Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Dodger Stadium has long been one of MLB’s most iconic stadiums, and its core has remained intact even as upgrades modernize it since it was first opened in 1958.
To this point, the Los Angeles Dodgers have avoided one trend that most teams across every sport follow: selling the naming rights to their stadiums, or wherever they play games.
Only seven other teams in MLB play at a stadium without a naming rights deal attached to them, the Baltimore Orioles (Oriole Park), Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park), Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field), Kansas City Royals (Kauffman Stadium), Los Angeles Angels, (Angel Stadium), New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium) and the Washington Nationals (Nationals Park).
But that list is dropping by one as the Dodgers have agreed to sell the naming rights to their field after reaching a deal with Uniqlo, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic:
At a time when the presence of Shohei Ohtani has transformed the global branding of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has agreed to a deal with fashion giant Uniqlo to become Dodger Stadium’s official field presenting partner, multiple sources tell The Athletic, attaching a sponsorship to the historic ballpark for the first time in its 64-year history.
Woo also reported the Dodgers will not be selling the rights to their stadium name, and they were unwilling to do so throughout the process. Instead, they are likely to use two separate names for their field and stadium:
However, Uniqlo will hold the rights to the playing field, which will likely be named Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers are expected to announce the deal and reveal the official name of their field before Opening Day.
The club partnered with SPORTFIVE in 2022 as they began the search for new partnership opportunities, including the presenting sponsor at Dodger Stadium and a jersey patch, which ended up being Guggenheim.
It’s also no surprise that the Dodgers have partnered with another Japanese company as they continue to grow their stake in that market. Since Shohei Ohtani signed, the Dodgers have reached dozens of sponsorship deals with Japanese companies.
What is Uniqlo?
Uniqlo is a Japanese designer and retailer specializing in fast fashion with a focus on casual wear. They own more 2,500 stores across the world, including 794 in Japan and 1,002 in China.
Uniqlo currently operates 78 stores across the United States, including 14 in the greater Los Angeles area, and plan to continue expanding.
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