SPONSOR INSIGHTS
Partnership Reports
MLB Greenlights CBD
Given Major League Baseball’s landmark announcement last week that teams can now sell CBD sponsorships, the already buzzy category will soon be top of mind for many in pro sports. With more than 160 CBD brands buying sponsorship or media, MLB executives can expect an influx of calls from those vying for the coveted distinction of becoming the official CBD partner of an MLB team.
Time will tell if MLB players will also dive into CBD, following athletes like NFL star Dalvin Cook–who endorses CBD brand Medterra–and PGA golfers Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed, who both have deals with CBD sponsorship leader cbdMD.
Another sign of the CBD industry’s burgeoning momentum? Two CBD brands–cbdMD and Charlotte’s Web–made the top 50 in SponsorUnited’s June most-searched list.
Here’s a snapshot of current trends across properties where CBD partnerships are legal.
The current CBD industry leaders in terms of total sponsorship deals:
- cbdMD
- 3Chi
- Beam Organics
- Charlotte’s Web
- Select
- Pure Spectrum
- Trulieve
- Cannadips
- Mendi
- Love Hemp
The most popular assets bought by CBD brands are social media posts, property entitlements, digital content, outdoor signage, and event content/activations. Emerging marketing assets include Instagram posts, official sponsor/use of marks, logo displayed on websites, static billboards, and talent endorsements.
Social media is a leading activation for CBD brands–as evidenced by their top-five most engaged posts with the following properties:
- Jon Jones X Just CBD | Engagement: 186,479
- Kamaru Usman X Love Hemp | Engagement: 176,802
- Kamaru Usman X Love Hemp | Engagement: 159,361
- Charles Oliveira X AthletiCBD | Engagement: 128,363
- Ultimate Fighting Club (UFC) X Love Hemp | Engagement: 123,344