Canon, the professional business and consumer imaging equipment and information systems specialist that has revenues of more than US$30 billion per year, has extended and upgraded its sponsorship of the New York Yankees, baseball's most famous team.

Canon will now be the Official Digital Camera, Copier, SLR Camera and Printer of the Yankees, with large promotional signs on the left field wall and on the rotating advertising block behind the home plate at the new Yankee Stadium, to open in April. In addition, the company will sponsor a promotional day in May at which the first 18,000 fans will receive a cap with the Canon and Yankees logos.

"Canon and the New York Yankees are two iconic brands that have complemented each other well throughout our partnership over the last decade," said Jack Suzuki, senior director of Canon USA. "Being partners with the Yankees as they usher in a new era with the opening of their new Stadium is going to be a gratifying and a proud moment for both brands. We hope to see many Yankees home runs hit over our sign throughout the season."

Canon has been a Yankees sponsor since 2000. "We are excited to be continuing our long term alliance with Canon," said  Michael J. Tusiani, Yankees senior vice president of sponsorships. "It is a fully-integrated relationship from premium signage and a giveaway day, to the installation of Canon copiers in the Stadium's offices."