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Fans Can Buy Key Chain With
Rosenblatt Stadium Dirt Included |
The College World Series "long has been a merchandising mecca for baseball memorabilia," and with the event celebrating its last year at Rosenblatt Stadium, a "whole new slew of collectibles is on deck," according to Julie Anderson of the Omaha WORLD-HERALD. Tents, storefronts and websites are "loaded with merchandise bearing the Rosenblatt name." There are T-shirts, hats, bats, necklaces and charms, "art that spells out the stadium name" and "even plaques and key chains that preserve a bit of the beloved stadium's soil." When fans purchase Rosenblatt merchandise, the city of Omaha "will get a cut, thanks to a deal worked out earlier this year that gave the city the Rosenblatt Stadium trademark." Anderson noted the Triple-A PCL Omaha Royals are the "official suppliers, under an agreement with the city, of stadium dirt." The club has "come up with five ways to sell it: two plaques, a coin, a key chain -- and an 8-ounce jar of the sacred soil, which goes for $25." The Royals also are "selling hand-numbered, limited-edition models of the stadium, as well as photographs and Rosenblatt patches, koozies and seat cushions." Royals Dir of Merchandise Jason Kinney: "Anything that says Rosenblatt on it, it's going to sell" (Omaha WORLD-HERALD, 6/22).
BASEBALL & BUSINESS: In Omaha, Joe Ruff reports city development officials "threw out a pitch for the first weekend of the College World Series: packs of 'baseball' cards, including bubble gum, with pictures of the CWS and lists of reasons to do business" in the city. Each package "contained 10 cards with pictures of Rosenblatt Stadium, players in action and coaches overseeing warm-ups." Captions under each picture read, "Omaha, Where Dreams Come True." Invitations "went to 450 site selectors across the country, experts who scout cities and help companies decide where to establish offices." Thirteen site selectors "accepted the invitation to visit Omaha Thursday through Saturday," during which they "toured the city and attended" Saturday's TCU-Florida St. opening game. The Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership "sponsored the tour, which cost about $25,000 and was designed for experts representing a variety of firms" (Omaha WORLD-HERALD, 6/23).
