The Rockland Boulders announced today an unprecedented international television partnership with emerging sports channel ELEVEN SPORTS that will result in at least 28 Boulders regular season games and all home playoffs games during the 2017 season being made available to 60 million homes in the United States and Taiwan.  On Thursday, May 18th at 7PM, the Boulders home opener will become the first professional baseball game ever on Eleven Sports in the USA.  It will be available in an astounding 55 million homes in the United States along with 5 million homes in Taiwan.

“We are very pleased to agree to a partnership with the Rockland Boulders, taking even more top sports action to fans across the United States and Taiwan. This agreement fits perfectly with our global strategy to build fan communities around our content and we’re excited to work with the Boulders to promote their brand and bring the fans right to the heart of the action”, said Danny Menken, Group Managing Director of ELEVEN SPORTS.

“For ELEVEN SPORTS to identify the Boulders as their choice for a worldwide professional baseball partner is an honor beyond belief”, said Ken Lehner, President.  “We now know how Ted Turner must have felt back in the early 1980’s when he turned the Atlanta Braves into America’s Team via his TBS platform.”

Speaking of Turner and America’s Team, the Boulders have begun the trademark process to secure the tag line “America’s Independent Baseball Team” following in the footsteps of one of the most successful sports marketing approaches in history.  Turner was also well known for ingenious baseball marketing promotions that rivaled the great Bill Veeck, such as managing the Atlanta Braves for one game in 1977 along with ostrich races in the outfield at Fulton County Stadium.  In order to both honor and thank Turner for being a sports trailblazer, the Boulders are extending a standing invitation for Turner to manage the Boulders during the 2017 season to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of  his one and only game as a baseball manager, which occurred on May 11th, 1977 which is exactly 40 years ago today.

“Mr. Turner is well known for his role as skipper of America’s Cup”, said Lehner.  “However, he was also the skipper for one Major League Baseball game.  We would like to afford him the opportunity to even his professional baseball managerial record by managing the Boulders to victory in a game this summer at Palisades Credit Union Park.  We would be more then happy to have him fill out the lineup card while spitting some chew in the dugout and also having carte blanch to leave tickets for family, friends and even ostriches on the pass list.”

This will not be the first time the Boulders have found themselves on the international broadcast stage. On June 24th, 2016, over 5 million viewers watched the Boulders host the Cuban National Team on ESPN Deportes in the island nation.  On September 1st, 2013, over 50 million viewers watched South Korean knuckleballer Min Hur pitch against the Newark Bears on the Seoul Broadcasting System, an ESPN affiliate.  The Boulders have also faced national teams from Cuba and Japan as part of the CanAm International Baseball Showcases in 2015 and 2016.  In 2017, the Boulders will host both the Cuba and the Dominican Republic national teams as part of the Caribbean Challenge.

“Our partnership with ELEVEN SPORTS literally opens up a world of possibilities”, said Lehner.  “Does this mean we are looking to sign a professional baseball player from Taiwan?  Darn right it does.”

Join fellow Boulders fans along with the rest of the world live via the first international baseball broadcast on ELEVEN SPORTS at Palisades Credit Union Park when “America’s Independent Baseball Team” debuts against the Sussex County Miners to begin their seventh season with a #BouldOpening on Thursday, May 18th.  Season Ticket Memberships and numerous other ticket packages are currently on-sale and can be purchased by visiting the box office or calling (845) 364-0009.  For more information, slide to rocklandboulders.com.