Expanding an American brand into new territories
Major League BaseballHome Run Derby X
America and baseball go hand in hand. For a global audience, the game needed a new look. A simple hook into a complex sport, Home Run Derby X is an electrifying new format of baseball.
3
live events
25,000
fans attended in person
17m
video views
1m
further engagements online
A new tempo
To engage with a younger audience, MLB wanted to create a new, faster-paced format. In comes Home Run Derby X, a fiery mix of excitement that only live sport can create and the electric energy of a music festival. In collaboration with MLB, we built off of the success and simplicity of the existing Home Run Derby to devise a different framework and deliver it across 3 locations to a new generation of fans.
Legends, Heroes, Superstars and Wild Cards
In a baseball-first, points were available for both offence and defence. So naturally, some serious competition ensued. Teams featured MLB legends, the world’s best female players, rising international stars and newcomers to the sport, who all represented 4 iconic MLB Clubs in a global playoff.
Video games as our muse
Taking inspiration from video games, HRDX had some unique features… Games were played on festival stages, with striking, colourful graphics exploding across LED screens during special moves, sparking instant reactions from players and fans. With an entirely new scoring system, we designed targets for players to hit and the Catch Zone for the audience to, you guessed it, catch the ball. All games were accompanied by soundtracks and unmissable live music performances that added to the festival vibe.
A new locale
Each event was as unique as its destination. The 2022 MLB global tour kicked off in London at Crystal Palace with hosts Emma Saunders and Josh Denzel and headliner AJ Tracey. In Seoul, the Paradise City resort transformed into the field of play, with K-Pop superstars Heinze, Crush and Psy performing a post game show. The grand finale in Mexico City was at historic Campo Marte, with Latin pop act Piso 21 closing out the tour. And of course, we had delicious ballpark-inspired food and drink, unique HRDX merch on sale and a variety of other baseball experiences to keep fans engaged throughout each festival.
Value for the audience
Working with MLB we brought a brand new game of baseball to a whole new generation of fans across the world. Transforming how 17 million + people view baseball, and turning the sport into a more accessible version.
Value for the brand
Home Run Derby X established a new live event marketing platform for MLB. Driving measurable engagement for MLB’s core business and participation among key audience groups, as well as providing a platform for storytelling and talent discovery.
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