At the Angels’ May 22 Game vs. Atlanta, Every Fan Will Go Home Holding the Bag – A Specially-Designed 'Eco Bag' from Nitto Tire
Marked by Style, Functionality and Green Awareness, Nitto’s Second Premium of The Angels' Landmark 50th Anniversary Season Touches All the Bases
CYPRESS, CA – In a game where bags are everywhere -- a home run, after all, is a “four-bagger” -- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fans attending the Sunday, May 22nd interleague game against the Atlanta Braves will get their hands on a bag of a different color. That’s when Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. (www.nittotire.com) will outfit every fan with a stylish Angels “Eco Bag.”
The bags were designed by Kyoko Mizutani, a longtime Angels fan and wife of the president of Nitto Tire U.S.A. The Eco Bag represents the first time the Angels have partnered with a sponsor to create a customized item for distribution to fans. The bag consists, in part, of recycled materials.
The Mizutanis have been huge fans of the Angels for almost 20 years, during which time they acquired a number of team collectibles. That experience inspired them to come up with an idea that they felt Angels fans would truly appreciate -- an environmentally friendly tote bag. With the support of the Angels organization, that idea has become a reality.
The bag’s design pays homage to the portal that welcomes Angels fans to each game. It depicts the front of Angel Stadium, with its distinctive main entrance featuring two enormous, blazing red Angels hats, complete with New Era tags on the sweatband -- including one indicating the hats' size: 649½. For her design theme, Mrs. Mizutani relied on the Angels’ helmet symbol and the team’s distinctive team color.
“I wanted to design something that fans would love to use over and over again, showing their devotion to Angels baseball as they do their part to protect the environment,” said Mrs. Mizutani. “It was my dream to create something unique – a bag that is useful for shopping while carrying a message about ecology. I also wanted to create something that fans can be proud of when they use the bag.”
“Nitto’s motto is 'Fueled by Enthusiasts,' which is why we are partnering with the Angels organization – they’re fueled by their fans' enthusiasm,” said Gloria Miyamoto, marketing manager of Nitto Tire USA. “The Angels’ support of this promotion is a sign of that shared excitement – it has enabled Nitto to create something really special for the Angels community.”
The promotion is Nitto’s second at Angel Stadium during this 50th anniversary season. At the home opener, Nitto presented fans with a collectible commemorative T-shirt, the back of which featured a list of all 853 Angels players, coaches and managers to wear the Halos uniform since the franchise's founding in 1961.
Promotional giveaways are just part of the tire manufacturer's second year of proud sponsorship of the ball club. The Nitto brand appears in the Angels magazine and on the scoreboard behind home plate. And at the July 8 game against the Seattle Mariners, Nitto will present fans with a special Angels drawstring backpack.
The Angels’ fast start this season continues a legacy of success in the Southern California sports marketplace. With its exceptionally loyal fan base, the team has won eight American League Division Championships, hosted the MLB All-Star Game three times, and captured the World Series Championship in 2002.
Nitto Tire (www.nittotire.com) develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts.
Source: Nitto Tires
