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FANATICS AND COMPLEX PRESENT TAKASHI MURAKAMI x MLB LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION FOR 2025 MLB TOKYO SERIES WITH TOKYO POP-UP EVENT

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The Collection Marks Murakami’s Most Extensive Partnership with MLB and Highlights the Los Angeles
Dodgers and Chicago Cubs

Collection Goes On Sale March 7, with Tokyo Event March 8 – 21

Images Available HERE

LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series taking place March 18-19 at the Tokyo Dome between the Chicago Cubs and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Fanatics and Complex are unveiling the Takashi Murakami x MLB Tokyo Series collection.

The exclusive partnership highlights the collaboration between the renowned Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and Major League Baseball (MLB), bringing together two cultural icons to celebrate two of the league’s most storied teams for a limited-edition collection of collectibles and merchandise. The collection celebrates the deep cultural connection between America’s favorite pastime and its influence in Japan. Featuring Murakami’s iconic vibrant colors and playful motifs, the exclusive series brings a fresh, artistic perspective to MLB merchandise and memorabilia, making it a must-have for baseball fans, art enthusiasts and collectors.

The collection goes on sale March 8 at 2:00 AM JST online on the Fanatics app, Complex.com, and MLBShop.JP and will be available at the Fanatics and Complex Tokyo pop-up event March 8-21 and the MLB SHOP at Tokyo Dome Mar 14-19. The collection will also be on display at the MLB SHOP at Miyashita Park from Mar 6-23.

Complex Tokyo Pop-Up Event

An exclusive pop-up event will be held in Tokyo at 1 Chome-20-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001 from Saturday, March 8 – Friday, Mar 21 beginning at 11:00 AM JST. The event will showcase the limited-edition merchandise, Murakami-inspired installations, and historical MLB vignettes, offering fans a chance to engage with both the collection and Murakami’s visionary artwork.

Reservations are required and can be made at: https://t.livepocket.jp/t/l92b6.

Important Notes for Tokyo pop-up entry:

All visitors must reserve a 30-minute time slot on https://t.livepocket.jp/t/l92b6 before arrival. Only visitors with confirmed reservations will be allowed entry with line up for entry beginning on March 8 at 10:50 AM JST.Entry Restriction Period: March 8, 2025March 21, 2025Limit: One entry per person per day during the restriction period. Customers will be limited to three items total per visit.Limited Stock: Items will sell out once stock runs out.Sales Methods May Change: Adjustments may be made based on demand and logistics, please check website and social for updates.For real-time updates, please follow @universal_music_store_harajukuVisit the official website https://t.livepocket.jp/t/l92b6 for more information.

Takashi Murakami x MLB Tokyo Series Collection

The Fanatics and Complex collaboration brings together two of MLB’s most iconic teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, infusing Murakami’s signature style across an array of exclusive products from global sports platform Fanatics, including Nike MLB t-shirts and hoodies, alongside signature pieces – official Nike Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs MLB Limited jerseys. The Fanatics apparel collection, which will incorporate Murakami’s iconic floral artwork, will also be available on individual player Nike MLB Limited jerseys for Dodgers players Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and Cubs players Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, and Dansby Swanson. Fanatics Collectibles – which owns the brand Topps – will also be a part of this partnership, with a trading card set featuring Murakami’s artwork.  The chase card in that limited-offering set: a one-of-one dual-autograph card of Murakami and Ohtani, sure to be one of the most desirable and rare cards of all time.

In addition to wearable merchandise, the collection will also include New Era 59FIFTYs, knits and adjustable caps, Rawlings® baseballs, Victus bats, totes, keychains and more.

As part of the collaboration, Murakami’s Ohana Hatake, a first-of-its-kind brand led by the legendary artist, will introduce two brand new, limited-edition slides. The new release embodies Murakami’s iconic flower motif and showcases the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers logos on the inventive Surippa Ohana silhouette.

For more information on the Takashi Murakami x MLB Tokyo Series collection, please visit: the Fanatics App, Complex.com and follow MLB, Complex and Fanatics.

