U.S. venues for the 2013 World Baseball Classic were announced today, with the final two rounds set for AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, with prior rounds scheduled for Miami and Phoenix.
The decision to hold the semifinals and final at AT&T Park is logical: the past two classics featured final rounds at Petco Park and Dodger Stadium, with the games being a big draw for Asian baseball fans both domestic and international. That same appeal should extend to San Francisco if Japanese players decide to participate.
The second-round games are set for Marlins Park, the home of the Miami Marlins. Those games will be the first WBC games played under a retractable roof.
The first-round U.S. games are set for Chase Field and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the regular-season and spring-training homes for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Still to be announced: international first-round locations and a WBC schedule.
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