CLEVELAND — On Tuesday, the City of Cleveland, Major League Baseball, the Cleveland Indians and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission held a news conference to talk about plans ahead of the 2019 All-Star Game.
Officials provided a variety of public service and safety recommendations around the events that are leading up to and through the All-Star Game on July 9.
Because in just a few days, the eyes of the world will be focused on the CLE. Tuesday morning, a team of officials announced details and plans.
Some roads have already been shut down, barricades are going up and the Cleveland Police Department is beefing up their line up with the help of local, state and federal agencies to make sure visitors are safe. There will be hundreds of police officers from a dozen different agencies downtown during All-Star Week. “The cornerstone of prevention is partnership,” said Eric Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland FBI.
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said you will see some of the officers but not all of them. “We do a layered approach to security for events,” said Williams. “You won’t see things prior to the event, intelligence gathering things like that people don’t see,” said Williams.
This is the sixth time Cleveland has been picked for MLB’s mid-summer classic. “The reason so many events keep coming back to Cleveland is not because we’re a great city, which we are, but they also leave safe, secure and successful,” said David Gilbert, Pres & CEO Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
MLB will also be cracking down on fake merchandise and fake tickets. “We’re working with undercover law enforcement officials throughout Cleveland and at the federal level to address counterfeit issues,” said Ethan Orlinsky, Sr VP & General Counsel MLB. Call 1-800-TLCAPS if you see fake merchandise or tickets,
Officials recommend using public transportation and allowing extra time because of security. Progressive Field will have security in place similar to post season security.
