Ticket sales launched, 10 Official Partners, new branding revealed for WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017

The World Baseball Softball Confederation today unveiled the launch of the first phase of ticket sales, 10 regional partners and the Official Look for the XXVIII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup® 2017 Thunder Bay, Canada.

Baseball's most prestigious youth international event, which brings together the top young players and future superstars of the world, will be staged from Friday, 1 September to Sunday, 10 September across the two venues of Port Arthur Stadium and Baseball Central.

TICKETS

Early tournament packages for all 50 U-18 Baseball World Cup games are now available for purchase at the newly launched and branded portal. The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium has been named the exclusive ticket agent for the U-18 Baseball World Cup and local media outlets (See 1, 2) have reported the tickets will be a "hot commodity," citing the need to install additional seating the last time Thunder Bay hosted the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2010. The U-18 Baseball World Cup 2015 Osaka Final attracted an attendance of over 15,000 and was the most-watched TV program of the day in the host nation of Japan.

OFFICIAL PARTNERS

With over nine months to go, the Thunder Bay 2017 organising committee for the U-18 Baseball World Cup has secured 10 official regional partners, including three in the top-tier category:

Tbaytel, the largest independently owned telecommunications provider in Canada;

Canadian National Railway Company ("CN"), Canada's largest freight railroad, provides transportation and intermodal service throughout North America;

Goldcorp, one of Canada's biggest gold producers, with mining operations across the Americas.

All levels of government in Canada, including the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Thunder Bay -- are also official partners of the U-18 Baseball World Cup.

Official Suppliers/2nd-tier sponsors include the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, SMS Equipment -- one of Canada's leading providers of equipment/construction services - Thunder Bay International Airport, and Royal Bank of Canada firm RBC Dominion Securities.

Iconic Japanese baseball brand SSK continues as a WBSC global sponsor and will supply the Official Umpire Kit.

President and CEO of Tbaytel Dan Topatigh said: "In recent years, Tbaytel has had the pleasure of sponsoring a number of major international sporting events, and we have no doubt that [the U-18 Baseball World Cup] will have the same level of impact on our community while showcasing everything that our beautiful city and region has to offer on a world stage."

"Goldcorp Musselwhite Mine is extremely excited to be part of the XXVIII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017," said Peter Gula, Mine General Manager, Musselwhite. "Anytime that you can have an opportunity to be part of an international competition of this nature and the benefits of supporting young athletes from around the globe are truly rewarding."

"As Thunder Bay prepares to welcome the world in 2017, CN is proud to partner with this community to put on a first-class event," said Drew Redden, Ontario Lead of Community Affairs, CN.

"WBSC is excited to welcome these great new partners across various industries and sectors," said Masaru Yokoo, WBSC Head of Baseball Marketing. "These partnerships highlight the unprecedented popularity and trend of major brand exposure and impact that flagship National Team events like the U-18 Baseball World Cup can deliver."

For more information, please contact:

WBSC

Email: media@wbsc.org

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