Major League Baseball Teams Up With Lysol
Announcement of multiyear partnership comes a week before the World Series
First, the National Basketball League partnered with Clorox. Now, Major League Baseball is getting in on the disinfection game, announcing a partnership with Lysol.
The multiyear deal comes almost a week before the league’s World Series championship, aiming to “reinforce and promote healthy habits and disinfection protocols for the league’s players, staff and fans,” the MLB said in a statement.
Beginning with the ongoing postseason series, Lysol is providing “professional-grade disinfection solutions” to the MLB to be used in dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses, as well as fan areas.
And while it’s unclear when baseball’s 2021 season will begin, the partnership may help consumers feel more comfortable returning to ballparks knowing a household brand like Lysol is attached to the league’s cleaning and disinfection policies. Microbiologists from Lysol will consult with the MLB on reinforcing existing cleanliness protocols at ballparks, focusing on high-touch spots.
“The addition of Lysol’s expertise and disinfecting products will help further strengthen efforts to create a safe environment to play Major League Baseball,” said Jon Coyles, MLB’s vp of drug, health and safety programs. “As a brand that is synonymous with cleanliness, the Lysol brand will be an important partner in our management of the evolving pandemic as well as in amplifying health and safety messages around baseball.”
Much like the baseball diamond, there’s been a ton of competition in the cleaning and disinfection space since the outbreak of the Covid-19 health crisis. Hilton announced a partnership with Lysol back in April, and Clorox has teamed with United Airlines, Uber and AMC Theaters, among others. At Clorox, sales jumped 32% in the first quarter of 2020, while Lysol parent company Reckitt Benckiser reported a 13% sales bump during the same period.
The league and Lysol are also partnering to “identify opportunities to provide Lysol product and educational materials to schools across the country, engaging with young fans and promoting healthy habits in the classroom,” according to MLB.
