Swiss watch brand Hublot, along with a trio of Japanese companies -- video game producer GungHo Online Entertainment, logistics specialist Nippon Express and financial services giant Nomura Securities -- are in as global sponsors of the World Baseball Classic, which begins March 6. As top-tier sponsors, those companies get branding on outfield walls and dugouts at the six WBC venues, along with rotational behind-the-plate signage, media inventory and hospitality. All global sponsors except Nomura are running ad campaigns using WBC IP and imagery, said MLB VP/Int'l Media Sales & Marketing Partnerships Dominick Balsamo. As was the case in prior WBCs, sponsors get branding on jerseys and batting helmets. As of today, the U.S. team uniforms are unsponsored. GungHo (jersey) and Nippon Express (helmet) are sponsoring Japan's team, while LG has Korea's helmets and jerseys. Banco BHD has branding on the jersey of defending champion Dominican Republic, while AT&T (jersey) and Comex (helmet) are sponsors of Mexico. A total of 23 brands have purchased WBC team sponsorships. Delta Airlines is in as a supplier, but does not hold an exclusive position. MLB licensees will have a large WBC presence -- Majestic's jerseys, New Era's caps and Nike's underlayer will be worn by 15 of the 16 teams participating. Mizuno supplies Team Japan. Other WBC licensees are Antigua (apparel), Outerstuff (kids/youth apparel), Topps (trading cards) and Wincraft (novelties). Fanatics will be running concessions in Zapopan, Mexico, where Pool D is playing games; Miami; San Diego; and L.A. See a full list of WBC sponsors.
PARTNER |
CATEGORY |
Aeon Card |
Credit Card |
Aga |
Beverages |
Asahi Breweries |
Beer |
AT&T (Mexico - Jersey) |
Telecommunications |
Autobuses Pacifico |
Transpotations |
Banco BHD Leon (Dominican Republic - Jersey) |
Retail Banking |
Brooks Brothers Japan |
Suits |
Bumin Hospital |
Hospital |
Canadian Tire (Canada - Helmet) |
Retail |
Cathay Bank (Chinese Taipei - Helmet) |
Financial Services |
Cerveceria Presidente |
Beer |
City of Rotterdam |
Tourism |
Claro (Dominican Republic - Helmet) |
Telecommunications |
Comex (Mexico - Helmet) |
Construction |
Curacao Tourism (Netherlands - Jersey) |
Tourism |
Delta |
Airline |
Dominican Republic Tourism |
Tourism |
Efecty (Colombia - Jersey) |
Money Transfer |
Eneos |
Energy |
Flex Power |
Sports Cream |
Gatorade |
Isotonic Beverage |
Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela (Venezuela - Helmet) |
Government |
GungHo Online Entertainment (Global; Japan - Jersey) |
Gaming |
Hospital San Javier |
Hospital |
HTC (Chinese Taipei - Jersey) |
Consumer Electronics |
Hublot (Global) |
Timepiece |
JTB |
Travel |
Kia |
Automobile |
Lawson HMV Entertainment |
Ticket Vendor |
LendLease (Australia - Jersey) |
Project Management/Construction |
LG (Korea - Jersey and Helmet) |
Consumer Electronics |
Mizuno |
Sportswear |
Monte |
Candy |
Nippon Express (Global; Japan - Helmet) |
Logistics/Moving |
Nomura Securities |
Financial Services |
OFVC |
Tourism |
PDVSA (Venezuela - Jersey) |
Energy |
Potosinos |
Trucking |
Savas |
Soft Drink |
Seoul City |
Government |
Shinhyub |
Credit Union |
Sodastream (Israel - Jersey and Helmet) |
Carbonated Beverages |
StrikeZon |
Baseball |
Sun Life Financial (Canada - Jersey) |
Insurance and Financial Planning |
T-Mobile (Puerto Rico - Jersey) |
Telecommunications |
Tecate |
Beer |
Universal (Puerto Rico - Helmet) |
Insurance |
Value |
Financial Services |
Wellink (Netherlands - Helmet) |
Pork Distributor |
Wingo (Colombia - Helmet) |
Airline |
Zapopan |
Tourism |
PARTNER |
CATEGORY |
Aeon Card |
Credit Card |
Aga |
Beverages |
Asahi Breweries |
Beer |
AT&T (Mexico - Jersey) |
Telecommunications |
Autobuses Pacifico |
Transpotations |
Banco BHD Leon (Dominican Republic - Jersey) |
Retail Banking |
Brooks Brothers Japan |
Suits |
Bumin Hospital |
Hospital |
Canadian Tire (Canada - Helmet) |
Retail |
Cathay Bank (Chinese Taipei - Helmet) |
Financial Services |
Cerveceria Presidente |
Beer |
City of Rotterdam |
Tourism |
Claro (Dominican Republic - Helmet) |
Telecommunications |
Comex (Mexico - Helmet) |
Construction |
Curacao Tourism (Netherlands - Jersey) |
Tourism |
Delta |
Airline |
Efecty (Colombia - Jersey) |
Money Transfer |
Eneos |
Energy |
Flex Power |
Sports Cream |
Gatorade |
Isotonic Beverage |
Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela (Venezuela - Helmet) |
Government |
GungHo Online Entertainment (Global; Japan - Jersey) |
Gaming |
Hospital San Javier |
Hospital |
HTC (Chinese Taipei - Jersey) |
Consumer Electronics |
Hublot (Global) |
Timepiece |
JTB |
Travel |
Lawson HMV Entertainment |
Ticket Vendor |
LendLease (Australia - Jersey) |
Project Management/Construction |
LG (Korea - Jersey and Helmet) |
Consumer Electronics |
Mizuno |
Sportswear |
Monte |
Candy |
Nippon Express (Global; Japan - Helmet) |
Logistics/Moving |
Nomura Securities |
Financial Services |
OFVC |
Tourism |
PDVSA (Venezuela - Jersey) |
Energy |
Potosinos |
Trucking |
Savas |
Soft Drink |
Seoul City |
Government |
Shinhyub |
Credit Union |
Sodastream (Israel - Jersey and Helmet) |
Carbonated Beverages |
Strike Zone |
Baseball |
Sun Life Financial (Canada - Jersey) |
Insurance and Financial Planning |
T-Mobile (Puerto Rico - Jersey) |
Telecommunications |
Universal (Puerto Rico - Helmet) |
Insurance |
Wellink (Netherlands - Helmet) |
Pork Distributor |
Wingo (Colombia - Helmet) |
Airline |