ABOUT FANATICS
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet.

Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform.

Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

For additional information please visit www.fanaticsinc.com

ABOUT COMPLEX
Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale.

Whether through video, long-form text, or social media, Complex tells stories of streetwear and style, music, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture.

A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce. Complex’s strategic partnership with Universal Music Group will deliver unparalleled experiences and exclusive collaborations to passionate music fans.

ABOUT TAKASHI MURAKAMI
The originator and proponent of Superflat theory, which reconstructs Japanese traditional paintings and the origin of Japanese contemporary art through visual premises of anime and manga. Murakami has created numerous characters including Miss Ko2 and Mr. DOB that reflect the otaku culture and presents them in the forms of intentionally kitsch sculptures and acutely two-dimensional paintings antithetical to the Western perspective techniques. Murakami’s cultural theory based on subcultures not only deconstructs the highbrow/lowbrow hierarchy but critically illustrates the post-World War II Japanese psychology, establishing a discourse unique to Japan in the increasingly globalizing art scene. The artist continues to attract a wide-ranging audience beyond contemporary art through his multifaceted activities including his collaboration with Louis Vuitton and focuses on street culture and contemporary ceramics. The final installment of his Superflat trilogy of curated exhibitions, Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture (New York, 2005), was awarded The Best Thematic Museum Show in New York by AICA that year. His first retrospective, ©MURAKAMI (2007 – 2009) toured four cities in North America and Europe, starting with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. He has since been holding major solo exhibitions around the world, including at the Palace of Versailles (2010), Al RiwaqExhibition Hall (Doha, 2012), the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, 2015), the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Moscow, 2017), Tai Kwun Contemporary (Hong Kong, 2019), The Broad (Los Angeles, 2022), Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (San Francisco, 2023), and Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Kyoto, 2024).

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S. and Canada, representing the highest level of professional baseball. Led by Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., MLB has achieved back-to-back attendance gains for the first time in 12 years with an overall increase of +11% and 80% of Clubs welcoming more fans over the last two seasons following extensive rule changes that have improved the quality of play on the field. With the 2024 season featuring the best time of game in 40 years and the most stolen bases in 109 years, MLB viewership increased across all its national media partners, grew international viewership by +18%, set another record for MLB.TV streaming with more than 14 billion minutes watched and earned League of the Year honors from Sports Business Journal and the CLIOS.  As the league increased its marketing efforts and promotion of star players like 2024 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani and 2024 AL MVP Aaron Judge, MLB has significantly increased its younger fan base as evidenced through viewership, social media, ticket purchasing, and participation metrics.  Through its MLB Together social responsibility efforts, MLB remains committed to making a positive impact in the communities of the U.S., Canada and throughout the world.  With the continued success of MLB Network, MLB digital platforms and local media production and distribution, MLB continues to find innovative ways for its fans to enjoy America’s National Pastime and a truly global game. To learn more about MLB, please visit www.mlb.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2633979/Complex_2025_MLB_TOKYO_SERIES.jpg 
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425300/5199214/Complex_Logo.jpg 

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SOURCE Complex

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Ningbo’s “Eco+” Integration Practice showcased at SCO forum

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NINGBO, China, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Green and Sustainable Development Forum was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, April 28–30. At this international event focused on green, low–carbon transition, Ningbo showcased concrete examples of harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

An abandoned quarry has been converted into an international racetrack, whose engine roars have stimulated a growing cultural and tourism sector. A once–barren “firewood trail” has been upgraded into a national mountaineering route, spawning distinctive local industries now known as the “Hometown of China’s Sports Walking Sticks” and the “Capital of China’s Flashlights.” Ningbo continues to advance its “Eco+” integration model, turning ecological assets into industrial momentum, development potential and measurable gains in shared prosperity. The city has developed a practical path for realizing the value of lucid waters and lush mountains, offering a replicable “Ningbo model” for green, low–carbon urban transformation worldwide.

