2016 Harris Teeter & Tide+ Triple-A Home Run Derby Details Revealed
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- With the 2016 All-Star Season at BB&T Ballpark on the horizon, the Charlotte Knights will partner with Harris Teeter and Tide+ as title sponsors for the 2016 All-Star Home Run Derby. The team is also pleased to welcome Clariant as the presenting sponsor of the Home Run Derby.
Slated for Monday, July 11th, the event known as the Harris Teeter and Tide+ Triple-A Baseball Home Run Derby presented by Clariant, will pack fans from in and around the Charlotte area into BB&T Ballpark. Last month, the Knights announced Sonic Automotive as the title sponsor of the 2016 Sonic Automotive Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game presented by Gildan. The three-day All-Star event will take place at BB&T Ballpark from July 11th to July 13th in Uptown Charlotte.
"We are very pleased to welcome Harris Teeter and Tide+ as the title sponsors of the 2016 All-Star Home Run Derby and Clariant as our presenting sponsor," stated Charlotte Knights Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski. "We're looking forward to showcasing our partnership with these great partners during what will be a historic All-Star Season at BB&T Ballpark in 2016."
"Clariant is excited to be a partner of the Charlotte Knights and the 2016 Triple-A Home Run Derby," stated Ken Golder, Clariant President and CEO. "The Home Run Derby, along with our partnership on 'Science Education Night' at BB&T Ballpark, are part of our corporate citizenship focus to contribute to making Charlotte a better place to live and work."
Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 11th and fans will have a chance to see the top three home run hitters from the International League along with the top three sluggers from the Pacific Coast League facing off for ultimate Triple-A Baseball supremacy. One of the prizes the Home Run Derby winner will receive will be the annual Triple-A Baseball Home Run Derby championship belt.
The entire event will kick off with members of the Amateur Softball Association's Long Haul Bombers in a Home Run Derby of epic proportions. Each of the participants will compete to slug softballs out of BB&T Ballpark for a chance to be crowned the 2016 ASA Softball Home Run Derby winner at BB&T Ballpark.
In addition, the Knights are sprucing up the entire event by inviting local area high schools from seven nearby counties to submit a player of their choice to participate in a preliminary Home Run Derby at BB&T Ballpark in May. The field of high school participants will eventually be whittled down to two area sluggers earning a spot to participate in the event on July 11th with the six Triple-A mashers.
As part of the derby, all eight participants will be represented by a celebrity captain, who will receive a $1,000 donation to their charity for participating. The winning team's captain will receive an additional $1,000 for their charity. A list of celebrities will be announced at a later date.
Also, as part of the event -- and to tie in local kids ages 8 through 12 -- Harris Teeter will launch an exciting sweepstakes beginning on May 13th to find local area kids to "shag" outfield balls hit during Monday's derby. More details will be available at CharlotteKnights.com.
The Charlotte Knights return home to BB&T Ballpark for their 2016 home opener on Thursday, April 14. The team's third Opening Night in BB&T Ballpark history kicks off with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch in Uptown Charlotte. Single-game tickets, season tickets, as well as partial season ticket plans for the 2016 season, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office, online at CharlotteKnights.com, or by phone at 704-274-8282. Uptown Knights Are Better Than Ever!