Cobb County says loss of All-Star game will cost tourism industry over $100 million

All-Star Game moved FILE - Cardboard cutouts of fans in the otherwise empty seats face the field during the sixth inning of a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays in Atlanta, in this Thursday, July 30, 2020, file photo. Georgia’s new voting law _ which critics claim severely limits access to the ballot box, especially for people of color _ has prompted calls from as high as the White House to consider moving the midsummer classic out of Atlanta. The game is set for July 13 at Truist Park, the Braves’ 41,000-seat stadium in suburban Cobb County.(AP Photo/John Amis, File) (John Amis/AP)

By WSBTV.com News Staff

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Cobb County Travel and Tourism Bureau estimates that losses from Major League Baseball’s decision to move the All-Star Game out of Atlanta total more than $100 million.

“This event would have directly impacted our county and the state, as visitors spend their dollars on local accommodations, transportation, entertainment and recreation, food and retail throughout the county,” Cobb County Travel and Tourism said. “This would have been a big boost to Cobb businesses and help with recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

TRENDING STORIES:

The bureau said the 8,000-plus hotel rooms contracted for the game that will now not be needed will have a negative impact on the county’s hospitality industry, further delaying recovery from the pandemic.

“We are proud of the work that many community partners have dedicated to planning the All-Star Game activities,” the bureau said. “We will continue, as we always do, to show who we are in Cobb through our outreach, customer service and hard work”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]