Knights Extend Outreach to Latino Community, Unveil Enhanced "Caballeros de Charlotte" Initiative
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- For a third consecutive season, the Charlotte Knights will once again embrace the growing Latino community in the City of Charlotte by becoming the "Caballeros de Charlotte" in 2019. As part of this Minor League Baseball-wide initiative (Copa de la Diversiόn), the team unveiled a brand
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- For a third consecutive season, the Charlotte Knights will once again embrace the growing Latino community in the City of Charlotte by becoming the "Caballeros de Charlotte" in 2019. As part of this Minor League Baseball-wide initiative (Copa de la Diversiόn), the team unveiled a brand new logo set, three dates for Caballeros' games, a presenting sponsor to the entire series, as well as a new member of the team's front office staff, who will focus on community outreach. Monday's event took place at 2:30 p.m. at Collinswood Language Academy with the school's assistant principal, Jeff McIver, beginning the festivities.
Back in 2017, the Knights were one of just four Minor League Baseball teams to take part in the growing initiative. Two seasons later, the Knights will be one of 72 teams in the Copa de la Diversiόn (Fun Cup) event series with a total of 397 games scheduled throughout Minor League Baseball. In 2019, the Knights will host three Caballeros' games at BB&T Ballpark - Sunday, June 9th, Tuesday, July 23rd, and Saturday, August 17th. At each of these three games, the organization will celebrate the values that resonate with fans in the Latino community. As part of the 2019 Caballeros' series, Compare Foods has signed on as the team's presenting sponsor and will have a presence at all three games at BB&T Ballpark. Fans can expect more cultural music and food to highlight each of these three games.
As the Knights extend their outreach to the Latino community, the team has hired Rafael Bastidas as Manager of Hispanic/Latino Marketing to lead their efforts. Bastidas, a former CMS (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools) teacher and journalist, is helping the Knights solidify partnerships and develop strong ties within the Latino community. As part of his new, full-time position with the team, Bastidas will also continue to broadcast Charlotte Knights' game in Spanish along with his long-time radio partner, Ernesto Hurtado. The duo, who have called games at BB&T Ballpark since 2014, will return to the airwaves on 102.3 FM Latina to call all 10 Sunday home games for a third consecutive season.
Revealed earlier in the day on social media, the Knights showed off their vibrant, new logo, jersey, and on-field cap to the nearly 150 students on-hand for Monday's event at Collinswood Language Academy. Additional partners, who joined the Knights at Monday's unveiling with presenting sponsor, Compare Foods, were members of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Latin American Coalition, Dominos, Manolo's Bakery, and Norsan Media.
The brand new Caballeros' logo and uniform design were created by Charlotte Knights' Vice President of Entertainment, David Ruckman. Currently, New Era on-field fitted caps are available to all fans online at www.CharlotteKnights.com and in the Charlotte Knights Armor Shoppe. Additional merchandise, including Caballeros' T-Shirts, will be arriving soon.
The 2019 season will kick off on Thursday, April 4th as the Charlotte Knights will open their sixth season in Uptown Charlotte against the Durham Bulls. Season memberships, as well as Ten-Game Experiences, are on sale now. Single-game tickets for all 70 Knights' games, as well as all three remaining games in the 2019 Sunbelt Rentals Collegiate Baseball Series, are also on sale now. For more information, please visit www.CharlotteKnights.com or contact the Knights Ticket Office by phone at 704-274-8282.