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
Events Preview: Sports Hack for Social Change
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious Kansas Citian, we recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Kansas City Women in Technology October TechTalk When: October 19 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Where: SoPro Gaming We…
Array of pro sports teams kickoff youth benefit initiative in KC
Kansas City is serving as a hub for a national sports initiative that will host a handful of professional teams hoping to help young people around the U.S. Kicking off Friday, Play for Tomorrow — the brainchild of Kauffman Fellow Pankaj Sood — will feature seven professional sports teams from North America, including the Kansas…
In KC visit, former Infusionsoft CMO delivers lessons on focus
An entrepreneur’s ability to focus is her single largest bellwether of success. At least according to Greg Head, the former CMO of Infusionsoft. Head — a 30-year veteran of the software industry — now spends his days consulting ambitious executives in growing companies on that five letter word: focus. Head on Thursday visited Kansas City…
Mental health startup StartTalking announces partnership with QuikTrip
Editor’s note: In response to readers’ desire for quick-hitting stories, Startland News is launching a new segment, “News Flash,” to enable more coverage. Let us know what you think! Lenexa-based StartTalking has announced a pilot partnership with QuikTrip that will make its service available to all 3,000 QuikTrip employees in the Kansas City area.…

