Merrill Lynch has bought two title sponsorships for
MLB's upcoming eight-game tour of Japan, according to Terry
Lefton of BRANDWEEK. The company bought entitlement to the
tour from Japan's Yomiyuri, "getting Japanese media, signage
and hospitality, plus a $400,000 team sponsorship" from MLB
Int'l that gets it a logo on MLB players' batting helmets.
Lefton reports that AIG (also know as AIU) has returned as a
tour sponsor, and will receive a uniform patch. MLBI VP/
Sponsorship Paul Archey said that the $700,000 garnered from
the two deals "nearly doubles" sponsor revenues from MLB's
last tour of Japan. Lefton adds that TV rights outside of
Japan and specific players participating "are still pending"
for the "Superdome Series," which will stop in Tokyo, Osaka
and Fukuoka from November 6 to 15 (BRANDWEEK, 8/24 issue).
MLB EYES CORPORATE UNIFORM SPONSOR? The SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein reports that MLB could "become the
first of the big four leagues to place corporate-sponsor
logos on team uniforms," as MLB's on-field deal with Russell
Corp. expires after next season. Such a decision would be
made by MLBP VP/Licensing Howard Smith and whomever replaces
MLBP President Bob Gamgort. Bernstein: "Another possibility
is that the league will simply extend all current deals for
another season" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/24 issue).
