Old Dominion Freight Line Celebrates MLB Spring Training with Nationwide Fan Events

LTL carrier delivers MLB clubs’ essentials to warmer states marking the unofficial start to the 2020 baseball season

THOMASVILLE, N.C., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Old Dominion Freight Line, the Official Freight Carrier of Major League Baseball (MLB), drives the annual Spring Training send-off tradition with MLB clubs across the country.

The company will deliver clubs’ equipment to warmer locations as the teams start Spring Training, presented by Camping World. Before Old Dominion’s trucks hit the road, teams will celebrate the unofficial start of the 2020 baseball season with fans, coaches, current players, alumni, and team mascots.

“Spring Training send-offs are a player- and fan-cherished ritual. It’s our pleasure to be a part of these special events and ensure the teams’ equipment arrives safely and on-time,” said Dick Podiak, vice president of marketing and communication for Old Dominion Freight Line. “We are delighted to ring in the 2020 season as a corporate sponsor for 12 MLB clubs and as our fourth year as the Official Freight Carrier of Major League Baseball."

This year, Old Dominion will partner with eight teams for the Spring Training celebrations, including the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. 

The festivities will begin with the Chicago White Sox 28^th annual event, SoxFest, on Jan. 24-25. With the help of the White Sox mascot, Southpaw, Old Dominion will move the team’s equipment to the new SoxFest location, McCormick Place. Fans will have the chance to collect autographs and take photos with former and current stars of the Chicago White Sox.

On Jan. 25, the New York Mets will host the inaugural FanFest event at Citi Field. The Spring Training send-off will take place at noon in the player’s lot, where Old Dominion will pack one trailer with more than 10,000 items, including 600 baseball caps, four pitching machines, 10 cases of chewing gum and 1,000 pounds of weight equipment for the team, and depart for First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Thousands of Braves fans will attend ChopFest at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 25, where Old Dominion will celebrate with the team before their departure to Spring Training. The event will include interactive areas with players and coaches, pictures with team mascot, BLOOPER, a Braves history chalk walk, free autographs for kids and more.