THE London Stadium has undergone a dramatic transformation in preparation for the return of Major League Baseball.
West Ham’s home ground has been transformed into a full-purpose baseball pitch in preparation for next week’s MLB London Series.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will duke it out in a two-game series at the home of the Europa Conference League champions.
And ground staff have already laid down the pitcher’s mound and bases in preparation for the matches.
Over 144,000 square feet of artificial turf and 345 tonnes of clay have been installed at the stadium.
The foul poles on either side of the playing area are 18metres high – almost as tall as the arena.
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The Cardinals and Cubs’ London clash was announced last year, much to the delight of UK-based baseball fans.
Cardinals CEO William DeWitt Jr said: “The Cardinals are excited and honored to be a part of the London Series next year.
The Cardinals-Cubs rivalry is one of the best in sports, and it will be exciting to bring it to Europe for a new audience to experience.
“I have no doubt that the passionate sports fans in London will love these games and we look forward to creating some new Cardinals fans overseas.”
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Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Rickets said: “The MLB London Series between the Cubs and Cardinals has been in the works for years now and we’re thrilled to finally be able to bring one of baseball’s biggest rivalries to fans abroad in 2023.
“We hope that this series not only excites and entertains but brings more international sports fans to the game we all love.”
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London Stadium bigwigs are also thrilled at the upcoming series between the MLB big boys.
CEO Graham Gilmore said: “We are immensely proud to host Major League Baseball back at London Stadium, after the hugely popular London Series in 2019.
“This commitment will allow us to support the aim of MLB to grow the game in the UK for years to come, while demonstrating the versatility of our magnificent venue.”
The 2019 MLB series at the London Stadium saw the New York Yankees take on their bitter rivals the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees came out of the series victorious, winning the first match 17-13 and the second 12-8.
St Louis Cardinals will play Chicago Cubs in the MLB World Tour: London Series 2023 on June 24-25 at London Stadium. Tickets are available now at ticketmaster.co.uk/mlb.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
