GARDENA, Calif. — Tireco Inc. has struck a sponsorship deal with Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres covering the WestLake import brand for the 2018 and '19 seasons.
The sponsorship includes a signage package, on-site activation and hospitality opportunities for dealers and VIPs, allowing Gardena-based Tireco to promote the Westlake brand — owned and produced by China's ZC Rubber Group and handled in the U.S by Tireco since 2012 — both to consumers in Southern California and Padres' fans throughout the country via television broadcasts.
The new partners did not disclose the value of the deal, which is Tireco's first foray in sports marketing.
"We're proud to associate ourselves with the San Diego Padres organization," Andrew Hoit, Tireco's vice president of sales and marketing. "We're excited for Opening Day and the opportunity to connect with loyal Padres fans for the entire 2018 and 2019 regular seasons."
Sergio del Prado, Padres vice president of corporate partnerships, said the team, now in its 49th season, is "looking forward to forging a lasting relationship with Tireco and their respective dealers and customers."
Opening Day this year is March 29 at Petco Park.
Tireco owns and distributes seven brands — Milestar, Geostar, Geotrac, Nanco, TracGard, Sendel and Forte — and is the exclusive distributor of the Nankang brand in North America and the WestLake consumer tire brand in the U.S.