Angels' Signing Of Matsui Leads To Deals With Japanese Companies

Angels Enjoying Bump In Revenue Since Signing Matsui In Offseason

The Angels are enjoying a "Matsui bump" from their offseason signing of DH Hideki Matsui, a bump that has "already started showing up in the team's revenue," according to Bill Plunkett of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Angels President John Carpino said sales of team merchandise have been "brisk," and added there has been a "residual effect in ticket sales" from the Matsui signing. But of "more immediate help to the Angels' bottom line were the calls the Angels' sales and marketing department began getting from Japanese companies interested in signing on as sponsors and advertising at Angel Stadium." Carpino said that those calls have "translated into sponsorships totaling 'in the high six figures,'" with the "possibility of more deals being made as the season approaches." Angels VP/Corporate Sales Richard McClemmy said that the team was "contacted almost immediately after Matsui's signing in mid-December by" Japan-based ad agency Dentsu, "acting on behalf of numerous Japanese companies." Angels Owner Arte Moreno: "We did not anticipate getting calls as quickly as we did after signing Hideki." Plunkett notes sponsorship deals have been struck with Yokahama, Nitto Tires, technology parts manufacturer THK, restaurant chain Kula Sushi and construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu. Komatsu previously "had a large billboard in right field at Yankee Stadium," but the company "will not be advertising at Yankee Stadium this season." Carpino said that there are "no plans at this point for any signage in the Angel Stadium outfield featuring Japanese companies." Those companies instead have "focused on the 'rotational' signs behind home plate -- the better to grab screen time when Matsui is at the plate." McClemmy also said that the team is "working on a potential sponsorship deal for the backdrop behind Matsui during any of his press conferences -- a revenue opportunity the Red Sox maximize by changing backdrops when" P Daisuke Matsuzaka speaks to the media (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/10).

ALL HIDEKI, ALL THE TIME: In L.A., Mike DiGiovanna notes "everything Matsui does -- even wears -- is newsworthy to the Japanese media, whose blanket coverage" of Matsui "borders on obsessive." When Matsui arrives at the Angels' Spring Training complex in the morning, the "large Japanese media contingent is at the back entrance to greet him, and the same group returns to the parking lot in the afternoon to send him off." Isao Hirooka, an Angels official who "coordinates the Japanese media's coverage of Matsui," said, "They cover him as he leaves because at the last minute, before he gets in his car, he might trip on something and fall down. And that's going to be news" (L.A. TIMES, 3/10).