News DeskDUBAI, UAE – Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, has announced a new merchandise partnership with GO Sport, one of the region’s top sporting goods retailers. This collaboration will introduce professional baseball apparel—including caps, jerseys, and t-shirts—to the UAE for the first time. The merchandise will feature both lifestyle and on-field collections for Baseball United’s inaugural franchises: the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Mid East Falcons, and Arabia Wolves, as well as official Baseball United branded items.
The apparel will be available at The Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi, the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, and Dubai Mall—the world’s largest mall. Products, manufactured by Baseball United’s Official Apparel Partner, Arrieta, will begin hitting shelves on November 3rd.
“This is another landmark moment for baseball in this region,” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United. “I’m so excited for our current and budding baseball fans, and can’t wait for them to begin repping the teams they love.”
Merchandise sales are expected to be a significant revenue stream for Baseball United, helping to expand their marketing efforts and driving awareness and loyalty for the league and its franchises. According to a 2024 YouGov study, merchandise accounts for roughly 25% of Major League Baseball’s total revenue, with one out of every five fans purchasing official merchandise each season.
Baseball United and GO Sport will also sell officially-licensed merchandise at Baseball United’s new ballpark at The Sevens sports and entertainment complex, the first professional baseball field in the Middle East and South Asia. Merchandise will be available at all Baseball United events, including the Arab Classic national baseball team tournament from November 7th to 10th, 2024, featuring teams from nine nations including India, Pakistan, Palestine, and the UAE.
The launch will be celebrated with a special event at GO Sport’s Dubai Mall location on November 5th, featuring Baseball United Co-Owners Barry Larkin, Adrian Beltre, and Elvis Andrus, who will meet fans and sign autographs.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Baseball United,” said Tom Foley, CEO of GO Sport. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the growth of baseball in the Middle East and South Asia. Together, we aim to foster a passionate community of baseball enthusiasts.”
GO Sport, operated by Al Mana, is a globally recognized sports retailer specializing in high-performance, multi-branded goods. The partnership with Baseball United reinforces their commitment to providing high-quality merchandise to fans and supporting the sport’s growth in the region.
