72 teams unveil culturally-relevant personas celebrating their local Hispanic communities
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 21, 2019 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) this week revealed the on-field identities of the 72 teams participating in its 2019 “Copa de la Diversión™” (“Fun Cup™”) competition. Entering its second season, Copa de la Diversión (“Copa”) serves as the centerpiece of MiLB’s “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan™” (“It’s Fun to be A Fan™”) Hispanic fan engagement initiative.
The inaugural campaign in 2018 far exceeded community impact, fan engagement and game attendance projections, earning numerous awards and recognitions for its authentic approach to engaging with Hispanic communities nationwide. In 2018, Copa de la Diversión games drew significantly larger crowds – 24.4 percent larger – than nonCopa games. Overall attendance for the Copa-designated games was 12.6 percent more than attendance for the same dates in 2017.
On Monday, Sports Business Journal unveiled its 2019 Sports Business Award nominees, naming Minor League Baseball: Copa de la Diversión one of four finalists for its “Sports Breakthrough of the Year” award, with winners to be announced at the Sports Business Awards on May 22 in New York City.
“We worked for more than three years researching and developing the Copa de la Diversión platform, and we knew that if we built an authentic, culturally-relevant campaign, our entire fan base – not just Hispanic fans – would embrace it,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Minor League Baseball’s vice president of marketing strategy and research.
“The way Copa resonated with our communities almost immediately after we started unveiling the identities last year truly signaled that our focus, direction and execution was correct. The positive fan feedback coupled with the quantifiable increases in key metrics helped shape our strategy as we prepare for more ‘divertido’ this season.”
Building off the inaugural season’s successes, all 33 MiLB teams that participated in Copa last year are returning in 2019, joining 39 additional teams seeking to strengthen their connections with Hispanic fans in their respective communities.
By the end of this week, all 72 participating Copa teams will have held unveiling events showcasing
their culturally-relevant on-field personas honoring the local Hispanic community. Each participating team will adopt these new personas via on-field jerseys and caps during 397 Copa-designated games throughout the 2019 season.
MiLB also introduced a new, Copa-specific website featuring each participating team’s unique identity, the story behind its Hispanic on-field persona and links for fans to purchase tickets to the Copa ballpark events and order merchandise, including on-field caps, T-shirts and other branded apparel.
The participating MiLB teams unveiling Copa de la Diversión brand identities this week are listed below in alpha order.
Minor League Baseball Team Spanish-Language Name Translation
Albuquerque Isotopes- Mariachis de Nuevo México- New Mexico Mariachis
Arkansas Travelers- Diamantes de Arkansas- Diamonds
Bowie Baysox- Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake- Chesapeake Ghost Crabs
Bradenton Marauders-Bradenton Barbanegras- Blackbeards
Brooklyn Cyclones- Brooklyn Jefes- Bosses
Carolina Mudcats- Pescados de Carolina- Fish
Charleston RiverDogs- Perros Santos de Charleston- Holy Dogs
Charlotte Knights- Caballeros de Charlotte- Knights
Chattanooga Lookouts- Montañas de Chattanooga- Mountains
Clinton LumberKings- Clinton Elotes- Mexican-Style Street Corn
Columbia Fireflies- Chicharrones de Columbia- Pork Rinds
Columbus Clippers- Veleros de Columbia- Sailboats
Corpus Christi Hooks- Corpus Christi Raspas- Snow Cones
Daytona Tortugas- Daytona Tortugas- Turtles
Delmarva Shorebirds- Gallos de Delmarva- Roosters
Down East Wood Ducks- Patos Joyuyos de Down East Wood- Ducks
Durham Bulls- Mal de Ojo de Durham- Evil Eye
El Paso Chihuahua-s Margaritas de El Paso-
Erie SeaWolves Erie Piñatas -
Eugene Emeralds- Monarcas de Eugene Monarchs (Butterflies)-
Everett AquaSox- Everett Conquistadores- Fighting Spirit
Florida Fire Frogs- Coquis de Florida- Singing Tree Frogs
Fresno Grizzlies- Fresno Lowriders -
Greensboro Grasshoppers- Ocelotes de Greensboro- Ocelots
Greenville Drive- Greenville Energía- Drive
Gwinnett Stripers- Xolos de Gwinnett- Mexican Hairless Dogs
Hartford Yard Goats- Chivos de Hartford- Goats
Hickory Crawdads- Llamas de Hickory -
Hillsboro Hops- Soñadores de Hillsboro- Dreamers
Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino- Cucuys de San Bernardino- Bogeymen
Iowa Cubs- Demonios de Des Moines Des Moines- Demons
Kane County Cougars- Cougars de Kane County -
Kannapolis Intimidators- Rápidos de Kannapolis- Fast
Lake County Captains- Picantes de Lake County- Spicy
Lake Elsinore Storm- Cadejos de Lake Elsinore- Supernatural Spirits
Lakewood BlueClaws- Medusas de Lakewood- Jellyfish
Lancaster JetHawks- Viento de Lancaster- Wind
Lansing Lugnuts- Lansing Locos- “Go ’Nuts!”
