Although owners and players have many issues to address in the coming days, we did a mini dance yesterday when learning that Major League Baseball (MLB) might start regular-season play in July. Simply put, we have missed sports immensely since the middle of March, and any news of a possible restart provides us hope. As a part of our fandom, we are also happy to report that with the recent inclusion of MLB, branded masks are available for supporters of every major U.S. pro sports league.
Heads up! MLB/Fanatics just released a line of team face masks, and all proceeds are going to Feeding America, Food Banks Canada, and the All-In Challenge Foundation.
Cubs masks here: https://t.co/16QXW2C0lX pic.twitter.com/fdxcLMxGAB
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 8, 2020
In joining MLS, the NFL, NHL, NBA and WNBA, the last three of that quintet whose efforts we have chronicled, MLB is helping Fanatics to keep the nation safe via the coverings, with a visit to the company’s website revealing that many collegiate programs are involved, too. While it might sound cold to comment on the absence of sports right now because of the pandemic’s effects on lives and livelihoods, sports have suffered, too, with their economic integrity certainly worthy of inclusion in conversations on the country’s future.
Since many people have long lauded baseball as America’s pastime and because it joined the ranks of branded masks providers recently, we felt compelled to look at the products’ designs. MLB has served as a frequent source of apparel critique for us, so its provision of three branded masks for $24.99 gives us many chances to note not only how useful the goods will be in protecting lives but also how creative the looks are.
While people can purchase a single mask for $14.99, the three-packs of branded masks seem a more feasible buy. Two of the three coverings include a team’s name while the remaining one features just the logo. That variety might make for a tempting way to fend off infection in style and to help commence the countdown to baseball’s possible return.
In the grand scheme, we fully understand that sports needed to take a backseat to greater concerns. As the yearning for live action’s return has increased, it makes obvious sense for the marketing of branded masks to have occurred. We could clearly see their existence becoming a part of socially-distant conversations on the value of sports to society and hopes for new games and matches to grab the limelight back from broadcasts of old contests. Given that sales proceeds from the branded masks are assisting charitable causes, too, we find it great that while supporting their teams, wearers will also be helping those in need.
From a promo industry standpoint, it’s a good thing to see major brands like the U.S. pro sports leagues issuing branded masks. As other brands jump on board, it should create more opportunities for branded PPE sales to non-medical customers, which continue to be a vital lifeline for promo businesses looking for ways to offset declines in order volume.
