For almost 40 years, Area Code Baseball has provided the United States’ best high school players with an opportunity to compete on amateur baseball’s biggest stage – the Area Code Games.
The six-day showcase, which takes place in California each summer, provides the nations’ best young prospects with the opportunity to compete at the highest level, all under the watchful eye of NCAA coaches and scouts from all 30 Major League teams.
With just short of 250 members of Area Code alumni on current MLB rosters, and 18 first-round picks in the 2024 MLB Draft, it is clear that ‘the Codes’ is where baseball’s future stars perform.
The AC Games are part of a wider year-long calendar of events helping young players on their journey to the very top – but with the support of Stack Streaming, more people than ever can be part of one of the most pivotal points in their athletic journey.
How Area Code Baseball use Stack Streaming
In effect, the AC Games serve as the beginning of a year-long interview process culminating with the MLB Draft the following summer.
While the event holds national importance, its presence in Long Beach each year means many families and supporters from further afield cannot make the journey to the Golden State.
By enlisting Stack Streaming’s support, Area Code Baseball ensures that financial or geographical barriers do not stop people from being part of the event.
“The way we utilize streaming is for the game coverage aspect of things,” said Area Code Baseball’s Caleb Jung.
“We hold the AC Games at the end of summer in California, but the selection process is nationwide.
“Not every parent, fan, family member, or friend can make it to Long Beach. There’s a real financial commitment with the travel and we understand that everyone has a busy schedule, so we live stream the games on the Stack Streaming platform.
“A big selling point of the product is that the parents can watch. They want to see their kids play, so it’s all about helping as many people as possible to soak up the moment.”
Boosting revenue
A key aspect of the Stack Streaming platform is the ability of customers to optimize their earning potential while streaming events, whether that be through ad revenue generation or various pay-per-view options.
In the case of the AC Games, online viewers have the option to purchase individual game streaming passes or a week-long event pass, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action.
“For us, the additional revenue component is important,” Jung added.
“Anyone can buy a week pass for the event, and at a reasonable price too. We want to make the event a real community, even for people who are further afield and can’t be there in-person.
“Everyone around the country can watch these talented athletes play baseball, rather than just people who live near Long Beach. For the players it’s huge, and for parents and other relatives it’s huge as well.
“From an organizational perspective, it’s a case of finding the best way of involving friends and family in the event, while at the same time boosting the financials.”
Should you follow a similar path?
At Stack Streaming, we firmly believe that broadcasting can be of real benefit to clubs, leagues, and governing bodies of all sizes.
Reasons for this include streaming:
- Being a cost-effective way of building an audience
- Encouraging a more engaged online audience
- Fitting into a wider strategy for growth
While some organizations are still yet to embrace the potential of online streaming, others have already taken the leap and are already reaping the rewards.
As Jung explains: “Regardless of how big an organization may be, it all comes down to how much they value streaming and game footage.
“Take baseball, as an example. If you have one camera covering the whole field, then potentially setting up some other cameras from different angles, it can be of real use when it comes to playback of footage, re-watching games, and analysing the performance of each player.
“Video is huge for sports, and there’s always an audience – regardless of the level your team plays at.
“Stack Streaming is a cost-effective solution for broadcasting, with plenty of user-friendly aspects. Its functionality really stands out, and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the platform to other organizations.”
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