MGM Resorts International has announced it will be the main sponsor of the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) Opening Game between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome on 20 and 21 March.
MGM will also be the main sponsor for four pre-season games to be played by the Athletics and Mariners against Japanese professional teams on 17 and 18 March.
It is the first time in seven years that an MLB opener will be held in Japan.
The Seattle Mariners is the home of “Legend” Ichiro and left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who joined the team this year, so the event will certainly attract a lot of attention.
MGM Resorts International, the umbrella company of MGM Resorts Japan LLC, is focusing on sports events and has concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with MLB from this season. This 2019 MGM MLB Opening Series will be the first event held under the partnership.
CEO of MGM Resorts, Jim Murren said, “We are extremely honored to be part of the excitement of the Japanese baseball industry as a global entertainment leader through our partnership with MLB.”
The Mariners will play two pre-season games against the Yomiuri Giants and the Athletics two games against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.