Mizuno to open first Brand Experience Center in U.S. at The Battery Atlanta
ATLANTA – (Sept. 21, 2016) – At a celebration at Turner Field, Mizuno and the Atlanta Braves announced a long-term partnership that will include the opening of a one-of-a-kind Mizuno Experience Center in The Battery Atlanta. The agreement makes Mizuno the Official Baseball Gear Partner of the Atlanta Braves, reaching beyond on-the-field engagement opportunities with the team and spreading into fan activities and community investments throughout Atlanta and the Southeast.
As the Official Baseball Gear Partner of the Atlanta Braves, Mizuno also will be pioneering multiple first-of-its-kind baseball glove kiosks inside SunTrust Park where fans can check out Mizuno baseball gloves to catch foul balls during the game. Fans will be able to return the gloves at no cost or purchase them at the end of the game.
“Mizuno has long been the model for innovation and excellence, both in its approach to its craft and in equipment the company produces,” said Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves president, business. “As we prepare to open a new chapter at SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta, we were looking to build and grow partnerships with companies that shared our vision and values. Mizuno’s commitment to success matches our own, and we’re excited for how this partnership will enhance the fan experience beginning in 2017.”
The Mizuno Experience Center will be an immersive, fan-focused environment that will enable visitors to test a variety of Mizuno performance technologies, such as Mizuno Golf’s Performance Fitting System and the Bat Interactive Optimization System (BIOS) for bat fitting along with showcasing its premium gear across baseball, golf, running, softball, volleyball and more.
“The Atlanta Braves are one of the most iconic franchises in professional sports and this opportunity will enable us to showcase our passion and our values to fans across Braves Country,” said Bob Puccini, Mizuno USA president. “While Mizuno’s Japanese heritage goes back 110 years, we are proud to call Atlanta home to our U.S. operations for more than 30 years. This partnership will give us the opportunity to continue to invest in and support the various causes and events that make this city such a great place while also solidifying Mizuno as the premium performance sports brand based in Atlanta.”
In addition to the glove kiosks, Mizuno also will have a significant presence throughout SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta, including:
• Promotional signage and branding located around SunTrust Park
• Mizuno baseball and softball equipment used in the Kid’s Zone and other fan interactive features
• A presenting sponsorship for three of the Braves annual Youth Baseball Tournaments
• A presenting sponsorship for the She Can Play softball clinic, Play Baseball clinic and the Major League Baseball Players Association baseball clinic
• Opportunity to showcase the brand’s heritage, craftsmanship, innovation and technology shaping the gear, from master craftsman visits, PGA TOUR truck appearances, and advanced exclusives of the latest gear.
Mizuno’s engagement will not be limited to baseball, as it will fully integrate its golf and running sub-brands into several Braves events. For instance, Mizuno will be the participating sponsor of the annual Braves Country 5K and Braves Foundation Golf Classic.
“Through this partnership we have the ability to showcase the entire breadth and depth of Mizuno – our heritage, craftsmanship, innovation and technology behind our gear, while also becoming an integral part of the fan experience. This is a long-term commitment that further embeds Mizuno into the Atlanta community, and we are excited about the many new opportunities to come as a result,” said Puccini.
About Mizuno USA:
Mizuno USA, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuno Corporation, one of the largest specialty sporting goods manufacturers in the world. Mizuno USA, Inc. manufactures and distributes golf, baseball, softball, running, and volleyball equipment, apparel, and footwear for North America. Mizuno USA, Inc. based in greater Atlanta, Ga.
About Atlanta Braves:
The Atlanta Braves are the National League’s winningest franchise since 1991. During that time, Braves teams have earned two National League wild cards, 15 division championships, five National League pennants, and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Follow the Braves at braves.com, facebook.com/braves, and twitter.com/braves.
About SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta
SunTrust Park, the new 41,000-seat home of the Atlanta Braves, is being developed by the organization in partnership with the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority and will be completed by Opening Day 2017. Located in Atlanta at the intersection of I-75 and I-285 in the bustling Cumberland area, SunTrust Park will flow directly into The Battery Atlanta, a 1.5 million square foot mixed-use development, featuring boutique shopping, chef-driven restaurants, an Omni Hotel, The Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre, 550 residences and One Ballpark Center, Comcast’s regional office headquarters. Powered by Comcast’s all-fiber network and delivering multi-terabit capabilities, SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta will have the highest-capacity network serving any stadium and mixed-use development in the nation. The Battery Atlanta is being privately developed by the Braves along with retail partner Fuqua Development, office developer Pope & Land Enterprises and Pollack Shores Real Estate. Visitors can get a sneak peek of SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta at www.braves.com/SunTrustPark or www.batteryatl.com.
Contact:
Harper Cornell, 770-453-7853
harper.cornell@mizunousa.com
Beth Marshall, 404-614-1336
beth.marshall@braves.com
Bryan Harris, 678-491-9447
bharris@jacksonspalding.com
