Portland Pickles make history getting fans high
Baseball fans will celebrate long after opening day this year in the Pacific Northwest. The Portland Pickles are a part of the competitive collegiate wooden bat West Coast League that picks up every summer. This year, the fans 21 and older at Walker Stadium have more than a win to celebrate.
On June 18th, the Pickles joined the first U.S. sports teams to sell weed beverages from the concession stand. Wrigley Field made history last season offering MYND beverages, and this year the Pickles do the same with Cycling Frog hemp-derived THC seltzer.
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“We’re thrilled to be making history with The Portland Pickles. Making THC seltzers available at Pickles games is a huge step, and we look forward to sparking a broader conversation via this partnership,” Matt Palomares, Cycling Frog VP of brand marketing, said in a press release.
During the 2024 season, fans can choose from two Cycling Frog Light Seltzers, each with two milligrams of THC and four milligrams of CBD. The cannabinoid dose is beginner-friendly (for most), with a CBD safety net. The Pickles sought clearance from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Coalition, as well as Portland Parks and Recreation, before making the weed drinks available at the June 18th home game against the Cowlitz Black Bears.
Passionfruit and Lemon flavors of Cycling Frog Light Seltzers will be available at three 21+ bar locations in Walker Stadium. Find the bubbly bevvies at The Jack Daniels Party Deck Bar behind home plate, Dillon’s Hideaway Bar in center field, and a standalone Cycling Frog stand inside the stadium.
“The Portland Pickles have a responsibility in the sports industry to take leaps and set a precedent of innovative partnerships,” Ross Campbell, VP of business development, said in a press release. “As we saw in 2019, becoming the first team to ever partner with a CBD company and quickly teams all the way up to the Major League level across sports follow suit. We are very proud to provide an alternative option at our games with Cycling Frog Products for our incredible fans and the city of Portland.”
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The Pickles partnered with CBD brand Lazarus Naturals in 2019, selling the products in the stadium and offering collaborative giveaways and promotions. By 2022, the MLB announced an official sponsorship from CBD brand Charlotte’s Web, launching a tincture with the league logo on the bottle. The league also opened the gate for teams to sell CBD sponsorships.
Weed drinks might be available while watching the big leagues one day if this announcement follows the same cycle as the CBD sponsorships. For now, Pickles fans can enjoy a bubbly cannabis bev while watching the ball crack off a wooden bat, pondering the future of weed in baseball stadiums.
