The Braves have "inked a new multi-year, multifaceted partnership" with Georgia-based Mizuno that "has a sponsorship and a retail element" for the team's new SunTurst Park and the adjacent Battery Atlanta mixed-use development, according to Phil Hudson of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. Braves President of Business Derek Schiller said that from the team’s perspective, the store "represents a brand that is certainly very well known in the world of sports, specifically baseball." Mizuno has been in the Atlanta area "for more than 35 years." The company as part of the deal will have "two baseball glove kiosks" at its new ballpark that will "provide fans an opportunity to 'check out' a Mizuno glove during the game in order to catch fly balls and homeruns." Mizuno COO Mark O'Brien said, "This is a one-of-a-kind experience that we don’t believe is in place at any other ballpark in the country." O’Brien said that fans who check out the glove can "choose to either return it to the kiosk, purchase it or head over to the new nearly 4,000-square-foot Mizuno 'Brand Experience' store that will open at The Battery Atlanta as part of the partnership for unique 'tie-ins.'" In addition to baseball, the store will "showcase Mizuno’s other sub-brands like softball, golf, running and volleyball." Mizuno USA President Bob Puccini noted Mizuno "wants to make sure people understand it’s an Atlanta-based company" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/21). The agreement makes Mizuno the Braves' official baseball gear provider. In addition to the glove kiosks, Mizuno also will have promotional signage and branding throughout the park. Mizuno baseball and softball equipment will be used in the Kid's Zone, Mizuno also will be the presenting sponsor of three of the Braves' annual youth baseball tournaments. It will also sponsor the annual Braves Country 5K and Braves Foundation Golf Classic (Mizuno).
