The Kansas City Royals, on the heels of their first World Series title in 30 years, have signed 21 new corporate partners this offseason and renewed or extended 11 deals.
Mike Bucek, Royals vice president of marketing and business development, said sponsorship revenue for this season is up 22 percent from 2015. Including radio-only partners, the new deals bring the team’s roster to just under 150.
The team this offseason filled several new sponsorship categories, making Stoney Creek Hospitality its first official hotel partner and Creighton University its first education partner. Other new partners include Old Dominion Freight Line, Planet Fitness, Flowers Foods, Re/Max, Chick-fil-A, True Value, My Pillow and Prime Lending.
The team’s renewed and extended partners include Chevrolet, Smithfield Foods, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Sonic and Ford.
Jason Booker, Royals senior director of corporate partnerships and broadcast sales, pointed to the Old Dominion deal as an example of the team’s rising star among MLB teams, noting the company partners with only five MLB teams nationally.
“The 2014 success allowed us to open some doors, and winning it in 2015 really gave us an opportunity to get some of those across the finish line,” Booker said.
