MGM Resorts has been named by Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and MGM Resorts International as the title sponsor of the 2019 MGM MLB Opening Series.
The opening series is set to take place in Tokyo between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners. The AL West competitors are due to open the 2019 Championship Season with a two-game set March 20-21 at the Tokyo Dome.
MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO, Jim Murren, celebrated the opportunity to sponsor the major event: “We are very excited to partner with MLB and the MLBPA to deliver a one-of-a-kind fan experience that celebrates baseball in Japan.
“We look forward to giving fans a unique experience to participate in baseball activities in and out of the Tokyo Dome.”
The 2019 MGM MLB Opening Series is due to be MGM Resorts’ first major marketing activation around an MLB event, and the global company has plans to both offer fan-facing events outside of the ballpark, as well as displaying its logo on the right sleeve of the layers during the Opening Series.
Noah Garden, MLB Executive Vice President of Commerce added: “In just a few months as partners, MGM Resorts has really embraced this relationship and expanded their presence in the league.
“MGM Resorts will have a great opportunity to engage with and experience the extraordinary passion of baseball fans in Japan. We’re excited to have our new partners become such a significant part of our games in Tokyo.”
This year’s edition of the Opening Series will be the fifth time the MLB has begun its season in Tokyo. The last time the Opening Series took place in Tokyo was back in 2012, when the A’s and Mariners split the two games
“With this relationship, MGM is reinforcing the depth of its interest in baseball. We’re delighted to welcome them as partners for this event, and our players look forward to working together more directly in ways that maximize fan interest,” said Timothy Slavin, President of MLB Players Inc.
