Blue Lake, CA (February 23, 2022) — Mad River Brewery and the San Francisco Giants have formed a first-of-its-kind partnership for the 2022 baseball season between a Tribal Brewery and a Major League Baseball franchise.
Oracle Park is known as one of the best craft beer ballparks in all of sports and home to a rich craft beer loving fan base. Mad River Brewery, tribally owned by the Yurok Tribe, signifies the Giants commitment to continuing to share its platforms with diverse partners and to elevate awareness for and celebrate the accomplishments of the Native American community.
Linda Cooley, Yurok Tribal Member and MRB CEO, emphasized the significance of this step. “It’s no secret that professional sports teams have been capitalizing off Natives for decades. That’s why this is so big; in this partnership the Giants put the message into our hands to tell our own story, eliminating the chance of tokenization.” Cooley, whose career has been enhanced by a lifelong connection to the beer industry, stepped up to the plate to lead the brewery following its purchase in 2019. Since then, the brewery has re-emerged, staying true to their 30+ year reputation for quality and craft while also unveiling a new brand, new products, new endeavors, and new partnerships.
When purchased in 2019, Yurok Agricultural Corporation recognized an opportunity to diversify the Tribe’s economic portfolio and drive economic success for the benefit of the Tribe and its members. The Yurok Tribe, though the largest Tribe in California, is also one of the most economically disadvantaged Tribes in the state. Nonetheless, the brewery and other businesses owned by the Tribe have continued to extend the ethos of the Tribe, driving environmental stewardship. Each of the brewery’s new products tie back to that vision.
“We are elated to partner with the Giants. We couldn’t be prouder to partner with a team who continues to recognize and elevate Indigenous peoples,” said Toby Vanlandingham, President, YAC. “This partnership enriches our story, enhances our community, and ultimately supports tribal sovereignty.”
The San Francisco Giants have been a champion of diversity and inclusion with many firsts in the league. They were the first professional sports team to dedicate a day to raising awareness for HIV/AIDS with their annual Until There’s A Cure Day; the first MLB team to wear pride colors in honor of the LGBTQ+ community; and the first MLB team to hire a full-time female coach.
“We are excited to welcome Mad River Brewery into our corporate partnership portfolio. Our organization is committed to promoting and celebrating our diverse community, and in partnering with Mad River, we can help give Indigenous peoples a presence beyond their borders,” said Jessica Santamaria, Director, Partnerships & Media, San Francisco Giants. “Working with Mad River Brewery represents a prioritization to highlight smaller, non-traditional brands alongside ours.”
The Giants also hold an annual Native American Heritage Night game each season to honor the rich history and culture of the Native American community.
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewery is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
About San Francisco Giants
One of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, the 139-year old franchise moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958. After playing a total of 42 years in Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park, the team moved to the privately constructed, downtown ballpark on the corner of 3rd and King. 2022 marks the Giants 23rd season at Oracle Park. The organization is widely recognized for its innovative business practices and baseball excellence having been named in the past decade the Sports Organization of the Year by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal and Organization of the Year by Baseball America. Oracle Park is also the only ballpark in the country to have earned Silver, Gold and Platinum LEED certification for an existing building.
Since opening its gates, Oracle Park has become internationally-renowned as a premier venue in the world of both sports and entertainment. On the diamond, more than 65 million spectators have witnessed a number of magical moments, including a franchise record 107-win season in 2021, three World Series Championships (2010, 2012 & 2014), the raising of four National League Pennants and eight playoff appearances. On June 13, 2012, the organization’s first-ever Perfect Game was thrown by Giants ace Matt Cain. On July 10, 2007, San Francisco was the center of the baseball universe when it hosted the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The ballpark has played host to some of music’s biggest acts, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Green Day and Billy Joel. It also was the site of the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Off the field, the Giants Community Fund uses baseball and softball, through its award- winning Junior Giants Program, to promote health, education and character development to propel youth in underserved regions to be positive forces in their communities. The Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and sustained by contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations through a number of special partnerships and fundraisers. Since its inception in 1991, the Fund has donated over $34.5 million to community efforts.