Nike becomes presenting sponsor of RBI Program
Major League Baseball and Nike, Inc. (Nike) on Friday introduced Nike because the presenting sponsor of the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program, MLB’s youth initiative to supply baseball and softball enjoying alternatives for younger individuals in underserved communities. This formal dynamic is aligned with the prevailing world partnership of Nike because the Official Uniform and Performance Footwear Supplier of MLB.
The program, which can be formally known as Nike RBI, will assist create the way forward for diamond sports activities. The sponsorship encompasses all present RBI properties together with the Nike RBI Regionals (née “RBI Regionals) and the Nike RBI World Series (née “RBI World Series”).
“Nike’s support of our RBI program is a literal game-changing opportunity for young athletes all over the world,” mentioned Tony Reagins, Chief Baseball Development Officer, Major League Baseball. “Nike’s influence in sport brings the program to another level in the eyes of our leagues, players, and families. We look forward to partnering to provide more access to baseball and softball while amplifying the voices of student-athletes to grow our sport.”
MLB and Nike will collaborate on a brand new content material collection, “Nike RBI Spotlight,” which is able to frequently spotlight RBI leagues on varied broadcast, digital and social platforms, together with MLB Network, MLB.com and MLB’s social media channels. Nike RBI Spotlight will reveal the range of RBI leagues the world over, which embody packages run and/or supported by MLB Clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, native municipal organizations, and independently-operated teams.
MLB and Nike will determine Nike Athletes who will function Nike RBI Ambassadors to help the attention and promotion of this system. Additionally, the Nike RBI Regionals in July can be amplified throughout MLB and Nike platforms within the build-up to the Nike RBI World Series on the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, FL, held from July 31 via August 12.
The Nike RBI program has served roughly 2 million younger individuals since its inception with many RBI alumni having performed in MLB, together with Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Kansas City Royals), Hunter Greene (Cincinnati Reds), Alek Thomas (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Dominic Smith (Washington Nationals). The program is run by Major League Baseball and designed to provide younger individuals from underserved and numerous communities the chance to play baseball and softball, whereas additionally encouraging tutorial achievement and success and educating the worth of teamwork and different essential life classes. Nike RBI presently serves youth in over 200 packages in roughly 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated greater than $40 million price of assets to the Nike RBI program, and all 30 Clubs help Nike RBI leagues.
