FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announces that the Fayetteville SwampDogs have been awarded the 2016 CPL All-Star Game. The 18th annual All-Star event will make its fourth trip to Fayetteville, N.C., on July 10-11.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the Fayetteville SwampDogs as host to our 2016 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game,” said CPL COO/Commissioner Justin Sellers. “From Lew Handelsman to Jeremy Aagard and their entire staff, the SwampDogs are a staple not only in the All-American City of Fayetteville, but in the CPL. They have proven time and again to make a night at the ballpark a memorable experience for their fans and we look forward to seeing what ‘fun’ they have in store with our All-Star event! This will be a great couple of days to highlight the best players in the league and to showcase the SwampDogs, their loyal fans, and the City of Fayetteville!”

The event will kick off with the CPL All-Star Fan Fest and Home Run Derby on Sunday, July 10. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the All-Stars during the Fan Fest, as well as other activities to be announced, before watching both the East and West All-Star teams square off in the Home Run Derby. The All-Star luncheon will be held on Monday, July 11 with a special guest speaker, followed by a Major League style scout day for the All-Star participants. Finally, the main event – the 2016 CPL All-Star Game – will take place that evening.

“We are extremely excited to be bringing the All-Star Game back to Fayetteville,” said SwampDogs general manager Jeremy Aagard. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase all the great things Fayetteville has to offer to a huge audience.”

The CPL partnered with Skye Design Studios (www.sdsbranding.com) to develop its 2016 All-Star Game logo. SDS is a brand identity and design firm based in the greater New York City area with a satellite location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“2016 marks our third consecutive CPL All-Star identity,” said Skye Dillon, owner of Skye Design Studios. “It was a pleasure to partner with the SwampDogs and create a mark that resonates with the team, league, and city alike. Fayetteville represents a special combination of Americana and baseball. In addition to its noted military history, it is also home to Babe Ruth’s first professional home run and the birth of his transcendent nickname. Our goal was to create a visual narrative that drew from this inspiration while celebrating Fungo and the SwampDogs franchise.”

His goal shines through in each detail, from small to large, that is seen within the logo. For instance, Fungo is featured as the centerpiece of the mark and is framed by the historic sign recognizing Babe’s connection to the city. Meanwhile, the two bats and American flag pay tribute to Fayetteville’s All-American status as well as Babe’s Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown.

A full family of complementary All-Star marks will be released in the coming weeks.

More details on the All-Star festivities will be released as the event approaches. For tickets or more information on the 2016 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game, please contact the Fayetteville SwampDogs office at (910) 426-5900 or online at www.goswampdogs.com, or visit the CPL at www.coastalplain.com.