Cobb County, Georgia estimates that Major League Baseball’s (MLB) decision to eliminate the Atlanta All-Star Game will cost the area’s tourism industry $ 100 million.
MLB pulled out the All-Star Game outside Georgia on Friday in protest of the state’s controversial new voting law, enacted by the governor. Brian kemp
Brian Kemp Trump calls for boycott of MLB for moving the Republican All-Star Game House calls MLB ‘absolutely pathetic’ for moving the All-Star Game Warnock: MLB decision ‘unfortunate’ consequence of Georgia law MORE (R) last month.
The decision was the furthest a company has gone to protest legislation that has tightened voting restrictions.
The law has sparked a wave of backlash from Democrats and voting rights groups who say the new law is a form of voter suppression.
Holly Quinlan, President and CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism, said CNN in a statement that the “estimated lost economic impact” of the league’s decision is more than $ 100 million.
“In the initial stages of the pandemic, many Cobb [County] hotels saw single-digit occupancy figures, “Quinlan told CNN. “The more than 8,000 contracted hotel room nights that will not be upgraded as a result of the relocation of the MLB All-Star Game will negatively impact Cobb’s hospitality industry and other local businesses, further delaying recovery.”
Separately, Quinlan said in a press conference on Friday that the event “would have been a huge boost for Cobb’s companies and would help with recovery efforts after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“We are proud of the work that many community partners have put into planning All Star Game activities. And we will continue, as we always do, to show who we are at Cobb through our reach, customer service and hard work, ”he said.
Republicans criticized the MLB decision and criticized the league for giving in to the demands of the left.
Previous President Trump
Donald Trump White House Says Bills Are Bipartisan Even If The Republican Party Doesn’t Vote For Them on Friday called for a boycott of the MLB for “interfering with free and fair elections.”
And some Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Mike lee
Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeHillicon Valley: Supreme Court Rules Facebook Text Alerts Not Similar to robocalls | Republicans pressure Google, Apple, Amazon on Parler removals | Texas Senate Stops Social Media Platforms From Banning Users For Political Motives Republicans Pressure Google, Apple, Amazon Over Parler’s Removals The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden Changes Filibuster MORE (Utah), Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz O’Rourke Clarifies Comments, Leaves Door Open to Run for Governor O’Rourke Says He Doesn’t Plan to Run for Texas Gov. Ocasio-Cortez to Cruz: His Resignation is 84 Days Late MORE (Texas) and Rep. Jeff Duncan
Jeffrey (Jeff) Darren Duncan Republican senators push to end MLB antitrust status Trump calls for boycott of MLB for moving the All-Star Game Republicans criticize MLB for moving the All-Star Game MORE (SOUTH CAROLINA) asked for an ending to the league’s antitrust status.
SB 202 sets limits on the ballot box for turning in ballots and requires a photo ID to vote absentee, among other restrictions. More controversial, it prohibits giving food or drink to people within 150 feet of polling places, even those waiting in line to vote.
Republicans argued that it was meant to ensure free and fair elections amid widespread voter fraud in the 2020 elections. But there is no evidence that widespread fraud plagued the election, and critics of the law have argued that it amounts to the voter suppression.
Kemp defended the law in a Press conference on Saturday, saying the restrictions “were worth” the boycotts and lawsuits that have occurred since then.
“Free and fair elections are the foundation of who we are as a state and a nation. Safe, accessible and fair elections are worth the threats. They deserve both the boycotts and the lawsuits, ”he said.