SPIDERMAN 2 to appear on bases in all MLB games

sherman · May 5, 2004

In a move that has purists howling, Major League Baseball has agreed to decorate its bases -- and pitching-mound rubbers and on-deck circles -- with a spider-web pattern as part of a promotion for the release of Sony Corp.'s "Spider-Man 2" next month.

The superhero sequel is set to open in theaters June 30. "`Spider-Man 2' Weekend" will start Friday, June 11, and all 15 MLB teams playing at home have agreed to participate for one or more games, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reported on Wednesday.

The deal is baseball's latest attempt to develop a splashier national marketing image. "In an ultracompetitive sports-entertainment environment, you have to take risks," says Tim Brosnan, MLB's executive vice president for business.

jimmythegreek · May 5, 2004

sure why not, maybe even fly a dove past a pitch
of the big unit, he whacks it and its feathers
form an ad.

TheGeneral+ · May 5, 2004

What will Nader say

TheGeneral+ · May 5, 2004

LOL Wil

Ol' Nader is on top of it.

RobFunk · May 5, 2004

why dont they just paint the outfield with red and blue with the spiderman logo and rename the teams after products look at the money they did it for "Most other 13 teams that are home that weekend will get about $50,000 apiece, the executive said" thats almost as much as a posting forum moderator. . .what an embarassment

RobFunk · May 5, 2004

nader is definatly a big fan of the game. i ran into him the other day at a starbucks we were in line and he couldnt stop talking about the seasons finley and beltre were having and he said he feels bad for nomo becuase his velocity is down.

wilheim · May 5, 2004

Out by a foot -- or is it a web? "Spider-Man 2" ads are coming to selected ballparks' bases.

wil.

Journeyman · May 5, 2004

It won`t be much longer before player uniforms resemble Nascar cars...all decked out with laundry detergent brands on their backs...

TheGeneral+ · May 5, 2004

Money talks. Doesn't hardly matter the subject anylonger.

PeteRoseJR · May 5, 2004

No offense but you guys sound like your 80 yrs old.......... Sad but true fact..... Baseball HAS to do something......4000 fans in Montreal last night....thats embarrising.

PRJ

Mr NJ Sports · May 5, 2004

It's a base !!!! Who cares?

What is worse? A movie logo on a base or an old idiot DH telling everyone he takes Viagra.

areeff · May 5, 2004

This is only the beginning... It's only the beginning... The seeds are being sewn.

TheFunkMonkey · May 5, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pete Rose JR:
No offense but you guys sound like your 80 yrs old.......... Sad but true fact..... Baseball HAS to do something......4000 fans in Montreal last night....thats embarrising.

PRJ<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not sure I follow you.

1) Are you saying that placing ads on the bases will attract more fans to baseball?
2) You can't use the Expos as an example for ANYTHING. Yes, they only drew 4000 fans. But the team is gonna leave Montreal sooner or later, so their attendance (or lack thereof) shouldn't be used if you're trying to prove any sort of reasonable point.

TheFunkMonkey · May 6, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by areeff:
This is only the beginning... It's only the beginning... The seeds are being sewn.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You mean the seeds of mass consumerism that will eventually turn every citizen into a corporate zombie? Yes, they're being sewn everywhere. Sports, music, television, movies, politics, etc.

TheGeneral+ · May 6, 2004

NEW YORK : Major League Baseball's 3.6 million-dollar marketing deal to promote the movie "Spider-Man 2" has struck out with the New York Yankees, who refuse to have the film's logo featured on bases during games.

Yankees officials will not allow the movie logo on the pitcher's mound and will display Spidey logos on bases only during batting practice for games June 11-13 at Yankee Stadium.

"We try to work with Major League Baseball, but if we think it's something that's not good for the Yankees and Yankee Stadium, we're not going to do it," Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost told the New York Daily News.

All 15 clubs with home games June 11-13 will feature the "Spidey" logos on bases, but not all will utilize them during games.

Rick Cerrone, a Yankees spokesman, said the logos would be seen in the on-deck circle throughout the intra-league games against San Diego but only before games on bases.

"The logo will be on the bases during pregame only," Cerrone said. "Once the game begins, there will be no advertisement on the field of play."

The "Spidey 2" controversy follows advertisements being allowed on the riding pants of jockeys in last Saturday's Kentucky Derby horse race and brings into question where marketing ends and tarnishing a sport's traditions begins.

"Where do we go from here? Chico's Bail Bonds on us?" Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina told the Daily News, citing sponsors for baseball's cinematic "Bad News Bears".

"Somebody's making money. They're using every place they can to advertise."

The deal would pay the Yankees about 125,000 dollars, more than most other teams under terms set in talks between Major League Baseball Properties with Marvel (Comics) Studios and Sony Incorporated's Columbia Pictures division.

McCann Erickson, an advertising agency shared by both Sony and MLB, pitched the idea a year ago. It appealed to major league officials because they want to market the sport to children and a sequel to a blockbuster hit seemed logical.

"It doesn't detract from the game," said Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball's president.

Special logos have been used on bases before for the World Series, All-Star Game and to honor Jackie Robinson, the first black major leaguer, and Cal Ripken, the all-time consecutive games leader.

But "Spidey" marks the first time commercial advertising space will be sold on the bases.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com

wilheim · May 6, 2004

From ESPN News - MLB has decided NOT to use Spiderman2 ad on bases during games this year. Due fan backlash MLB has cancelled the promo with Columbia Pictures.

wil.

sherman · May 6, 2004

They got MORE than their money's worth already.

wilheim · May 6, 2004

Sherman - good point, I had no idea there even was a Spiderman2 before this baseball business. Have not seen the original for that matter.

wil.

Journeyman · May 6, 2004

Took the words outta my mouth Sherman...Spiderman II, we`ll have to keep an eye out to see how it does now that baseball stuck its thumb up its ass (as usual)

I wonder if this was a Bud Selig Production, it has Bud`s fingerprints all over it...Bud, the only guy who could fvck up an AllStar Game...