Advertising on uniforms

[jtur88]

It finally happened. Advertising logos on MLB uniforms. Openieng day, Ricoh banners on the side of batting helmets. How many years, now, before MLB uniforms look like NasCar gear?

[John F]

I don't think it will get that bad but it's common already in Europe on uniforms to have advertising. I don't support it but it's not going to be as bad as NASCAR.

It may be a limited "engagement" as well as these are games being played on foreign soil as well.

[jtur88]

What do you think will stop it from getting as bad as Nascar?
The Commissioner's office? The same office that agreed last year to block all cable subscribers from watching the out-or-market package, as soon as an appropriately loaded Brinks truck backed up to the commissioners office and started forklifting off pallets of money?

[bedir than average]

If it gets to the point where it distracts from recognition of the team the sport will fail. Baseball is more about the team than NASCAR. If we can't recognize who is playing why watch?

[LongtimeBravesFan]

Originally Posted by John F

It may be a limited "engagement" as well as these are games being played on foreign soil as well.

So what if it were played in Japan? It is an MLB event. If the European Soccer League were to play a regular season match in this country, I wouldn't expect them to bow to the whims of our advertisers.

[bedir than average]

I'm trying to think about a parrellel there as many soccer clubs have played here.

[John F]

Originally Posted by jtur88

What do you think will stop it from getting as bad as Nascar?

People with taste. You do recall Baseball hasn't been the dumbed down support of "left turn only" ... well, unless you consider the addition of the DH as dumbing down the sport like I do.

Never the less, think about this objectively -- what happens if and when this shows up in teh US? You think the media is goign to sit back idle if the fans are outraged? You think the fans - those willing to voice their opinions on the internet and speak up about it -- revolt? You think that uniform sales will keep going at a steady pace with "TEXACO" or "APPLE" or "McRIB DELUX" etched on them?

If this becomes the standard instead of an isolated incident there has to be an organized opposition to things. If someone started a petition drive, if there were other fan revolts that required you to get active -- DO IT.

I know too many Internet people who will see this, complain about it in the exact same light you are, and then take a cynical approach in trying to organize against it. "No one will listen to me or care about fans complaining, I am not going to take part in that. No, I am just going to take my bitterness and sulk and kvetch on my blog/forum because it's not worth the time or effort to actually fight what they are doing to my game."

[LongtimeBravesFan]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

I'm trying to think about a parrellel there as many soccer clubs have played here.

Probably not the best analogy. I don't know anything about soccer. My point was MLB shouldn't bend their rules just because it is what they do in Japan. MLB has been to Japan before so I'm sure other countries would like to host opening day.