MLB All-Star Village in Philadelphia sets attendance record with over 111,000 visitors in four days

Overview

MLB has hosted a FanFest in the home city of its All-Star Game since 1991. The event continues to grow in size and scope each year, drawing thousands of visitors for the Home Run Derby, the All-Star Game, and local baseball-themed festivities.

This year, Philadelphia hosted one of the largest events ever. The All-Star Village, presented by Capital One for the fifth consecutive year—and the final year of a $125 million sponsorship with MLB—occupied 500,000 square feet of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, approximately 74% of the available space. This amounted to nearly 95% of the center’s largest contiguous exhibit area.

Event Design and Attractions

According to a press release from MLB, this year’s Village was “modeled after the City of Neighborhoods,” with different sections representing various Philadelphia neighborhoods, including:

• Center City
• Fairmount
• Fishtown
• Old City
• South Philly

Attractions included:

• Three baseball fields
• Batting and pitching experiences
• Multiple virtual reality attractions
• Historical exhibits
• Merchandise sales from Fanatics, New Era, Franklin Sports, Rawlings, Mitchell & Ness, and various artists from across the country
• Food offerings from multiple MLB ballparks
• Stages for player interviews and daily autograph sessions

MLB’s press release listed more than 40 former players scheduled to attend. The MLB Network hosted players in a mock clubhouse, where fans could listen among lockers filled with jerseys and equipment from and for many 2026 All-Stars.

Attendance and Ticket Sales

The Village was open from July 11 through July 14. While MLB had predicted approximately 80,000 attendees, more than 111,000 people visited. Most paid the $35 admission fee, though early birds could purchase tickets for $10, and certain Capital One card members were eligible for four complimentary admissions.

The cost did not deter attendance. This was the most attended All-Star fan event since the 2022 edition in Los Angeles, though that event also featured an outdoor section not available in Philadelphia.

Planning and Setup

Commissioner Rob Manfred had promised former Phillies owner David Montgomery that the 2026 All-Star Game would be held in Philadelphia to coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday. The spectacle was seven years in the making. Actual setup began on July 1, and everything was loaded out by Friday, three days after the event’s final day.

Sponsorship and Retail Records

Forty-four domestic sponsors of MLB and 37 international partners activated during the week. This led to:

• A new retail record for sales at the Village
• Matching the 2022 record for All-Star Week merchandise sales
• A 45% increase in sales compared to the 2025 event in Atlanta
• A 34% increase in sales on MLBShop.com compared to the 2025 All-Star Week

Top Product Categories

• Headwear – Nearly 25% of all products sold
• Hard goods – Second most popular
• Jerseys – Third most popular

Local Impact

Although MLB is a national organization with multinational partners, this year it worked with more than 40 different vendors from Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Approximately 1,500 local individuals were employed on a short-term basis to work alongside MLB staff, including:

• Electricians
• Stagehands
• Musicians
• Docents
• Ticket-takers
• Crowd control personnel at various entrances and exits

Looking Ahead

Next year’s All-Star Game is scheduled to be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, subject to owner approval.