WP: "Faith Night" at the ballfield

[DeepModem Mom]

Praying for More Than a Win
Sports Teams Find Religion and 'Faith Nights' Boost Attendance at Games
By Mary Schmitt Boyer
Religion News Service
Saturday, October 14, 2006; Page B09

The marriage of religion and athletics is nothing new, but with the increasing influence of Christian organizations and action groups, sports teams are realizing religion is big business.

Third Coast Sports is a Christian marketing firm in Nashville, hired by teams to stage the increasingly popular Faith Nights or Faith Days, complete with a Christian music concert and testimonials from local sports figures, as well as occasional giveaways of Bibles or bobblehead figures of such biblical characters as Moses and Noah. While the firm sometimes gets a small percentage of each ticket sold, it makes most of its money by selling sponsorships to organizations trying to tap into the expanding Christian audience.

"The current climate has everything to do with the success of our events," said Brent High, president of Third Coast Sports. "The 2004 presidential election, the success of Christian movies . . . the crossover hits in pop music by Christian bands . . . have made it easier for sports executives to wrap their arms around these events. They see the smart business in aligning themselves with these large, influential groups."...

***

...the Nashville company is the most widely known promoter of Christian events at sports sites. With a well-established network of church communities as well as direct and grass-roots marketing and advertising campaigns, it promises attendance boosts -- and it delivers.

The concept started several years ago when High, a deacon, youth minister and Sunday school teacher, was vice president of sales for the minor league Nashville Sounds baseball team. In 2004 and 2005, five of the Sounds' top 10 crowds were on Faith Nights. High left the Sounds for Third Coast Sports about a year ago and has seen the company's business almost quadruple. Last year, Third Coast Sports put on 23 events in 10 cities. This year, it hosted 76 events in 44 markets, including Atlanta, where the Braves say attendance increased between 10 and 15 percent, or 3,000 to 4,500 fans, on the first two Faith Days....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301344.html

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. So when is "BASEBALL NIGHT" at church?

:shrug:

[Democrats_win]

2. Church is no different than a business. At sporting events they announce

which business is there. Only thing is that the business pays taxes. Wonder when business will figure out the way to lower their taxes is to make the church pay.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Fucking theocracy!

:grr:

One more reason I despise religion... :grr:

[spoony]

24. Theocracy? lol.

Your post is just one more reason I despise the watering down of words.

[seabeyond]

4. i bet jesus would be THRILLED all the profit made of him

this is just a phase we are going thru in this nation

[VeggieTart]

5. Well, a lot of athletes are religious freaks

Last year there was an article on how the Washington Nationals did the prayer thing before games, and I'm thinking, as their season was slumping, gee, maybe they should play more and pray less, eh? Just like a boxer crossing himself before a match, it won't help a damn bit if he can't fight.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. Bobbleheads of Moses and Noah?

You can't make this shit up.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

23. Don't forget Jesus!

[KharmaTrain]

7. I Hope This Is Planned With Bat Night

Or my favorite baseball promotion...Ginsu Steak Knife Night. :sarcasm:

As one with a marketing background, any team that "taps" into this market obviously has no product on the field to promote.

But then I'll bet the local bar owners and hookers will do a fine business that night.

[Swede]

8. This crap just never ends with these people.

Leave your praying in private.

[TlalocW]

9. Well, baseball is mentioned in the Bible

Right in Genesis 1:1 - In the big inning...

TlalocW

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. We need a rimshot smilie

But for now,
:spank:

[TlalocW]

12. The spanking smilie is probably more appropriate

For a "joke" like that. :)

TlalocW

[Nikki Stone 1]

15. As long as you're enjoying yourself

:hi:

[boobooday]

13. When I saw your subject line

I couldn't wait to see the delivery.

:rofl:

[DeepModem Mom]

18. VERY good one!

[TlalocW]

19. I am disturbed and perplexed by the reception of this joke...

When our sixth grade science teacher told it to us, we all groaned. His only way to save the day was to do his Elvis impersonation which entailed laying down on the ground with his arms folded across his chest. :)

TlalocW

[DeepModem Mom]

21. He sounds like a great teacher! nt

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. So if everybody prays, how does God know which team to back?

Back in the day, our priests used to cheer on Notre Dame, but the team still lost sometimes. :)

[boobooday]

14. God always roots for the offense

at least that's what I heard.

[Nikki Stone 1]

16. Probably drives his bookie nuts...

:donut:

[boobooday]

17. I thought maybe God was the bookie . . .

Who would dare to tell Her that She lost?

:rofl:

[AnnieBW]

20. Jewish, Muslim, Pagan Nights

I look forward to Jewish night, where they serve Hebrew National Hot Dogs, knishes, and the Ump wears a prayer shawl. Moslem night will have the players bow down and face Mecca at the seventh inning stretch, and the concession stands will be closed during day games during Ramadan. Pagan night will have the players invoking the four quarters when running the bases, and they'll run to third base first, because it's deosil and not widdershins. :D And Rastafarian night, well, let's just hope that the players aren't drug-tested afterwards.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. Did you notice in the article --

"The San Francisco Giants held a Jewish Heritage Night this summer, while the minor league High Desert Mavericks in Adelanto, Calif., held Mormon Night."

You forgot the Mormons!