Las Vegas Aviators- Las Vegas Reyes de Plata- Silver Kings
Lehigh Valley IronPigs- Lehigh Valley Coquis- Singing Tree Frogs
Lexington Legends- Leyendas de Lexington- Legends
Louisville Bats- Murciélagos de Louisville- Bats
Memphis Redbirds- Memphis Música- Music
Midland RockHounds- Matamoscas de Midessa Midland-Odessa- Fly Swatters
Modesto Nuts- Alebrijes de Modesto- Spirit Animals
Myrtle Beach Pelicans- Pelícanos de Myrtle- Beach Pelicans
Nashville Sounds- Nashville Vihuelas- Guitars
New Hampshire Fisher Cats- Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire- Fisher Cats
Norfolk Tides- Pajaritos de Norfolk- Baby Birds
Oklahoma City Dodgers- Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City- Blue Sky
Omaha Storm Chasers- Omaha Cazadores de Tormentas- Storm Chasers
Pawtucket Red Sox- Pawtucket Osos Polares- Polar Bears
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes- Rancho Cucamonga Temblores- Quakes
Reading Fightin Phils- Peleadores de Reading- Fighters
Reno Aces- Corazones de Reno- Hearts
Richmond Flying Squirrels- Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond- Flying Squirrels
Round Rock Express- Round Rock Chupacabras -
Sacramento River Cats- Sacramento Dorados- Golden
Salem Red Sox- San Bernardos de Salem- Saint Bernards
Salt Lake Bees- Abejas de Salt Lake- Bees
San Antonio Missions- Flying Chanclas de San Antonio -Flying Sandals
San Jose Giants- San Jose Churros -
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Vejigantes- Puerto Rican Folkloric Character
Stockton Ports- Caballos de Stockton- Horses
Tacoma Rainiers- Familia de Tacoma- Family
Trenton Thunder- Trenton Trueno- Thunder
Tri-City Dust Devils- Viñeros de Tri-City- Winemakers
Tulsa Drillers-Petroleros de Tulsa- Oilmen
Visalia Rawhide- Visalia Toros- Bulls
West Michigan Whitecaps- Calaveras de West Michigan -Skulls
Winston-Salem Dash- Winston-Salem Rayados- Striped Ones
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers- Cascabeles de Wisconsin- Rattle
The 397-game event series begins on April 5 with four games being played in Columbus, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky;Richmond, Virginia; and Lancaster, California.
As a direct result of Copa’s immense success in 2018, MiLB announced an agreement with ECHO Incorporated making it the “Official Outdoor Power Tool of MiLB” and the “Official Outdoor Power Tool of Copa de la Diversión” (“Herramienta Oficial de la Copa de la Diversión”) last November. Additionally, MiLB announced in December a partnership with the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) to become an “Official Charity of MiLB Copa de la Diversión,” making it the first-ever philanthropic partner tied specifically to MiLB's Hispanic fan engagement initiative.
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