The brands are promotin’ some ball: KC businesses look to capitalize on Royals’ playoff return
October 2, 2024 | Olivia Mizelle
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon.
Click here to read the original story.
The Kansas City Royals are back in the Major League Baseball postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015, and fans aren’t the only ones celebrating. Local businesses throughout the Kansas City area are hosting watch parties, promoting merchandise and cutting prices in honor of the Royals.
As the Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series Tuesday, Kansas City businesses were busy publicizing baseball-themed promotions on social media.
Charlie Hooper’s Brookside Bar & Grille in Kansas City is part of the Royals Home Team Program, and it played Tuesday’s Wild Card games on its TVs. Both games took place during Charlie Hoopers’ happy hour, which includes a variety of drink specials.
View this post on Instagram
The Royals Home Team Program features a dozen Kansas City-area bars and restaurants that partner with the team as venues for game day viewing.
Another restaurant that rolled out a playoff promotion is Meat Mitch BBQ, which hosted watch parties for Tuesday’s games. In an Instagram post, the restaurant said it would be playing the game on all 20 of its HD TVs and serving game day specials and happy hour drinks.
View this post on Instagram
Price Chopper is one of the Royals’ local sponsors, and the supermarket chain posted Monday on social media that shoppers could earn 100 bonus rewards points for every run the Royals score in the playoffs, if they make a $25 purchase the following day.
View this post on Instagram
Price Chopper also offers “Steal a Deals” during the regular season, offering fans discounts depending on what game they attend and where they sit.
Local Kansas City clothing stores are also getting excited about the Royals’ recent success.
Made in KC, a local gift and apparel store, leaned into the fact that it has been nine years since the Royals have been in the postseason in its Instagram caption Monday.
View this post on Instagram
It promoted its updated Royals gear and encouraged fans to buy the apparel.
Charlie Hustle, a Kansas City sports apparel brand, announced on X that it is releasing a shirt that reads “Give It Everything You Got,” inspired by former Royals Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer — two stars of the Royals’ 2015 World Series championship team.
Blue October is here and we are excited to team up with KC legends, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, along with the @DigginDeepPod, to bring you the perfect shirt for playoff ball!
Shop Now->https://t.co/Z0yGYxJBbZ pic.twitter.com/wJZnF4ydNe
— Charlie Hustle (@CharlieHustleCo) September 30, 2024
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Top 10 Kansas City startups to watch in 2017
Kansas City witnessed one of its biggest startup successes in 2016 with EyeVerify’s massive exit. Stories like this bring Kansas City’s potential to the foreground. It validates that not only building a wildly lucrative business is possible but also that the area community can help make it possible. While undoubtedly a triumph, EyeVerify is but…
Mid-America Angels invested $3.6M in record-breaking 2016
For the second consecutive year, the Mid-America Angel Network posted a record-breaking year of investing. In 2016, the Kansas City-based network invested $3.6 million via 15 deals in startups, topping its 2015 totals of $2.8 million in nine investments. “What you see here is the result of several years of work, not just one,“ MAA…
Digital Sandbox’s newest cohort: Hip hop health startup, moving app
Digital Sandbox KC on Friday announced its support of two new Kansas City tech firms. Led by entrepreneur Jeff Shackelford, the Kansas City-based incubator welcomed H3TV and MovinHouz to its program. Digital Sandbox invests up to $25,000 in area businesses for specific projects that help the firms secure additional funding. The organization has now supported…
Pipeline announces award finalists, judges for the Innovators
The Kansas City-based Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship announced Friday the award finalists and national judging panel for its annual awards, the Innovators. Formerly known as Innovator of the Year, Pipeline’s culminating event is set for Jan. 26, during which 13 fellows from the region will pitch their firms to the judges. Later in the day, the…