- Georg Szalai, THR.com

NEW YORK Major League Baseball this week unveiled its most comprehensive promotional sponsorship arrangement with a movie to date as the annual All-Star Game will help promote Walt Disney Pictures' and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' G-Force this summer.

The 3-D comedy adventure opens July 24 and has teamed up with MLB for the "G-Force Grand Slam Sweepstakes." If a grand slam is hit during the All-Star Game on July 14, the first million people registering on Disney.com starting Wednesday will win a free ticket to see G-Force on opening day.

It's the first movie promoting its theatrical debut during the All-Star Game since Disney's Angels in the Outfield in 1994.

"We hope one of the All Stars hits a grand slam, because what better way to launch the release than with a million enthusiastic sports fans showing up as part of opening day," said Jim Gallagher, president of marketing for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

MLB said grand slams are on the rise with 18 having been hit so far this season, well ahead of the normal pace.

"By teaming the most significant sporting event of the summer with the most anticipated family movie of the summer, we hope to give fans a little something more to cheer for when they tune-in to the All-Star Game," said Tim Brosnan, MLB evp, business. "Delivering tried and true forms of family entertainment, Disney and Major League Baseball are a perfect team."

Another part of the promotion sees G-Force as the exclusive sponsor of in-stadium All-Star balloting to decide the games player lineups. As such, G-Force will appear on more than 20 million ballots distributed at the 30 MLB ballparks, at more than 100 minor league ballparks and through in-stadium messaging and announcements.

Also, prior to the All-Star Game, 29 MLB Clubs will host "Walt Disney Pictures G-Force Days," including trading card giveaways and movie ticket/prize-pack giveaways during the games.

Source: THR.com