Advertisements we may see on the Cincinnati Reds uniforms in 2020

Which Cincinnati-based company might we see adorn the Reds jerseys?

It’s being widely reported that one aspect of the latest proposal between the owners and the Player’s Association has been the ability for clubs to sell advertisements on team’s uniforms for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Who might the Cincinnati Reds look to as a sponsor?

Now, I know this idea will not be popular with the baseball purist, in the same way that the likely implementation of a universal DH will be met with disgust. However, we saw the Reds don batting helmets with Ford etched along the side during last year’s Mexico Series and all 30 NBA clubs now have a corporate sponsor who’s logo is stitched onto the team’s jerseys.

The idea give owners a way to recoup some of their losses from the delayed-season. NBA teams are said to take in between $5M-$20M annually depending on who the deal is with. According to SI.com, the NBA generated $150M in new revenue and expects the deal to increase when the negotiations are held for a second time.

As baseball fans, we’re not used to seeing a lot of advertisements adorning the jerseys of our favorite teams. Baseball is a sport rooted in history and its fans are very averse to change. Unfortunately, this change will pay off, literally, and it’s coming whether we like it or not. So, who should the Reds choose to be their sponsor?

The Reds could have an OPS of 1.667 with Fifth Third Bank

When it comes to Cincinnati-based companies, Fifth Third Bank ranks near the top in terms of recognizable institutions. Headquartered in the Queen City, Fifth Third Bank is one of the largest consumer banks in the Midwest.

Have you ever wondered why it’s called Fifth Third Bank? In 1909, Third National Bank and Fifth National Bank merged together to form Fifth Third Bank. The bank’s name used to find itself attached to the field of the Reds minor-league affiliate in Dayton, but the Dragons’ ballpark has since been renamed Day Air Field after Day Air Credit Union purchased the naming rights.

Grab a bib if you want to add Skyline Chili to the Reds uniforms

There may not be a more iconic sponsor in the eyes of Cincinnati-natives than Skyline Chili. The chain is named after Cincinnati skyline that founder Nicholas Lambrinides could see from his first restaurant. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that hitting up Skyline Chili, either before or after a Reds game, is a must.

Skyline is already the “official chili” of the Cincinnati Reds, as well as the Columbus Blue Jackets. The fast-casual diner can be found throughout Reds Country, in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The only problem with adding the Skyline Chili logo to the uniform would be that I’d get exceeding hungry each time the Reds came up to bat.

Totes could keep the Reds dry during a rain delay

Reds fans are used to rain delays. If you don’t like the weather in the Ohio Valley, wait five minutes. However, perhaps Cincinnati could gain some relief if the Totes Isotoner Corporation (Totes) sponsored the Reds in 2020. Totes, based in Cincinnati, sells umbrellas, footwear and other accessories oftentimes used during periods of inclement weather.

Totes is one of the world’s largest makers of umbrellas. The company also offers ponchos and waterproof footwear. Hopefully the Reds don’t see too many rain delays during the 2020 season. With the upcoming season already shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, the last thing fans want to see are the tarps come out.

Who knows what sponsor may find their way onto the Cincinnati Reds uniforms in 2020 and beyond, but one thing is for sure; it’s coming. With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the sport for the first several months of the 2020 season, owners are going to be looking for ways to increase revenue.