MLB signs up Hankook as latest sponsor

Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook has agreed a sponsorship deal with North America’s Major League Baseball.

The multi-year deal names Hankook as the official tyre of MLB both in the US and Korea.

Hankook will benefit from brand exposure across the league’s digital assets such as MLB Network, MLB.com and social media channels. The company will also be promoted at ballparks during showpiece events such as the All-Star Game and Postseason.

Hankook will also develop MLB-themed initiatives to complement its multimedia advertising, with a retail marketing campaign to be launched to extend its MLB footprint beyond ballparks and media.

Hankook will use MLB marks in marketing activities, giveaways, consumer promotion and events. Virtual advertisements will also be launched in the US during national broadcasts of postseason games including the League Championship Series and World Series.

“Hankook Tire brings a real passion for baseball and a comprehensive vision to their marketing around our league, teams, and players in the US and beyond,” Noah Garden, MLB’s executive vice-president of commerce, said. “As MLB continues to grow our international activities and events, Hankook Tire demonstrates a new model for MLB partners to be able to achieve their goals of reaching millions of baseball fans not only in the US but around the world.”

Hankook becomes the seventh company to partner with MLB since January, joining Barbasol, Kingsford, Mitel, Netspend, Snapple and Supercuts.