It’s not new to see digitally-projected ads on stadium walls or boards for the sake of playoff broadcasts, but it’s more unusual to see them done in a way where they overlap the action. That’s what happened during Fox’s broadcast of Game 2 of the World Series Wednesday, though, with Astros’ center fielder George Springer settling under a fly ball and having his head cut off by a black Masterpass (Mastercard) ad projected on the outfield wall:
It’s pretty funny that this particular ad wound up being the interfering one, as the black bar across Springer’s head looks rather like certain censor boxes. And it led to plenty of Twitter jokes:
Masterpass! Now with identity protection! pic.twitter.com/U5EdjYty48
— Meditations in Panic City (@MedInPanicCity) October 26, 2017
Help. Masterpass is eating George Springer. pic.twitter.com/41ZTAH5koL
— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/BottomOfDeOrder/status/923370678346289152
This digitally imposed ad glitch during World Series play has been brought to you by masterpass. pic.twitter.com/5CDrpiw7fp
— Zach Haberman (@ZHaberman) October 26, 2017
George Springer: DL 15 (Swallowed by Virtual Masterpass Ad)
— Metstradamus (@Metstradamus) October 26, 2017
George Springer is going as a @Mastercard Masterpass sign for Halloween. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/qPHcbEzDQG
— Michael Smith (@prezmike25) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikeGianella/status/923371212847370240
Now that’s one kind of brand exposure. And it’s the second ad to get a lot of attention during the World Series, with the YouTube TV one behind home plate previously drawing comment thanks to the location of its red play button. We’ll see if the Masterpass ad strikes again as the series goes on.
[Ben Koo on Clippit]

About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.
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