Atari Announces Backyard Sports Partners

Atari recently announced an all-star line up of partners that will help to support the launch of the all new Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers when it hits the XBox360 and Nintendo Wii on May 25.  Franklin Sports, GT Beverages, Baseball Youth and National Alliance of Youth Sports, Inc. have signed on as marketing partners for this new title.

“Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers is a big evolution for the number one kid sports videogame brand with a whole host of engaging, new features while keeping true to the classic rules of the sport,” says Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc.  ”Our partnerships with Franklin Sports, GT Beverages, Baseball Youth, and the National Alliance of Youth Sports, Inc. provide us with an excellent opportunity to broaden brand awareness.”

Franklin Sports product and brand integration will appear in the game including a pitching machine, logos on the field, and billboards.  Franklin Sports branding will also be seen alongside the activity tips on the loading screens which promote physical activity for kids.

GT Beverages will feature the Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers logo in its Sportastic Sports Drink designed for health conscious, active children and adults, from May to June 2010.

The Backyard Sports: Sand Sluggers game will serve as the exclusive game on the East and West coasts for the Baseball Youth Road Trip FANFEST, an interactive traveling tour visiting youth baseball tournaments across the United States.  On site booth integration will include game demos and sampling.

Finally, the partnership with the National Alliance for Youth Sports, Inc. will open the way for Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers to reach over 70,000 member organizations, including National Youth Sports Coaches, Parks & Recreation Associations, YMCA’s, and JCC’s, through the National Alliance for Youth Sports, Inc. e-newsletter.  In addition, Atari will make a donation for the NAYS Excellence in Youth Sports Awards in the name of Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers.