MLB teams to feature helmet ads with Strauss logo in postseason 2023

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that teams will feature advertising on their helmets during the postseason, starting in 2023. This initiative is part of a deal with Strauss, a German apparel company that has recently entered the U.S. market. The agreement allows for helmet ads through 2027, with the ads measuring 5-by-0.92 inches displayed on both sides of each helmet. The ads will prominently feature the word 'STRAUSS' in white capital letters alongside the company's ostrich logo, set against a red square background. In addition to the postseason, Strauss will also have its branding on the helmets of 120 affiliated minor league teams from 2025 to 2027. This move follows MLB's previous allowance of helmet ads in select international games since at least 2008 and the introduction of jersey ads in 2023. The decision to incorporate advertising into helmets was part of a broader agreement with the players' association during the 2022 labor negotiations. The trend of incorporating advertisements into sports uniforms has been growing across major North American leagues. Major League Soccer was the first to allow jersey ads in 2007, followed by the NBA in the 2017-18 season and the NHL, which introduced helmet ads in the 2020-21 season. The acceptance of advertising in MLB reflects a shift in the sports industry towards generating additional revenue streams through sponsorships. As the postseason approaches, fans can expect to see these new helmet ads, marking a significant change in the visual landscape of baseball games. This partnership with Strauss not only enhances the visibility of the brand but also signifies a new era of advertising in professional sports, as teams adapt to evolving market dynamics.