Adelaide has struck a significant agreement with Major League Baseball which will see some of Asia’s best young baseballers train and play for the Adelaide Bite.
It comes as the Club expands its reach into China, Korea and Japan since taking ownership of South Australia’s sole professional team in the upcoming revamped Australian Baseball League, while at the same time investing in the sport at a local level.
Other major deals in the pipeline include broadcasting Bite video content to millions of people in the Chinese market via Tencent - which is one of the largest tech companies in the world.
Players from Japanese club Honda are also on their way to South Australia while other Asian teams, including South Korea’s LG Twins, could soon be holding spring training camps in this State.
Jordan McArdle is expected to be one of the key players for the Bite this season
Crows CEO Andrew Fagan said the Club’s initial aim was to bolster the Bite’s playing roster with a view to achieving on-field success, while also making the most of commercial opportunities.
“We have said all along that this is about growth, for both the Crows and the Bite, and by diversifying our operations in this manner we are playing to our strengths in sports administration,” Fagan said.
“Baseball is hugely popular in the United States and Asia and we are already seeing the benefits of this with our initial dealings, whether they be in high performance initiatives, broadcast offerings or broader commercial negotiations.
“Importantly, we are also investing in the sport locally with improved game-day entertainment and activities on offer for fans who head along to West Beach ball park when the season gets underway.”
MLB officials and players were at the announcement which generated considerable media attention in China
Bite Executive General Manager Shane Smallacombe said there had already been significant international exposure for both South Australian brands.
“The partnerships provide a significant platform for the Adelaide Bite to access high-end talent for its playing roster over the long-term and will also provide a gateway for the Bite and Crows to do business in these regions,” Smallacombe said.
Major League Baseball Asia General Manager of Baseball Development Rick Dell said the agreement to send China’s best young players to the Bite was just the first stage of what will be a lasting relationship.
“It is creating pathways with the long-term hope of Adelaide becoming a centre of Chinese baseball development in Australia,” Dell told the China Daily.
“Baseball is the easy part. It’s also about learning to thrive in a new environment, learning to be a good teammate and learning to work independently.”
The Bite starts its season away to Brisbane on November 15, while the first home game is on November 22 against the Melbourne Aces at West Beach.
