Root, Root, Root for the Hometown Bank
March 25, 2015 1:00 PM
Spring is here, making it a good time to review banks' wide-ranging marketing efforts at all levels of baseball, from the majors to college.
Home of the Braves
SunTrust Banks will be the newest entry into the naming rights game for Major League Baseball stadiums. SunTrust Park will be the home of the Atlanta Braves starting in 2017. There are five MLB ballyards named after banks: Chase Field (Diamondbacks), Citi Field (Mets), Citizens Bank Park (Phillies), Comerica Park (Tigers) and PNC Park (Pirates).
Can't Get Enough
These banks must really love baseball. BB&T and Fifth Third between them hold the naming rights to at least six minor-league stadiums, including BB&T BallPark in Charlotte, N.C. (see above), and Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio. BB&T's total could rise by one if it decides to retain the rights to Susquehanna Bank Park in Williamsport, Pa., once its deal to acquire the Lititz, Pa., bank closes.
CU's LUV Baseball
At least five minor-league stadiums nationwide have sold naming rights to credit unions. They include the one shown above, Security Service Field (Federal Credit Union), home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox; and MCU Park in Brooklyn, named for Municipal Credit Union and home of the Brooklyn Cyclones team.
Play Ball, Eh?
Canada is also home to plenty of baseball teams, and Scotiabank in Halifax, Nova Scotia, snagged the naming rights to Scotiabank Field, the home stadium of the Vancouver Canadians.
Bragging Rights
Tennessee's two largest cities-Nashville and Memphis-are known for their intense rivalry . So what's the state's self-proclaimed leading bank to do, when it comes to picking a baseball stadium to sponsor? First Tennessee Bank is based in Memphis, so it decided to spread the wealth to First Tennessee Park, the home of the Nashville Sounds.
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The Old College Try
Banks have gotten their foot in the door of college baseball, which has been growing in popularity. Washington Trust Bank in Spokane is the namesake for the stadium of Gonzaga University's baseball team.
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Trading Cards
The College World Series has a tie-in to banking. The CWS is played yearly in Omaha, Neb., at TD Ameritrade Park. Canada's TD Bank is a minority owner of the online brokerage TD Ameritrade.
Billboards Work, Too
Banks don't have to have stadiums actually named after them to command a big presence there. At Target Field in Minneapolis, where the Minnesota Twins play, U.S. Bank has a large section of the signage attached to the outfield scoreboard and on the outfield wall itself in right field.
Plastic Promotions
Banks can also get involved in baseball promotions without buying stadium rights. Bank of America issues credit cards in a special partnership with Major League Baseball. Cardholders can get their plastic emblazoned with the logo of their favorite teams.
