Featured image credit: Baseball United
Professional baseball is set to become the latest sport to enter Saudi Arabia following the agreement of a wide-ranging deal between Baseball United and the Saudi government, via the Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSF).
The announcement today (Wednesday) gives Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, an unlimited term to host its professional league and tournaments in Saudi Arabia and includes rights to new franchises representing the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. This marks the first time in history that professional baseball will be brought to the Kingdom.
As part of the agreement, Baseball United will open a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia and partner with the SBSF to develop baseball in the Kingdom. This work will include promoting the game across the region, developing local talent in Saudi Arabia, and designing training programs and curriculums for players, coaches, and umpires at both the amateur and professional levels.
In addition, Baseball United will look to host future tournaments and league games in Saudi Arabia, targeting what it claims are more than 1.5 million baseball fans already in the country, while working to further grow a fanbase in the Kingdom.
Baseball United will lead the community engagement and marketing strategy for its league, while SBSF will assist with government relations, regulations, and policy work.
“This is a monumental day for the sport of baseball,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United. “Saudi Arabia is setting the pace for sports development, investment, and growth in the Kingdom and beyond, and we are truly honoured to now include baseball within those ambitious plans.
“This agreement significantly elevates Baseball United’s standing and footprint within the region, and, just as importantly, enables us to work at the grassroots level to help grow the game in the Middle East’s largest country.
“We will also now expand our BU franchises into Saudi Arabia, building local fanbases in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, and helping to inspire more young people to fall in love with the game.”
The SBSF is the youngest baseball federation in the world, having been formed in 2019. The federation will partner with Baseball United to develop its national team, with aims to compete in upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) tournaments.
The SBSF works in concert with Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious roadmap for economic diversification, global engagement, and enhanced quality of life which has seen a flurry of sporting events drawn to Saudi Arabia, along with a drive to enhance sporting infrastructure.
This year alone has seen event hosting announcements from World Table Tennis, the World Snooker Tour and the Professional Fighters League, along with the formation of the 6 Kings Slam tennis tournament and the staging of further boxing events.
Baseball United began play in Dubai last November with its inaugural All-Star Showcase, the first professional baseball games in the history of the region. The organisation previously announced four franchises that will compete in its future tournaments and league, including the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, and two UAE-based teams, the Wolves and Falcons.
The league is scheduled to announce its 2024 gameplay plans, as well as its Saudi expansion franchises, later this year.
Nayef bin Muhammad bin Abdul Mohsen bin Humaid, chairman of the SBSF, said: “Operating under the leadership of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, the SBSF has worked to build and inspire a local community that loves and practices baseball and softball within Saudi Arabia, with aspirations to also reach international horizons and achievements.
“This partnership with Baseball United will help fuel that vision, and it will elevate the calibre of players, events, and attention for the sport here in Saudi Arabia.”
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