The Mariners partner with a familiar associate in Nintendo for their inaugural sleeve partnership, leading to an understandable question.
On Thursday the Seattle Mariners announced their first ever jersey sleeve partnership, expanding a long-term relationship with Nintendo which dates back to the early 90s. The M’s had been one of the few remaining Major League teams without a sleeve partnership, and Nintendo makes sense for a lot of reasons.
It was Nintendo who purchased the Mariners in 1992 and essentially saved the team from being relocated to Florida. They eventually sold their majority stake for $661 million in 2016 to other members of the M’s current ownership group, including John Stanton.
Mariners President of Business Operations Kevin Martinez shared his thoughts on the new deal, via a press release. He said:
“Nintendo and the Mariners have been inextricably linked since 1992. Now, each time the Mariners take the field, our jersey sleeves will help serve as a reminder of all that Nintendo of America has done for the Northwest community and the team.”
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What about the financial implications of the deal?
With this new agreement, some fans will understandably wonder if any of the new funds will be used towards the roster, especially when you consider jersey sleeve partnerships can be quite lucrative. A prime example of this is the New York Yankees, who receive more than $20 million annually from Starr Insurance.
Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Mariners, Sports Business Journal reported it is a long-term agreement worth seven figures per year. As per Mike Mazzeo, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships’ Chris Voigt said:
“We didn’t run after the last dollar. But it was worth the wait, because we were always looking for the right partner. We didn’t just want to take any offer. We just wanted to have the right fit.”
While Voigt wouldn’t confirm exact details, he did stress that it was at market rate and not at the bottom. For some context, the Athletics’ three-year deal with Las Vegas for around $2.83 million per season is one of the lowest in the Majors.
Julio RodrÃguez to serve as Mariners brand ambassador
Of note, two-time All-Star Julio RodrÃguez will help bring the collaboration between the Mariners and Nintendo to life, by serving as a brand ambassador. As Doug Bowser, President and Chief Operating Officer, Nintendo of America said:
“It’s a genuine thrill to be able to partner with such a talented team, including bright stars like Julio. Our history with the Mariners goes back decades so this really feels like coming home.”
As a final note, the Mariners will become the first Major League team to wear different marks for home and road games. They will showcase the Nintendo racetrack logo at T-Mobile Park, and the Nintendo Switch 2 logo on their away jerseys.
Main photo credit:Â Mariners media
What is your take on the new partnership between the Seattle Mariners and Nintendo? What, if anything, does it mean for the team specifically? Let us know in the comments section below.
