The Boston Red Sox has become the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise to enter into a partnership with a casino and gaming company after confirming a deal with MGM Resorts International.
The multi-year agreement designates casino operator MGM Resorts as the official and exclusive resort casino of the Massachusetts-based Red Sox.
MGM Resorts will benefit from branding placement behind the home plate at the team’s Fenway Park home ballpark, as well as on the iconic Green Monster left field wall at the stadium.
The casino operator will also receive airtime on Red Sox radio and various other media outlets controlled by the franchise, and will gain the right to offer unique experiences at Fenway Park to fans and customers.
In addition, MGM will host a series of special promotional experiences at its MGM Springfield facility in Massachusetts. The venue will become the new home of the Red Sox’ annual Baseball Winter Weekend event.
“MGM has set the standard in the hospitality and entertainment industry and their recent expansion into the Commonwealth makes them a clear partner,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Red Sox family and look forward to a long collaboration.”
Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, added: “Combining the two iconic brands of the Red Sox and MGM Resorts will create a new one-of-a-kind fan experience for baseball fans unique to not only New England and MGM Springfield, but the rest of the country.
“We look forward to continuing our work and partnerships in the world of professional sports and building on our success as a worldwide entertainment leader.”
The Red Sox is the first franchise to enter into such a partnership, but MLB itself has secured a number of deals in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA last year.
Such deals include a partnership with MGM, under which the group serves as the official gaming and entertainment partner of the baseball league. More recently, MLB has appointed Sportradar as its official global data partner.
Image: Keith Allison