CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball and Learfield – the media and technology company powering athletics – have agreed to extend their existing multimedia rights relationship while adding Learfield Amplify’s development vertical to build and grow their philanthropic giving programs.
“We were proud to be the first national governing body to work with Learfield when we announced our partnership in 2019,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul V. Seiler. “Over the past five years, our relationship with Learfield has flourished, and we are pleased today to announce a five-year extension and expansion of our agreement with the addition of development to the partnership. As we sought a partner to assist the organization with building a development program, we felt Learfield separated themselves as the undeniable choice in this critical area for USA Baseball.”
Learfield’s flagship multimedia rights division will continue to manage sponsorships, in-venue advertising, experiential marketing and naming rights for USA Baseball while Learfield Amplify will come on board to build out a comprehensive fundraising program that will include annual giving and major gifts. In addition, Amplify will create an annual fundraising operating plan aimed at enhancing messaging and branding to create awareness of philanthropic support for USA Baseball across the country.
“Collaborating with USA Baseball as our first national governing body client has been a tremendous privilege and we are thrilled to continue that relationship as the organization prepares for the return of baseball to the Olympics in 2028,” said Kim Damron, Learfield’s president of sports properties. “Adding Learfield Amplify’s development capabilities only bolsters this partnership, better positioning USA Baseball for future growth.”
As part of the new relationship, Learfield Amplify will bring on veteran fundraising professional Drake Sacenti to serve as Director of Development for USA Baseball. Sacenti has significant experience at all levels of Development, including impactful stops in college athletics at Oregon State, the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Houston. Sacenti will develop and manage all fundraising programs. He will also focus on building and enhancing relationships with existing and potential donors as well as all those who care about the game of baseball at the amateur level nationally.
About USA Baseball
With its international headquarters located in Cary, North Carolina, USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and has been committed to serving, protecting, and supporting the game and its 15.6 million participants since 1978. As a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), its national teams have won a combined 69 gold medals in international competition. Off the diamond, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL, and the Prospect Development Pipeline. Additionally, USA Baseball annually honors the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. For more information on the organization, its national teams, and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is a diversified and influential media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 15,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
About Learfield Amplify
Learfield Amplify represents more than 40 collegiate athletic departments, professional sports teams and related industry organizations nationwide, with more than 200 on-site sales personnel dedicated to serving these respective relationships. The company delivers a total revenue solution across its ticketing, development and premium seating business through staff development, high-value expertise, and engaged fan relationships. As the sports industry and fan behavior continues to evolve, Learfield Amplify remains at the forefront of business intelligence through many of its national relationships, leading to increased revenues for teams across the country.