to reach what is a historic agreement.”

The London Stadium, which has a capacity of 66,000, is the regular stomping ground of Premier League football team West Ham United and was originally built to host track and field events at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Tickets for the landmark clash are still available, but are going fast. Be quick or risk striking out.

The post London to host Red Sox Vs Yankees: the first Major League Baseball game to be played in Europe appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.