Mastercard-MLB leg-up to COVID-hit businesses

Article posted by Coliseum, July 23^rd, 2021

Image: vocal media (Dave Schneider)

Mastercard and Major League Baseball (MLB) (US) recently announced a multiyear extension of their partnership and Mastercard’s ongoing role as Presenting Sponsor of the All-Star Game. This builds on Mastercard’s more than 20-year history of delivering priceless experiences and innovation to baseball fans in stadia as well as across MLB viewing channels.

‘Mastercard’ stated that through the partnership, Mastercard is also providing MLB fans with enhanced payment technologies at the game and throughout the season by working closely with MLB, point-of-sale providers and concessionaires in stadiums. Mastercard and MLB will work together to support a contactless and cashless environment through the integration of touchless contactless point of sale systems and reverse ATMs, as well as provide an enhanced e-commerce checkout experience with Click to Pay on MLB digital platforms (MLB.TV, Tickets.com and MLBshop.com).

New York (US)-headquartered Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, its innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, Governments and businesses realize their greatest potential.

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The Major League Baseball (MLB) is an American professional baseball organization and the oldest of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams play in Major League Baseball: 15 teams in the National League and 15 in the American League.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the ‘Midsummer Classic’, is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the All-Stars from the American League (AL) and National League (NL).

‘Mastercard’ further stated that leveraging Mastercard technology, MLB enhanced the 2021 MLB All-Star Game ballot voting by deploying Mastercard’s NuDetect® fraud detection technology to ensure a seamless and accurate count throughout the two-phase fan-voting process.

Mastercard and MLB continue to team up to provide consumers priceless experiences that unlock exclusive access and bring fans closer to their passions both at home as well as in-person. Further, as longstanding partners of Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), Mastercard and MLB work together to deliver priceless experiences that help consumers give back and help fund groundbreaking cancer research. Priceless experiences launched in support of Stand Up To Cancer® leading up to the All-Star Game include, but are not limited to:

The Mastercard Ballpark Sensory Experience: A multisensory unboxing experience that brings the sight, sound, taste, touch, and scent of legendary MLB ballparks into living rooms for the ultimate at-home baseball fan experience. Plus, bid in its auction for once-in-a-lifetime in-stadium priceless experiences too. Hundred percent of the purchase amount to be donated to SU2C to help cancer research;
Field of Dreams™ Experience: Win an overnight stay for four at the original farmhouse used to film Field of Dreams™ in Dyersville, Iowa, on August 12^th, 2021, during the MLB at Field of Dreams presented by Geico between the MLB teams New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox. Experience provides guided access to the original filming locations from the 1989 Universal Pictures film and the new MLB field to take in the game. Hundred percent of the purchase amount to be donated to SU2C to help cancer research; and
Digital Stand Up To Cancer Placard: Consumers can join the MLB All-Star Game placard moment virtually on July 13^th to honor those affected by cancer by displaying a digital SU2C placard that will be made available to use on Snapchat.

Noted Noah Garden, MLB Chief Revenue Officer, “Mastercard has been an incredible partner to Major League Baseball for more than two decades and we take a lot of pride in this great relationship that we’ve forged together.

The partnership between Mastercard and MLB has truly evolved over the years as technology and our fans’ habits have evolved. Mastercard helped us bring new payment technologies to the forefront for our fans over the years and we are going to continually innovate this space together for the benefit of baseball fans everywhere.”

Mastercard stated that it was pleased to welcome MLB as a member of its Priceless Planet Coalition, a reforestation program that aims to restore 100 million trees by 2025 to mitigate climate change. In support of the coalition and celebration of MLB All-Star Game week, Mastercard and MLB auctioned off a visit to the Coors Field™ Garden (the 600-square foot space is designed to mimic a baseball field with beetle-kill pinewood raised beds terracing upwards from the garden’s ‘infield’ to the outfield stands) including a private cooking class, meet and greet with an MLB legend, and tickets to Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday’s ballpark events for MLB All-Star Week – all proceeds benefiting the Priceless Planet Coalition.

Helping hand

In recognition of the challenges faced by small businesses this past year due to COVID-19 which totally tore asunder the United States till not very long back, Mastercard and MLB are launching the Home Team Advantage Small Business Contest* during this year’s All-Star Game to help businesses grow and thrive. Together, Mastercard and MLB are calling on small businesses in Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles to enter for the chance to win $10,000, a Mastercard Digital Doors™ toolkit, in-stadium assets, and a trip for winner and one (1) guest to attend a 2021 MLB® World Series game*.

Observed Cheryl Guerin, Executive Vice-President, Marketing and Communications in North America for Mastercard, “While small businesses had to contend with extreme challenges throughout the pandemic, they demonstrated exceptional resilience and determination in the process. Alongside our partners at MLB, we’re committed to celebrating and supporting the small businesses that serve as the backbone of our communities and are thrilled to provide the resources and digital tools to help them continue to grow and thrive.”

MLB teams Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, will each provide the small businesses in their local markets with prizes and promotional packages including hosting opportunities and customized stadium signage. Finalists in each market will be invited to attend an exclusive dinner event at their local stadium where the winners will be announced.

To help the winners further grow and digitally enhance their businesses, Mastercard will be providing recipients a Digital Doors toolkit inclusive of Mastercard’s Digital Diagnostic, one-on-one mentorship, as well as offers and resources from Jobble, Mastercard Trust Center, Microsoft Advertising, SimplyPayMe, and Zoho. Additionally, the toolkit includes new Mastercard cybersecurity tools developed to help small businesses defend themselves against cyber threats including Mastercard ID Theft Protection TM and My Cyber Risk powered by RiskRecon.

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