Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, November 21, 2024
Last week, I wrote about the symbiotic benefits of the Rockies partnering with a company and putting that company’s logo on the uniform sleeve. Outside of giving the team a revenue boost to compensate for a loss in TV dollars, the company would get a decent amount of viewership and promotion as baseball patches get more screentime than do those on NBA, NHL or MLS jerseys.
Now it’s time to look at possible partnerships to adorn the purple pinstripes, road grays and the new, yet-to-be-seen City Connect jerseys. In a style fitting this long offseason, some of my nominations are serious and logical, while others are slightly satiric (in a somewhat Onion-like manner).
DISH
Partnering with the satellite TV, streaming (Sling TV) and phone company (Boost Mobile) could be a win-win for the Rockies. Not only could the Rockies create a TV and streaming deal with Dish to increase game viewership, they could also have all sorts of in-game promotions for when the Rockies cross the dish (home plate) and when pitchers throw over it (reducing walks). Maybe this reminder could lead to a higher run-scoring offense (the Rockies tied for 19th with 682 runs scored last season) and a lower walk total (the Rockies ranked No. 27 with 563 walks in 2024).
Crocs
The Rockies and the company known for comfortable shoes that also draw incredible amounts of wrath for their lack of fashion and professionalism could be a perfect fit. The Rockies also draw a lot of criticism for not operating like a professional baseball team with their insular nature. Crocs are headquartered in Broomfield, have a high workplace satisfaction as a top employer and focus a lot on sustainability. Just imagine the promotions. Wear-your-Crocs day, Crocs giveaways and a unifying message that says, “we are here and we don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
OtterBox
This is just a smart idea to partner with the Fort Collins company that makes armored jackets for phones for two reasons: The promos could be amazing with purple phone protector giveaways, and also because otters are ridiculously cute. In the multitasking madness of carrying beverages and food while sliding past folks to get to the middle of a row, it’s easy to imagine a lot of phones get dropped. Now, they could be Rockies OtterBox protected. Plus, the more people see that otter in the logo and possibly have some between-inning otter game on the scoreboard, the happier we’ll all be at Coors Field regardless of the outcome.
Coors Light
With Coors Field being the main attraction for many ticket purchasers, including those who enjoy beverages on the Rooftop and may or may not be aware of the team the Rockies are playing, let alone the status of the game, this Coors Light patch on the sleeve could be a perfect reminder to everyone that the product on the field is not the main draw for many in attendance. “As Cold as the Rockies” could be a motto for when the Rockies are shut out, when the offense is in a slump or a fan promotion for offering discounted Coors Lights when first-pitch temperatures are 32 degrees or lower.
Newmont Mining
This would be a gold mine for the Rockies, literally. The company earns over $5 billion in profits annually, is the “world’s leading gold company and producer of copper, silver, zinc and lead” and is headquartered in the Denver Tech Center. Newmont has teamed up with the Rockies in the past to donate $50 every time a Rockies pitcher recorded a strikeout to Project C.U.R.E., a Colorado non-profit dedicated to gathering, sorting, and delivering much-needed medical supplies to locations all over the world. Newmont and the Rockies could pair up again and keep the Project C.U.R.E. project going.
Lockheed Martin
With over 10,000 employees in Colorado, Lockheed Martin has a huge footprint in the Mile High City. Is there any better way to promote the advancements of technology and the ingenuity of the human spirit than to partner with a global security and aerospace company? In order to be taken seriously, the Rockies would need to commit to serious increases in research and development, along with a deal to wisely use analytics to improve player and team performance. Lockheed Martin’s staff could take the staff and coaches on in a mentorship role, which could count toward the company’s social impact service mission: “We’re committed to fostering positive change and inspiring the next generation by engaging in local initiatives and supporting essential causes that create lasting impact. Our focus areas include science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, military and veteran causes, and projects that contribute to building more resilient and thriving communities.” The Rockies could be a great cause.
Western Union
Nothing like a historic pick that conjures images of telegraphs to pair up with the Rockies, who often seem nostalgic for the good old days like Rocktober and rosters with Hall of Famers. Western Union has old ties to Denver and is currently located 1/5 of a mile from Newmont Mining. The promotions might not be as fun as some of the other options, but the service of educating fans on sending and cashing money orders could be very valuable.
Bank of Colorado
This could be the most valuable sponsorship for the front office. I am sure Bank of Colorado could get some new customers and they could be creative with branded swag giveaways to grow their company, but this might be my top choice if they could provide Dick Monfort and Co. with financial advising. If this deal could have been made earlier, perhaps the Rockies could have been talked out of offering Kris Bryant a seven-year, $182 million deal to a player past his prime and that was at least $50 million more than any other team would have offered.
Do you have other ideas for sponsored patches for the Rockies? Share your thoughts below.
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Here are the MVP Award vote totals | MLB.com
In an announcement that surprised no one, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge won unanimous MVPs on Thursday. In a wee bit of good news, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar got one ninth-place vote and one 10th-place vote.
MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams | The Associated Press
The automated ball-strike system could be coming to MLB in 2026 if Commissioner Rob Manfred has his way. The current collective bargaining agreement deal between the Major League Baseball Umpires Association and MLB will expire Dec. 1. A new deal to let the robo umps into MLB games would have to be agreed to by both sides. Fans and players alike will get a small taste of what the ABS system could be like in MLB games in Spring Training in 2025.
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