Baseball is hoping to catch more corporate dollars on the back of its first league championships, won last weekend by Perth Heat.
Baseball is hoping to catch more corporate dollars on the back of its first league championships, won last weekend by Perth Heat.
Baseball WA managing director Geoff Hooker said Perth Heat’s win and hosting the inaugural Australian Baseball League championships could not have been better publicity for the sport.
“When we get to host an event like this we experience a growth in participation. We are now hoping for a 20 per cent growth in tee-ball and junior baseball next season,” he said.
Mr Hooker believes the game’s marketability has increased dramatically over the past few years.
“Back in 2000-05 baseball did not have a product that would appeal to anyone, in my opinion we have changed all that, we are finally entering a stage where we do have something to sell,” he said.
Television exposure and a strong presence on the web and in the stadium are his main selling points to sponsors.
“We are relatively cheap; for a couple of thousand dollars you can buy a sign or web banner, which is pretty good exposure without paying mainstream ‘cricket’ money,” Mr Hooker said.
Baseball WA is funded by grants from the Department of Sport and Recreation, membership fees, Healthway and corporate sponsors.
Healthway bought the naming rights to Perth Heat, specifically for its Alcohol Think Again campaign. International carrier Delta Airlines bought the naming rights to the championships.
More than 11,000 people entered Barbagallo Ballpark over the three championship games; with each game being televised live nationwide on Fox Sports.
Barbagallo has been a sponsor of Baseball WA for the past six years.
Group marketing manager Kylie Claude said the exposure of the weekend finals could not have been better for the promotion of the game.
“The exposure in the finals series was incredible. The three games were shown live on Fox Sports to a national audience in prime time, so it was an incredible shot in the arm for baseball and capped off what has been an amazing inaugural season,” she said.
As another part of its marketing strategy, Baseball WA is promoting the sport as a “diamond sport” along with softball and tee ball to attract participants.
“We have developed excellent relationships with softball and tee ball and are doing joint programs through the diamond sports academy. As diamond sport, I think it would form two thirds of the numbers of netball,” Mr Hooker said.
Baseball WA is hoping to triple its crowd attendance and draw a crowd of more than 3000 people for Perth Heat games for next season. It also plans to run membership drives and launch advertising campaigns.
