Royals partner with KC-linked CBD brand to tout health benefits of hemp for athletes
June 6, 2023 | Startland News Staff
As an entrepreneur who grew up in Kansas City, teaming up with the Kansas City Royals to promote high-quality CBD products is a dream come true, said Dan Huerter, CEO of Pure Spectrum CBD.
“To be able to work with such an iconic organization and to be a part of promoting health and wellness in my hometown community is an incredible honor,” said Huerter. “We are excited to make a positive impact in the community starting with the launch of this partnership as well as a sponsorship of last weekend’s Big Slick event.”
Pure Spectrum — an organic phytocannabinoid company headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado — emphasizes helping athletes and other professionals safely reach peak performance with CBD products. It now joins the short list of such companies to partner with a professional baseball team. The Royals pairing is only the second in the league, following the April announcement of a Chicago Cubs deal with Mynd Drinks.
Click here to learn more about Pure Spectrum CBD.
“Our partnership with the Royals represents a monumental step forward for the entire industry and illustrates just how far we’ve come,” Lenexa-based Huerter said.
Pure Spectrum and the Royals plan to focus on educating fans about their Endocannabinoid Systems and the potential benefits of CBD for overall wellness, the organizations said.
The partnership includes a variety of in-stadium and community elements. It began June 2 with the grand opening of the Pure Spectrum Lodge, the newest element of the Outfield Experience at Kauffman Stadium. Equipped with fans and misters, the space is designed to give fans a place to relax and watch the game while learning about the positive effects of CBD.
Pure Spectrum served as the presenting partner of Yoga Day June 4 at the K, and is set to be the presenting partner of Ag Night Aug. 1.

Yoga Day at the K sponsored by Pure Spectrum CBD at Kauffman Stadium; photo by Jason Hanna/ Kansas City Royals
“The Kansas City Royals are proud to be just the second MLB team to form a partnership with a company like Pure Spectrum,” said Sarah Tourville, executive vice president, chief commercial and community impact officer of the Kansas City Royals. “For this organization, this opportunity gives us a chance to support a brand with Kansas City ties and to educate the community on the benefits of CBD.”
Pure Spectrum was the first CBD company to partner with a major sports organization when it sponsored the CrossFit Games in 2018. It continued to push boundaries for CBD hemp when it became the first company in the industry to partner with U.S. Olympic Governing bodies, USA Triathlon and USA Weightlifting.
The company’s cannabidiol oil 1250mg tincture recently became NSF Certified for Sport, part of the requirements laid out by MLB.
In 2022, MLB became the first major professional sports league to partner with a CBD company, paving the way for teams across the country.

2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Rush, Reardon, Cobb and other entrepreneurial leaders analyze KC ecosystem growth
In 2012, Google Fiber’s arrival in Kansas City lit a fire under the backside of many community leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs. To say that the city has matured would be an understatement. Many leaders say that if you lived in Kansas City in the early 2000s and were to return now, you may not even…
Digital Sandbox expands to St. Joseph, partners with animal health incubator
Digital Sandbox KC will expand its efforts northwest to reach entrepreneurs in St. Joseph, Mo. The proof-of-concept program announced Wednesday that it has established a partnership with Innovation Stockyard, a St. Joseph-based animal science business incubator. Located inside the Christopher S. Kit Bond Incubator, Innovation Stockyard will offer grant recipients of Digital Sandbox office space…
Kansas Citian wins Missouri State Star for her business counseling
On Monday, a Kansas Citian was recognized by America’s Small Business Development Center as the State of Missouri’s most outstanding business counselor. Thanks to her contributions to the region’s business growth, Rebecca Gubbels was named the 2017 Missouri State Star. Gubbels is a business and program consultant at the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s Small Business…
KCRise Fund backs five more KC-area tech startups
Spurring engagement from dozens of area investors, the KCRise Fund has announced five new funding deals in area firms. Launched in 2016 in conjunction with the regional KC Rising economic initiative, the KCRise Fund has added ShotTracker, SMRxT, SquareOffs, Backlot Cars, and Bardavon Health Innovations to its portfolio of now 10 firms. The fund did…

