Fenway Park’s iconic Green Monster wall in leftfield will have new addition.
The logo for MGM Resorts International.
The casino giant and the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox announced an official multi-year partnership Friday that designates MGM Resorts as the “official and exclusive resort casino of the Boston Red Sox.”
The MGM logo affixed to the ballpark’s 17-foot wall is part of the package.
Financial details were not disclosed.
As the official sponsor, MGM Resorts will have visible messaging behind home plate, with Red Sox radio, and with other team-controlled media outlets. The company will also receive exclusive access to one-of-a-kind fan experiences at Fenway Park.
The company’s MGM Springfield resort will also host various promotional experiences throughout the year and be the new home for the Red Sox’ annual Baseball Winter Weekend event that takes place each January.
“Combining the two iconic brands of the Red Sox and MGM Resorts will create a new one-of-a-kind fan experience for baseball fans unique to not only New England and MGM Springfield, but the rest of the country,” MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren said in a statement.
The Las Vegas-based company has active in signing deals with league and sport franchises since May, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports betting.
In November, the company signed a data sharing and marketing agreement with Major League Baseball, which designated MGM as the first-ever “Official Gaming Partner of MLB” and “Official Entertainment Partner of MLB.”
In July, MGM announced a partnership with the NBA and a similar arrangement with the NHL in October. MGM also has a partnership deal with NFL’s New York Jets.
“We look forward to continuing our work and partnerships in the world of professional sports,” Murren said.
In addition to the Green Monster signage, visitors to Fenway Park will see game day signage sponsored by MGM and VIP game day hospitality.
Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy said MGM’s opening of the $960 million MGM Springfield last August, created “a natural partnership for our two brands.”
MGM Resorts operates casinos in several markets where sports betting has been legalized, including Nevada, New Jersey and Mississippi, and is lobbying for legalizing the activity in the other states.
Last summer, MGM signed a joint-venture agreement with UK-based GVC Holdings to create playMGM, a nationwide sports wagering endeavor.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
