Numerous politicians, media members and a smattering of fans who assembled near the Binghamton Rumble Ponies dugout on a pleasant Thursday afternoon signaled something important was about to be announced.

Turns out, in about 35 months, NYSEG Stadium will play host to the 2020 Eastern League All-Star game. Circle July 15, 2020 on your calendars – the likely date the Eastern League’s best players will converge on Binghamton to showcase their talents.

“It’s a destination for baseball enthusiasts,” said Binghamton Mayor Rich David, joined by state Senator Fred Akshar, state Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney at the announcement.

“You’re going to see players from across the region, across the league – the best of the best come to Binghamton," David said. "People are going to come to see the new stadium, they’re going to come to see top-level talent, they’re going to see a game that has never really taken place in this community before.

"There’s no doubt in my mind it’s going to be a full house and when people come out for these types of events, athletic events, without question, they go to restaurants before, to taverns after, they spend a lot of time in downtown. From an economic standpoint, it’s very significant.”

Eastern League President Joe McEacharn was first to the podium.

“In recognition of the efforts of every member of this community, its leadership, I’m pleased to announce that Binghamton and the Rumble Ponies have been awarded the 2020 Eastern League All-Star Game,” McEacharn said.

It will mark the second time Binghamton has hosted an all-star game. In 1994, then-named Binghamton Municipal Stadium was the site for the Double-A All-Star Game. For a five-year span in the 1990s, the three leagues that play Double-A baseball – the Eastern, Texas and Southern leagues – combined their stars for one game.

On June 30, Rumble Ponies President John Hughes submitted a bid to host a future all-star game and encouraged area fans through social media to let the Eastern League know that Binghamton wanted it. The hashtag #bingithome was the rallying cry.

“This community has a lot of heart and when we get behind something, we really, really stick with it,” Lupardo said.

Binghamton didn’t get the 2019 game – that went to Richmond, Virginia, in an announcement made July 15 – but it has the 2020 game.

“I almost cried, frankly,” said Hughes, Rumble Ponies President since December of 2015. “It’s a huge win for not just me but the community. To be the underdog, the dark horse and rally around the community, it was a humbling moment in my life. It really was.”

Akshar praised Hughes’ leadership.

“That’s why we made a $2 million investment in the stadium this year,” said Akshar. “Clearly, the commitment of John Hughes and this organization runs very, very deep. They’re committed to Binghamton, they’re committed to the Southern Tier for an extended period of time, so you can make an investment like that in a place like this. It impacts the economy in a positive way. It’s all good stuff.”

Without going into specifics, Hughes said he wants to put on a great show.

“We’re going to spend the next three years thinking of some great and creative things to do, things that have never been before at the all-star game,” he said. “I have three years to prepare for this – watch out.”

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