Copa de la Diversión to reach 85 cities in 2022

Minor League Baseball has announced the continued long-term commitment to, and expansion of, the celebration of its U.S. Latino fans and communities through the unveiling of a record number of teams participating in the 2022 Copa de la Diversión™ (Fun Cup™) campaign and event series.

Each of the 85 participating MiLB teams, covering 33 U.S. states, will transform its on-field brand to a culturally relevant Latino persona, representing an extension of the team’s and community’s identity. Copa de la Diversión established an innovative new platform authentically connecting MiLB teams with their diverse communities, embracing the culture and values that resonate most with U.S. Latinos nationwide.

MiLB’s Copa-specific website features each team’s unique identity, including the story behind its Latino on-field persona, and links for fans to purchase apparel for select Copa de la Diversión (“Copa”) teams. Similar to years past, the 2022 participating teams will release their official on-field looks in March 2022 as the second part of the unveiling when on-field merchandise will be available for purchase on MiLB team store sites.

“Since its inception as a four-team test in 2017, Copa continues to provide MiLB teams numerous opportunities to connect and engage with their local Latino communities in authentic, impactful, and fun ways,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Major League Baseball’s vice president of minor league business operations. “From its award-winning identities to its community and philanthropic initiatives, Copa has transformed every facet of our business and serves as the centerpiece of our ongoing inclusivity efforts.”

The 2022 season will mark the fifth year of the Copa de la Diversión initiative, cementing MiLB’s commitment to U.S. Latino communities nationwide. The campaign continues to grow in popularity, paving the way for further expansion of the program for the 2022 season, including:

• More than 70% of MiLB teams voluntarily participating in the program

• More than 3.5 million fans attending over 840 Copa-designated games (2018 season through Sept. 15, 2021)

• Nearly one million fans attending Copa games in 2021

• MiLB teams partnering with more than 100 local Latino organizations, donating more than $500,000 in cash and gifts-in-kind to local Latino philanthropies since 2018

• Copa-designated games continue to draw larger crowds than the average per game attendance, including more than 20% per-game increases through the 2019 season

Since launching the original “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan” (“It’s Fun to Be a Fan”) in four test markets in 2017, MiLB has continued to reinforce its position as a leader in creativity, innovation and community engagement with its intentional and authentic strategy to engage its U.S. Latino fans. In 2018, Copa de la Diversión was introduced with 33 teams and grew to 72 teams in 2019. Following the pandemic-canceled 2020 season, 76 teams took the field in their Copa de la Diversión identities in 2021. The seven teams participating in the program for the first time in 2022 include the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Frisco RoughRiders, Great Lakes Loons, Quad Cities River Bandits, Somerset Patriots, St. Paul Saints and Wichita Wind Surge. The Lake Elsinore Storm, Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds will return to the program.

Nationwide Insurance continues as a proud partner of Copa de la Diversión, and the winner of the 2021 Copa de la Diversión event series will be announced at the Baseball Winter Meetings™ in Orlando in early December.

The following is an alphabetical list of the 85 teams participating in the Copa de la Diversión event series in 2022: Akron RubberDucks, Albuquerque Isotopes, Amarillo Sod Poodles, Arkansas Travelers, Asheville Tourists, Bowie Baysox, Bowling Green Hot Rods, Bradenton Marauders, Brooklyn Cyclones, Carolina Mudcats, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Charleston RiverDogs, Charlotte Knights, Chattanooga Lookouts, Columbia Fireflies, Columbus Clippers, Corpus Christi Hooks, Daytona Tortugas, Delmarva Shorebirds, Down East Wood Ducks, Durham Bulls, El Paso Chihuahuas, Erie SeaWolves, Eugene Emeralds, Everett AquaSox, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Fresno Grizzlies, Frisco RoughRiders, Great Lakes Loons, Greenville Drive, Gwinnett Stripers, Harrisburg Senators, Hartford Yard Goats, Hickory Crawdads, Hillsboro Hops, Hudson Valley Renegades, Inland Empire 66ers, Iowa Cubs, Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Lake County Captains, Lake Elsinore Storm, Lansing Lugnuts, Las Vegas Aviators, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Louisville Bats, Memphis Redbirds, Midland Rockhounds, Modesto Nuts, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Nashville Sounds, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Norfolk Tides, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Omaha Storm Chasers, Peoria Chiefs, Portland Sea Dogs, Quad Cities River Bandits, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Reading Fightin Phils, Reno Aces, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Rochester Red Wings, Round Rock Express, Sacramento River Cats, Salem Red Sox, Salt Lake Bees, San Antonio Missions, San Jose Giants, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Somerset Patriots, South Bend Cubs, Springfield Cardinals, St. Paul Saints, Stockton Ports, Syracuse Mets, Tacoma Rainiers, Tri-City Dust Devils, Visalia Rawhide, West Michigan Whitecaps, Wichita Wind Surge, Winston-Salem Dash, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Worcester Red Sox.