Imagination Brings the FTX MLB Home Run Derby X to London
The inaugural FTX MLB Home Run Derby X event in Crystal Palace Park, London attracted more than 1.2 million viewers via live stream and 6.9m total event views across MLB’s social channels where fans watched the Yankees beat the Red Sox 42-40 in the final.
At the heart of the event was the electrifying new baseball format where four teams, each with an MLB Legend, a Superstar, a Rookie and Wild Card representing the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees battled it out in the pre-lims. The 3rd place playoff saw Dodgers triumph over Cubs before the Yankees outslugged the Red Sox in the final, with Softball superstar Erika Piancastelli taking home the MVP award. The full run down of each game can be found here.
The baseball meets festival experience attracted both existing and a new generation of baseball fans. Emma Saunders and Josh Denzel were hosts for the day and as well as home runs and epic catches, the thousands who attended were also treated to interactive baseball-inspired activities, ballpark food, a live performance by AJ Tracey, sets by Reprezent Radio DJs, Bisola and DJ GBE, as well at the opportunity to purchase exclusive MLB merchandise.
The FTX MLB Home Run Derby X generated a set of unique numbers:
11,011 people attended the first FTX MLB Home Run Derby X event in London, the first of a 3 stop 2022 tour before Seoul and Mexico City
1.2m viewers of the live stream globally
6.9m total event day views across MLB social channels
808k engagements from the event day content on MLB social channels
77% of the audience who tuned in for TikTok live were non-followers of MLB – a new audience
2,464 baseballs were onsite at Crystal Palace Park for gameplay purposes including the orange FTX Hot Streak balls
205 Home Runs were scored during the pre-lims, 3rd place play off and final
45 points was the highest contribution by a single player from Home Runs, Target Hits and Catches – Boston Red Sox, MLB Legend – Jonny Gomes
£17,000 donated to Youth Sport Trust by FTX who committed £425 for every Home Run that was hit on an FTX Hot Streak ball
1029 HRDX Hot Dogs sold via Home Run House food truck
0 stock left of Home Run Derby X event-specific caps at the end of the day
FTX MLB Home Run Derby X global tour is being supporting by Imagination, the global experience design company, Cake, the Havas-owned creative agency specialising in sport, entertainment and culture and global media company, Team Whistle.
FTX MLB Home Run Derby X will continue to create high-energy live event experiences and opportunities for digital storytelling as attention moves to the next two final events of the tour.
• Seoul – September 17, 2022
• Mexico City – October 15, 2022
