by IBAF, www.ibaf.org
SUCCESS CONTINUES LEADING INTO SEMI-FINALS OF WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Television Ratings, Attendance and Sponsorship Highlight First Two Rounds of 2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic has been an overwhelming success leading into the Semi-Finals of the tournament. The 36 games that have taken place have resulted in record-breaking television ratings and larger crowds than the inaugural tournament held in 2006. In a World Baseball Classic that promised to build on the excitement of the inaugural tournament, more companies are attracted by the increasing international appeal of baseball sponsorship opportunities.
Television ratings highlights through the first two rounds of the 2009 World Baseball Classic include:
- ESPN has averaged 1.68 million viewers, up 53% from the 1.1 million viewers in 2006
- ESPN registered a 1.3 rating on ESPN, up 30% from a 1.0 rating in 2006
- United States vs. Puerto Rico on March 14 delivered a 3.4 Hispanic rating on ESPN Deportes to become the highest rated World Baseball Classic telecast as well as the highest rated non-soccer event in the network’s history.
- ESPN Deportes has been the most watched ad-supported cable network among Hispanic men (18+) topping all other cable networks regardless of language.
- Japan ’s first Round Two game against Cuba on Sunday, March 15 delivered a 17.9 rating, even though it started at 4:45 a.m. on a Monday morning.
- The first match-up between Japan and Korea earned a rating of 37.8 in Japan – with more than 45 million viewers tuning in nationwide ranking it as the highest rated sporting event of any kind in Japan, surpassing even the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, since the 2006 World Baseball Classic Final between Japan and Cuba (43.4).
- Team Canada ’s television ratings increased 77% in Canada from the viewers that tuned into Canada ’s games in 2006.
The attendance for the 2009 World Baseball Classic has surpassed the 2006 World Baseball Classic to this point by approximately 8% with more than 659,000 fans attending games in 2009.
- Puerto Rico’s Round 2 defeat of the U.S. drew 30,595 to Miami ’s Dolphin Stadium on March 14
- More than 42,500 fans attended the opening two games of Round 2 featuring four foreign teams on March 15 at PETCO Park in San Diego
- The first match-up between Japan and Korea on March 7 was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 45,640 in the Tokyo Dome.
- The Rogers Centre in Toronto held a crowd of 42,314 on March 7 for the United States thrilling victory over Canada .
Fifty-six companies are sponsoring the 2009 World Baseball Classic globally or regionally – more than double the number of partners from the inaugural tournament.
- Partners are activating in 11 countries and territories that are participating in the event.
- Seven partners are activating in multiple regions
- 12 Teams wore patches on their uniform, helmet or both