State Farm connected as the “official insurance company” of Major League Baseball, a deal making it the title sponsor of the Home Run Derby centerpiece of the sports’ All-Star festivities next week at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
The multiyear sponsorship pact, terms of which were not disclosed, gives State Farm category exclusivity and commits it to significant commercial schedules on MLB’s national telecast partners TBS, Fox (which is covering the All-Star Game July 10) and ESPN, which will present the Home Run Derby the day before at 8 p.m. (EST). State Farm will also be involved with messaging via MLB Advanced Media.
As a participating sponsor at the DHL All-Star FanFest, the interactive baseball theme park that is the cornerstone of All-Star Week, the Bloomington, Ill.-headquartered company will also title the State Farm Mascot Home Run Derby.
During the Home Run Derby, also airing live on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio, the eight sluggers launching home runs into McCovey Cove or otherwise, after their ninth out in the competition, will result in State Farm and MLB combining to donate $17,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The “Gold Ball” platform amount represents the 17,000 State Farms agents across the United States.
“Baseball is one of the greatest sports in the world and we are proud to be the official insurance sponsor of MLB,” said Mark Gibson, assistant vice president of advertising for State Farm, in a prepared statement. “MLB and its properties are a natural choice for State Farm, the nation’s No. 1 auto insurer, and together we will reach a growing audience in new and exciting ways.”
State Farm also continues to maintain local partnerships with 24 MLB clubs.
