The poor economy now is also going to hit the organizers of the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Two of the major sponsors of the inaugural edition of the WBC in 2006, the brewers Anheuser-Bush InBev NV and the credit card company MasterCard Inc. will not return for the tournament next March. In addition there are rumors that PepsiCo Inc. also will pass on the event. However all three brands will remain sponsors for Major League Baseball.
MLB vice president for international business Paul Archey said at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada in December that they already have signed up advertisers and will announce the sponsors soon, probably in the second week of January, when the Major League office in New York reopens after the holidays.
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“We have a number of sponsors,” Archey said after a press conference for the event at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas this month. “We are going to announce them soon.”
Tickets went on sale Nov. 17, with prices ranging from around $5.50 for general admission in Mexico City to $500 for the most expensive seat at the finals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Prices are “probably a little higher” than in 2006 with sales being “encouraging,” Archey said.
“With this economy, it’s obviously something we are focused on and concerned about, but I am optimistic at this point,” he said.
The World Baseball Classic begins on March 5th with four pools in the preliminary round and lasts till March 23. Seven venues will host the games with Italy and the Netherlands the two lone European participants among 16 teams.
Bloomberg.com: Anheuser-Bush, MasterCard Skip 2009 Baseball Classic