CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- . With the tradition and excitement of opening day, Bank of America - the Official Bank of Major League Baseball - is loading up the bases and the rewards by launching the first full season of the Bank of America MLB® Extra Bases™ credit card program.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050720/CLW086LOGO-b )
Through the Extra Bases rewards program, fans can get closer to the game than ever before. They can redeem rewards points for tickets to regular season games as well as Major League Baseball Jewel Events including the 2007 All- Star Game and 2007 postseason games, VIP all-access tours of select ballparks or a spectrum of unique rewards that only MLB and its 30 Clubs can deliver, many of which are exclusive to this program.
"We share the passion our customers have for baseball," said Jake Frego, Bank of America Card Services Executive. "Whether it's taking your son or daughter to their first game, touring your favorite ballpark as a family, or watching dad throw out a ceremonial first pitch, Bank of America is creating unique opportunities for fans to establish lifelong memories and express their love for the game."
"Major League Baseball's partnership with Bank of America continues to generate beneficial opportunities for our dedicated fan base," said John Brody, senior vice president, Major League Baseball. "The significance of these unique reward packages, offered in celebration of the 2007 baseball season, exemplifies our collaboration with Bank of America."
Fans can learn more about or apply for an Extra Bases credit card at select MLB ballparks and at any one of the 5,700 banking centers across the country. Cardholders can choose a card design bearing the Major League Baseball silhouetted batter or the logo of their favorite Club. Each time they use their card, fans earn one point for every net retail dollar spent.
Accumulated points can be redeemed for a spectrum of unique rewards, including: access to the field during pre-game activities or dugout visits at select ballparks; the opportunity to announce the line-up for an inning or to throw out a ceremonial first pitch; or game-used memorabilia such as MLB baseballs, bases, or line-up cards. Points also can be used to redeem official MLB merchandise, including Authentic Collection jerseys and caps through online redemptions on the rewards website.
As the Official Bank of Baseball™, Bank of America has national sponsorship agreements with the four leading organizations that represent America's national pastime-Major League Baseball®, Minor League Baseball™, Little League Baseball and Softball® and the National Baseball Hall of Fame® and Museum. Bank of America's deep-rooted support for baseball includes banking sponsorships with 10 Major League Baseball Clubs and 69 Minor League Baseball teams. Additionally, Bank of America has affinity credit card relationships with 23 Major League Baseball Clubs.
Through its integrated association with the game, Bank of America is able to connect with a wide range of customers in a variety of ways. Among the activities that the bank is pursuing during the 2007 season to engage baseball fans at all levels include:
-- As the Official Bank of Major League Baseball, Bank of America will
continue its presenting sponsorship of the National League and American
League Player of the Week® awards. This marks the fourth consecutive
season that Bank of America has supported the award, which honors
weekly the accomplishments of the Leagues' best players during the
season.
-- As the Official Bank of Little League Baseball, Bank of America will
honor the 2.7 million Little League players and the one million
volunteers who help them play each season by sponsoring the League's
International Opening Day Celebration. The event on April 13 in Houston
launches Little League's 69th season, and will include a clinic with
current Little Leaguers and celebrity coaches.
-- This season, Bank of America will launch its Little League Referral
Program, a unique fundraising support initiative designed to help
Little League districts throughout the country raise money for their
organizations.
-- Working with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Bank of
America is helping to refurbish and support a mobile exhibit that
celebrates the contributions of black players in baseball. The exhibit
will travel this summer to Major League Baseball stadiums, and to other
venues, including historic black colleges and universities.
"By teaming up with baseball at all levels, Bank of America continues to support programs that benefit and build excitement for fans - young and old - all across the country," said Ray Bednar, global sponsorship marketing executive, Bank of America. "Baseball is the quintessential American game, and we are proud of the unrivaled opportunities that we can create for fans to embrace the time-honored traditions of our national pastime."
Major League Baseball Properties
The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the Clubs' agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties Inc. is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States, and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rights holders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full- service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and a stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series championship games, as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to http://www.mlb.com/.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 55 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, through more than 17,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 21 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 80 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
http://www.bankofamerica.com/
Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050720/CLW086LOGO-bAP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
SOURCE: Bank of America
CONTACT: Joe Goode of Bank of America, +1-617-434-7314, or
joseph.l.goode@bankofamerica.com; or Susan Goodenow of Major League Baseball,
+1-212-931-7878, susan.goodenow@mlb.com
Web site: http://www.bankofamerica.com/
http://www.mlb.com/
