The 2010 All-Star game is a few weeks away, but leave it to the Disney team to launch a unique way to promote the mid-summer classic while tying the baseball event to consumer products and the Orange County-based theme park.
The promotion came about as a partnership between Disney Consumer Products and Major League Baseball Properties. Here is the concept: Disney desgined thirty-six varieties of life-sized MLB-themed Mickey Mouse statues across heavily populated destinations throughout Southern California in honor of the 2010 MLB All-Star Week festivities. As you can see to the right, I took a picture of this Arizona Diamondback Mickey which was showcased at the of the local Orange County outdoor malls.
The week-long all-star festivities take place July 9th – 13th in Anaheim, Calif. As part of the previously announced new collaboration between the organizations. In addition to the Diamondbacks Mickey, the statues are being placed in high-profile areas throughout Anaheim, Los Angeles, and surrounding areas in Southern California. This includes includes Angel Stadium, Anaheim City Hall, Downtown Disney, the Kodak and El Capitan Theatres in Los Angeles as well as L.A. Live and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 36 life-size statues, commissioned in conjunction with MLB licensee Forever Collectibles, are uniquely decorated with bold graphics featuring each of the 30 MLB Clubs as well as four All-Star designs, an American League and a National League design. Each life-sized statue is 7.5 feet high and weighs 989 pounds.
I have included a complete list of statues and locations at the end of this entry.
“Major League Baseball is excited to bring the 2010 All-Star Game to Anaheim and we want fans all throughout Southern California to feel like they are a part of the entire experience,” said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball in a press release. “As an iconic figure, Mickey Mouse is the ideal ambassador to connect fans with the premiere sporting event of the summer.”
As part of the overall promotion, miniature versions of each of the statues are available in a 7.5-inch size through MLB.com and DisneyStore.com, as well as additional retailers including MLB stadium shops, Walgreens and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Photos of all variations are available at MLBPressBox.com and DisneyConsumerProducts.com.
All-Star Game Disneyland Esplanade (near Disney’s California Adventure)
All-Star Game (Angel Stadium) — The Grove Anaheim – Front Gate All-Star Game
(Stars & Stripes) — Anaheim Convention Center – Outside Main Lobby Entrance
All-Star Game (Vintage) — Anaheim City Hall
American League — Hilton Anaheim – Lobby
National League Mickey — Anaheim Marriott – Outside Main Entrance
Angels — Angel Stadium of Anaheim – Home Plate Gate area
Astros Long Beach Towne Center – Promenade
Athletics The Muzeo, Anaheim – S. Anaheim Blvd
Blue Jays — Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa – Main Entrance
Braves — Disneyland Esplanade (near Disney’s California Adventure)
Brewers — The Strand at Huntington Beach-5th St. & Pacific Coast Hwy
Cardinals — Downtown Disney – Outside Build-A-Bear Workshop
Cubs — Orange County Zoo, Orange – Main Entrance
Diamondbacks — The District at Tustin – The Promenade
Dodgers — Music Center – Performing Arts Center of L.A. County Plaza
Giants — Fashion Island, Newport Beach – Nordstrom Court
Indians — Industry Rag, N. La Brea – Inside store
Mariners — Kodak Theatre, Hollywood – Visitor Information Center
Marlins — Downtown Disney – outside ESPN Zone Restaurant
Mets — The Irvine Spectrum Center – Carousel Court
Nationals — Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga – Guest Services
Orioles — Newport Sports Museum – Main Entrance
Padres — South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa – Carousel Court
Phillies — Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood – Central Courtyard
Pirates — L.A. Union Station – Main Hall
Rangers — The Village at Orange – near Game Stop
Rays– Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach – Lobby
Reds — Holiday Inn Express Walk of Fame, Hollywood – Outside Main Lobby
Red Sox — Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana – Outside Main Entry
Royals — El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood – Soda Fountain & Studio Store
Rockies — The Market Place Irvine – Near Sports Authority
Tigers — Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort – Lobby
Twins — Anaheim GardenWalk – Rock Garden Court
White Sox – Holiday Inn Santa Monica – Outside Main Lobby
Yankees — L.A. LIVE – ESPN Zone Restaurant Lobby
Background on the 2010 All-Star Game
The 81st Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 13th in Anaheim and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Angel Stadium of Anaheim. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 11th featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 12th featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the All-Star Game Charity 5K & Fun Run, a charity run/walk on a baseball-themed route to benefit four cancer organizations; and the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy on MLB Network, a free parade of All-Stars through the streets of Anaheim. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX, broadcast on ESPN Radio and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2010 All-Star Summer, visitwww.AllStarGame.com.