In Beilun, more than 500 species have been recorded, and the district has been designated a UN “Biodiversity Charming City.” From the revitalized Meishan Bay in Beilun to the misty expanse of Dongqian Lake in Yinzhou and the historic allure of Moon Lake in Haishu, local authorities are using the “golden key” of ecological governance to revive dormant green mountains and clear waters. Notably, Ningbo’s ecological governance goes beyond mountain repair and water treatment: it integrates “Eco+” development from the source through unified planning and coordinated implementation—protecting ecological foundations while preserving space for industry. This forward–looking approach has produced a win–win outcome for ecology and development; along Meishan Bay’s shore, cultural tourism and leisure industries have rapidly clustered, receiving more than 2 million visitors annually.

In Fenghua, the “Common Prosperity Studio” initiative has built a full–chain platform integrating “5G + IoT + Agriculture,” and introduced a model that combines village–collective fixed–rent leasing, professional enterprise operation and flexible farmer participation. In Yuyao, Hemudu pioneered China’s first ecological integrated farming of breeding soft–shelled turtles in water oat fields, balancing ecological protection, food security and farmers’ income growth. Zhenhai Refining & Chemical has established China’s first “Zero–Waste Petrochemical Base,” recognized as a national model case of a “Zero–Waste Industrial Park.”

Leveraging its mountain and sea resources, Ningbo has deepened chain–based integration of “Ecology + Cultural Tourism + Sports + Manufacturing,” continuously converting ecological value into tangible benefits for residents. Ninghai has transformed abandoned ancient paths into a 500–km national mountaineering trail and established a national sports–industry demonstration base. Xiangshan has used the Asian Games to invigorate coastal tourism and open channels for converting marine ecological value. Yinzhou and Haishu have developed biodiversity–friendly districts and townships, fostering new sectors such as educational tourism and cultural–creative industries.

To ensure green development proceeds steadily and sustainably, Ningbo is building a multi–stakeholder governance system that includes government, enterprises and the public. Ninghai has pioneered a “Soil and Forestland Bank,” using financial instruments to unlock the value of forestry resources. Yinzhou, Cixi and other areas have mobilized broad public participation in ecological protection, creating a co–construction and shared–benefits model that supports ongoing ecological value realization.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2968174/Ningbo_Meishan_Port.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2968173/Ningbo_Logo.jpg

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ningbos-eco-integration-practice-showcased-at-sco-forum-302756146.html

SOURCE Ningbo International Communication Center

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Hyde Park Capital Advises DevRefactory on its Sale to Capacity

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TAMPA, Fla., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hyde Park Capital announced today that its client, DevRefactory, a leading customer experience software platform specializing in omnichannel journey orchestration, embedded middleware, and integrated managed services, has been acquired by Capacity. Hyde Park Capital served as the exclusive investment banker to DevRefactory for this transaction. Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick served as legal counsel to DevRefactory.

DevRefactory’s platform orchestrates customer interactions across voice, chat, web, and social channels, enabling seamless transitions while preserving context. It centralizes knowledge, powers self-service and chatbot experiences, and streamlines engagement across the customer lifecycle. These capabilities are complemented by a specialized managed services team supporting implementation, optimization, and ongoing performance improvement.

Marcus Alexander, CFO and Head of Corporate Development at Capacity, stated, “The DevRefactory team have built an incredible business in the telecom space and this acquisition allows us to scale that innovation across the entire Capacity platform. Together, we’re accelerating a future where contact centers can unify their customer interactions, reduce costs and deliver consistently better experiences, without the complexity of fragmented tools.”

James Ramey, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DevRefactory, commented, “After rapidly establishing Refactory as a leader in AI enablement—delivering enterprise-grade solutions to Fortune 50 organizations—we are excited to announce that Refactory has been acquired by Capacity AI. This partnership will expand our ability to deliver true omnichannel AI experiences at scale, leveraging Capacity AI’s platform and reach across more than 20,000 customers worldwide.”

