Now that the 2018 season is getting closer to its April beginning, Minor League Baseball is announcing the launch of Copa de la Diversión. “Copa de la Diversión,” or “Fun Cup,” is a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams’ local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities.
Based on the successful launch of its national “It’s Fun to Be a Fan” (and corresponding Spanish-language “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan”) marketing campaign in 2017, participating teams will bolster their marketing and customer service efforts this season to create a culturally relevant gameday experience through music, concessions and promotions.
The 160-game event series begins on April 8, in Round Rock, Texas. To build awareness and create excitement for the new national series, a 3-foot tall “Copa de la Diversión” trophy will embark on a tour of the participating cities, as part of a “Gira de la Copa” (“Cup Tour”).
To distinctively launch this new initiative, and visually celebrate the diversity that defines MiLB communities nationwide, MiLB and each participating team will create culturally-relevant on-field personas that honor the local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities. The “Copa de la Diversión” team identities will be unveiled on March 20.
Last season, three MiLB teams adopted new alternate on-field monikers to reflect their unique and diverse fan bases: Charlotte Knights (to “Caballeros,” its Spanish-language equivalent), Las Vegas 51s (to Reyes de Plata, or “Silver Kings,” a nod to the city’s mining heritage), and Visalia Rawhide (to “Toros,” in honor of the region’s dairy industry).
After the conclusion of the season, each participating team will auction its “Copa de la Diversión”-branded game-used caps and jerseys and donate the proceeds to a U.S. Hispanic/Latino-focused organization in its community.
The participating teams for the 2018 campaign, spanning 19 states from coast-to-coast include: Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Bowie Baysox (Class AA; Eastern League), Brooklyn Cyclones (Short Season A; NY-Penn League), Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League), Corpus Christi Hooks (Class AA; Texas League), Daytona Tortugas (High A; Florida State League), Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League), El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Eugene Emeralds (Short Season A; Northwest League), Everett AquaSox (Short Season A; Northwest League), Greenville Drive (Low A; Sally League), Hartford Yard Goats (Class AA; Eastern League), Hillsboro Hops (Short Season A; Northwest League), Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino (High A; California League), Kane County Cougars (Low A; Midwest League), Kannapolis Intimidators (Low A; Sally League), Lake Elsinore Storm (High A; California League), Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League), Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Oklahoma City Dodgers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League), Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A; California League), Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Sacramento River Cats (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Salt Lake Bees (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), San Antonio Missions (Class AA; Texas League), San Jose Giants (High A; California League), Stockton Ports (High A; California League), Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League), Visalia Rawhide (High A; California League) and Winston-Salem Dash (High A; Carolina League).
“Minor League Baseball is built on the fun, memory-making experiences created by our teams each and every day,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Minor League Baseball’s Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Research. “When we introduced ‘It’s Fun to Be a Fan’ and ‘Es Divertido Ser Un Fan’ last season, the overwhelmingly positive response led us to create this season-long event series, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to their communities and MiLB’s unique brand of fun.”