Former Wal-Mart CEO Prompts Royals? Return

For the first time in five years, KREB will carry the full season of Kansas City Royals major league baseball games. Last year the station picked up some of the games late in the summer.

But James said KREB wanted to bring all of the Royals’ games back in part because former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO David Glass now owns the team. Glass retired as CEO in 1999 and served through January 2000 as chairman of the Bentonville retailer’s executive committee of the board. He bought controlling interest in the Royals last year.

“We were simulcasting the St. Louis Cardinals on both our AM and FM stations,” James said. “But we thought since KREB is licensed through Bentonville, and because of David Glass’ connection and the Royals fans there, there would be community interest.”

For the second-straight year, KREB’s sister stations on FM — 99.5 and 96.7 — are carrying all of the Cardinals’ games. James said advertising sales for both teams’ spots have been good.

Royals sponsorships go for $500 per month with a minimum of 150 ads. Cardinals spots go for $750 per month with a minimum of 200 ads. A few sponsorships are still available for both teams.

“The Royals don’t offer as many avails [local advertising spots] as the Cardinals do,” James said.

“So you can have a lot more sponsors for Cardinals baseball. But both of these packages are the most affordable available for the beau coup number of spots you’re guaranteed.”