Ramey continued, “Following strong inbound acquisition interest, we partnered with Hyde Park Capital as our exclusive financial advisor to evaluate strategic opportunities. Their team brought exceptional focus, deep alignment with our vision, and a disciplined process that prioritized both enterprise impact and employee value. Hyde Park Capital curated a highly complementary group of potential partners and guided us through a transaction that positions our team and technology for long-term success. Together, we selected Capacity AI as the ideal partner to accelerate our mission and extend the reach of Refactory’s platform globally. We are incredibly grateful to the Hyde Park Capital team and the Capacity AI team for their partnership throughout this process, and we are excited for the next chapter as part of Capacity AI.”

Michael Johnson, Managing Director at Hyde Park Capital, reflected on the transaction, “It has been a privilege to advise JC, Brian, and Dustin, the founders of DevRefactory, throughout this process. From day one, it was clear that they built something truly differentiated, a platform rooted in deep technical expertise and a genuine passion for reimagining how enterprises engage with their customers. DevRefactory’s capabilities are a natural fit within Capacity’s platform, and we are excited to see the impact this combination will have for their clients and the broader customer experience market.”

Trevor Mumford, Vice President at Hyde Park Capital, added, “It was genuinely refreshing to work with a founding team that has been close friends since high school and has spent years building technology together. Working alongside entrepreneurs who combine that kind of personal conviction with serious technical innovation makes for a truly rewarding engagement. We’re proud of the outcome and confident Capacity is the right home to take DevRefactory’s mission to the next level.”

About DevRefactory

Founded in 2020, DevRefactory is a customer experience software platform that enables enterprises to deliver seamlessly connected, omnichannel customer journeys at scale. Through its OCX (Omnichannel Customer Experience) suite, DevRefactory provides embedded middleware, managed services, and practical AI frameworks that orchestrate engagement across voice, web chat, SMS, mobile apps, email, and social media. The Company’s solutions empower customers to interact on their own terms while eliminating the complexity of managing disparate channel technologies independently. Partnering with leading platforms, DevRefactory serves as an innovation accelerator, helping enterprises prove value rapidly and integrate modern omnichannel capabilities into their existing ecosystems. For additional information, please visit www.refactory.dev.

About Capacity

Founded in 2017, Capacity is an AI-powered support automation platform that gives organizations the capacity to do more with less. Its unified platform combines intelligent virtual agents, conversational AI, agent assist and live support tools, campaigns and workflow automation, and advanced analytics, enabling businesses to automate customer inquiries, reduce handle times, and drive consistent, high-quality experiences across every channel, including voice, chat, email, SMS, and web. Trusted by more than 20,000 organizations and powering over 36 billion automated interactions, Capacity serves leading brands across financial services, healthcare, retail, education, insurance, and more. With over 250 pre-built integrations and enterprise-grade security, Capacity delivers seamless deployment into existing technology ecosystems. Proudly headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Capacity is part of the Equity.com incubator. For additional information, please visit https://capacity.com/main.

About Hyde Park Capital

Hyde Park Capital is a boutique investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions of successful founder and family-owned companies. Hyde Park Capital’s principals have extensive investment banking experience, including managing sell-side and buy-side transactions, recapitalizations, financial advisory assignments, fairness opinions, raising growth and acquisition capital for companies, including equity, mezzanine, senior debt, and project finance. Hyde Park Capital has bankers who specialize in numerous industry sectors, including healthcare, industrials, business services, technology, consumer, and cleantech/power finance particularly in connection with data centers. This transaction represents another successful engagement closed by Hyde Park Capital within the technology sector. Hyde Park Capital is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with additional offices in Nashville, Tennessee, and San Francisco, California, and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. For additional information, please visit www.hydeparkcapital.com.

Media Contacts:

Michael Johnson

Managing Director

johnson@hydeparkcapital.com

813-769-3284

Trevor Mumford

Vice President

mumford@hydeparkcapital.com

813-209-9071

 

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SOURCE Hyde Park Capital

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Micro Center Launches Retail Media Offering to Reach Tech Enthusiasts and Builders

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Powered by Epsilon, Micro Center Retail Media combines AI, person-level identity, and closed-loop measurement to deliver provable, measurable impact for advertisers.

