Every time the Salt Lake Bees play a home game on a Wednesday this season, they’ll have an alternate identity. Their uniforms, hats, batting helmets and all stadium scoreboards will boast that alt name: the Utah Dirty Sodas.
At a press event at The Ballpark at America First Square on Feb. 24, Bees General Manager Ty Wardle and Todd Smith, president of Swig, announced a partnership, bonding the two brands together for the 2026 season that starts in late March. The first Utah Dirty Sodas Wednesday will be April 1 versus Sacramento.
“We’re very excited to launch this alternative identity with Swig this season,” Wardle said. “Utah is known for its obsession with dirty sodas, and Swig, home of the original dirty soda, was founded here in Utah.”
Swig is the Sandy-based company that operates locations in 17 states (with more than 140 shops) selling dirty sodas — non-alcoholic beverages created by mixing fountain soda with flavored syrups, creamer, and often fresh fruit. Swig Chief Marketing Officer Dylan Roeder credits the Bees’ ownership for bringing the deal together.
“It’s their creative juices that made this happen,” he said. “They approached us on creating this unique idea. A marketer’s dream is to have an alternate ID in minor league baseball. It’s something truly unique and one of a kind. Being able to see how fun and playful and community-oriented that alt IDs become was something that’s truly aspiring.”
“Every Wednesday is Dirty Soda Wednesday, and it’s also Swig takeover of the stadium,” Smith said. “Three-dollar drinks at Swig, and if a batter hits the large inflatable cup over the fence in left center, then it’s free Swig for the whole stadium. And if the Dirty Sodas score four runs or more on a Wednesday, then the next day we give free Swig to the whole community. We’re trying to make it a very on-field, off-field partnership.”
He added that the team will be offering a special ticket package that comes with exclusive Swig and Dirty Soda merchandise items.
The Dirty Sodas’ color scheme was inspired by Swig’s branding, Wardle said. Some of the merchandise features Swiggy, the Dirty Sodas’ mascot.
Jill Marchant, chief legal and administrative officer with Swig, said the Bees took the lead on approaching league officials about the alt identity. “I think the league has actually been very good to work with and excited about a beloved sports team and a Utah homegrown brand coming together.”
“It’s also the most unique partnership I’ve seen in sports,” Roeder said. “I’ve never seen a team partner with a brand to this level. It’s completely new ground that the Bees are breaking, and we got lucky that they chose us to do it with.”
Tickets for the 2026 season are now on sale.