Pat O'Conner, President, NAPBLMAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The buzz around the opening day of the MiLB side of the Baseball Winter Meetings was not about the latest player scheduled to sign, or even about steroids. The primary buzz this morning was about one thing very dear to minor league baseball, sponsorship money, that comes to MiLB clubs from three key businesses that are all in economic hot water and/or major reorganization: The Big Three, banks and beer. At a time of economic tension around the country, no one is apt to feel the pinch more than minor league sports.

InBev, the foreign brewery conglomerate that bought Anheuser Busch will be consolidating the American beer giant into its system, and changes in the lavish advertising and sponsorships that AB showered upon the sports world are expected.

Banks, which have everything from park-naming rights to heavy ad presence on the air and in print for minor league teams are being absorbed by bigger banks that may, or may not, continue the marketing campaigns of the banks which they have taken over.

The good news for MiLB is that one of its core sponsors is Bank of America, which has fared relatively well through the crisis.  For teams though in the West and Northwest with expsure to Washington Mutual (WaMU) and others, though the news is not as bright.

In an informal survey which MLN conducted today of clubs from coast to coast, 97% of them say that sponsorships from auto dealers or from the Big Three in particular will affect their reveue picture to some degree.  About 10% identified the problem as "significant."  One executive, who did not wish his club singled out as having a potential sponsorship problem, summed it up best: "As we get closer to spring, they should know more. Until then, though, we're all watching and waiting."

NAPBL president Pat O'Conner spoke of the economic challenges that lie ahead for the 2009 season in his opening address to the league presidents, owners, managers, and staff assembled for the Opening Address. He hinted that the NA would act to support teams that might find themselves faced by possible.

"We will pro-actively address the needs of clubs when and where they crop up," O'Conner said.