HILLIARD, Ohio, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Micro Center, a leading national retailer of computers and electronic devices, today announced the launch of its retail media offering, Micro Center Retail Media. The offering gives brands access to more than 20 million highly engaged Micro Center customers—tech enthusiasts including PC builders, small businesses, IT professionals and creators—audiences that are difficult to reach at scale through mass-market retail media networks. Using first party data and deep category insights, advertisers can influence purchase decisions where technical guidance, compatibility, and performance matter most.

“For more than 40 years, Micro Center has earned the trust of tech enthusiasts and builders by pairing deep expertise with an unmatched in-store experience,” said Steve Rado, Chief Marketing Officer of Micro Center. “Our retail media offering builds on that foundation, giving advertisers a powerful way to engage our customers with relevance, credibility and clear measurement.”

Developed in partnership with global technology, data, and services company Epsilon, Micro Center Retail Media couples AI with person level identity in the ad server to help advertisers engage high intent shoppers with greater precision. The offering intelligently determines when, where, and how often to engage customers, optimizing media investment to maximize performance.

Brands can activate campaigns across Micro Center’s digital and physical touchpoints to influence both online and in-store purchases. Available channels include onsite display and sponsored product placements as well as offsite display, video and CTV—all supported by closed-loop measurement that quantifies incremental sales across digital and physical environments.

“Micro Center Retail Media connects advertisers with some of the most knowledgeable, high-intent tech buyers in retail,” said Rado. “It’s a best-in-class offering designed to help advertisers engage serious tech buyers with confidence.”

Named PCMag’s Best Tech Retailer for three consecutive years, Micro Center is widely recognized for its expert-led customer experience and technical credibility. Instore offerings such as the Knowledge Bar, Insider credit card benefits, and exclusive instore only “loss leader” bundles create high-impact moments for brands at the point of decision. Customers rely on Micro Center associates to identify compatibility issues and recommend better builds—trust that translates directly to advertiser performance.

“Micro Center boasts one of the most informed and intentional audiences in retail,” said Chris Wissing, Chief Product Officer at Epsilon. “Our data and technology help identify more of these niche shoppers, follow their journey from online to in-store, and connect media directly to purchase outcomes for Micro Center and its brand partners.”

About Micro Center

Micro Center operates thirty large computer and electronics stores in major markets nationwide. Founded in 1979 in Columbus, Micro Center is designed to satisfy the dedicated computer and electronics user. Uniquely focused on computers and related products, Micro Center offers more computers and related items (more than 20,000 items in stock) than any other retailer. Micro Center is passionate about offering a high level of customer service, with a knowledgeable and tenured sales team. Customers can visit Micro Center’s 30 stores (with more locations coming soon) from coast-to-coast or microcenter.com for thousands of computer-related items, electronics, and other technology products.

Micro Center stores are located in:

Atlanta (2), Baltimore, Boston, Chicago (2), Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York (5), Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, Washington, D.C. (2), Santa Clara, and coming soon, Austin.

About Epsilon

Epsilon is a global technology, data, and services company that the world’s leading brands use to harmonize consumer engagement across their paid, owned, and earned channels.

The Epsilon PeopleCloud platform includes capabilities such as data, identity resolution, customer data platforms, clean rooms, digital media, retail media, site personalization, direct mail, loyalty, email marketing, and measurement. By applying artificial intelligence against privacy-centric identity resolution—embedded in data-enriched analytic, marketing, and media solutions and services—Epsilon allows marketers to bridge the divide between marketing and advertising technology, engaging consumers with 1 View, 1 Vision, and 1 Voice. For more information, visit www.epsilon.com.

Media Contact

Meg Adrion, Micro Center, 1 614-850-3000, madrion@microcenter.com, microcenter.com
Dan Ackerman, Micro Center, dackerman@microcenter.com, microcenter.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/micro-center-launches-retail-media-offering-to-reach-tech-enthusiasts-and-builders-302755943.html

SOURCE Micro Center

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