Copa De La Diversion

Earlier this year, Minor League Baseball announced the launch of “Copa de la Diversión,” (Fun Cup) a season-long event created to celebrate the culture with participating teams’ local Hispanic communities. Spanning 160 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, the program aims to engage the more than 18.2 million U.S. Hispanic/Latino individuals who identify themselves as MiLB fans.

Minor League Baseball President & CEO, Pat O'Conner, stated that “One of the pillars of Minor League Baseball is to create an environment where all individuals feel welcome and included in our ballparks [&] It is important to us that our teams are reflective of the communities in which they reside, offering a memorable entertainment experience for all members of those communities."

Image: MiLB.com

With years of research and quantifiable filters helping guide the strategic plan, MiLB targeted the four aforementioned communities as ideal markets to launch the initiative in 2017. Each participating team depicts a unique subset of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population with revamped jerseys and caps, with the four markets serving as a representative cross-section of the total U.S. Hispanic/Latino populace. For instance, the Las Vegas 51s will become the Las Vegas Reyes de Plata ("Silver Kings") referencing the city’s pioneering history in the metal mining business.

Kurt Hunzeker, Minor League Baseball's Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Research stated that “Minor League Baseball is built on the fun, memory-making experiences created by our teams each and every day.” “When we introduced 'It's Fun to Be a Fan' and 'Es Divertido Ser Un Fan' last season, the overwhelmingly positive response led us to create this season-long event series, further showcasing our teams' commitment to their communities and MiLB's unique brand of fun."

The 160-game event series begins on April 8, in Round Rock, Texas. To build awareness and create excitement for the new national series, a 3-foot tall "Copa de la Diversión" trophy will embark on a tour of the participating cities, as part of a "Gira de la Copa" ("Cup Tour").

Fans can join the Es Divertido Ser Un Fan conversation by using the hashtags #MiLBEsDivertido and #MiLBIsFun!

We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Minor League Baseball's Copa De La Diversion! Looking to dive more into Hispanic / Latino culture? Our fully-immersive group classes and native instructors not only promote linguistic fluency, but will deepen your understanding of the culture as you learn how to communicate effectively! Click below to learn more