the marketing of "god" at sporting events!?!?

[Serial Mom]

I just heard story on my local news station about this. I am not sure I agree with this! One minister interviewed said he does NOT like it, that it could exclude those who are not Christian.

Anything for a $$$ for both the sports teams and churches in area - so now even churches make getting money their main objective! :wtf:


From their web site
Third Coast Sports has established itself as the foremost authority in church marketing and event planning for sports teams.

Third Coast's nationally-acclaimed Faith Nights™ have a proven track record of increasing attendance and simultaneously accomplishing the goals of team executives, corporate sponsors and church leaders.

[Arugula Latte]

1. This country is becoming one fascistic-theocratic-corporate state.

Religion and big business -- the two go hand in hand. In fact, religion IS big business, and big business is religion.

As my mother always says: tax the churches!

[Serial Mom]

3. We see new bldgs going up in area

Churches, religious schools, banks, insurance companies.

[Parche]

2. sports

I get so pissed when they 'pray' in the beginning of sports games, religion should
be left to oneself period.

[Serial Mom]

5. I agree

I noticed at a college game (2 public schools) this past Saturday that almost the entire squad from BOTH teams on the field praying after the event!

???????

[KamaAina]

6. Was that the Clemson-Florida State game?

I saw that, too. FSU coach Bobby Bowden (I almost typed 'Booby'!) is a major fundie who has tried to get his players to pray in the locker room, notwithstanding that it is Florida State University, not Florida Christian University.

And Clemson's coach? Why, that'd be -- Tommy Bowden, apparently a chip off the ol' block(head). :eyes:

[blue sky at night]

10. if you judge........

it only means that you are a person who judges, it changes nothing. I have to wonder how a team praying is somehow bad, but saying thanks is pretty common.

[Serial Mom]

11. and it is OK at the exclusion of a Jewish player or some

Christian who decides not to pray in public?

There is still separation of church/state as far as I know

[MountainLaurel]

19. Absolutely

One university is currently being sued by some Muslim football players due to harassment from the coach and other players.

[immoderate]

12. IMHO, educational institutions should not promote superstition.

It's disrespectful to the freethinkers in the group, or anyone with a different belief system. What they do is narcisism.

--IMM

[Dr.Phool]

16. I get sick of it.

I want to see the reaction, when some Santeria practitioner sacrifices a chicken in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.

[KamaAina]

4. Focus on the Family is mixed up with this!

The Atlanta Braves introduced Faith Night(TM) to the major leagues earlier this year, which must have gioven Ted Turner apoplexy. :-) But, the Braves showed Dobson and Co. the door:

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/08/11/321927-braves-say-no-to-conservative-group

The Atlanta Braves will mix baseball with the gospel when they hold another "Faith Day" this weekend. But one of the country's most prominent Christian organizations has been tossed out of the game.

Focus on the Family, a group founded by James Dobson, was barred from participating in Sunday's postgame activities after sponsoring the first such event at Turner Field last month.

While the team wouldn't provide a reason for its decision, several gay rights groups on the Web bristled with speculation that Focus on the Family was given the boot for promoting its belief that homosexuality is a social problem comparable to alcoholism, gambling or depression.

The Braves were the first major league team to hold "Faith Day," teaming up with Tennessee-based promoter Third Coast Sports to put on the event after a July 27 game against Florida.

Apparently John Smoltz gave a testimonial at this event. Too bad John Rocker isn't still around! :P

[Serial Mom]

7. yeah, Smoltz was on this local run of this "news"

First why is this NEWS????

Second, Third Coast Sports (the marketing firm mentioned above) said they are in negotiations to have these "Faith Nights" at NFL, MLS, NBA, etc.!!!

[Atman]

8. This pissed me off at first, but then again...it SHOULD piss off Xtians

The news story I first heard on air sounded very sympathetic toward the Christian, or so I thought. It pissed me off, too. But the marketing people are the ones with the angle here, and not the Christians. The people running the program were very matter of fact about it...they are simply hitting on another demographic, another niche market. They didn't give a rat's ass whether they were hawking Jesus bobble heads on Christian Night, or whatever. It actually sounded as if they were almost mocking the Christian groups for how easy they are to market to. Basically, throw together any group activity like a baseball game and send a bus to pick them up and they'll sign up in droves.

The Christians should be the ones pissed at how they are being mocked and used by the marketers.

.

[Serial Mom]

9. you're right... but the sheeple who follow dubya

are the same sheeple that will attend these

[mikelewis]

17. Actually, the advertising doesn't bother me. Churches have every right...

to advertise for service however their congregation sees fit. The Church is a business and how they choose to sell God is their choice. I prefer not to sell him to anyone but what do I know? Maybe God does need a good marketing firm with a catchier logo. I always found the stars to be sufficient marketing and I sort of grown fond of the Cross but then again, I'm not trying to make a living off of what I know about God.

[Atman]

21. That was my point, though...it isn't the church doing the advertising

There are marketing companies that come up with these ideas and manage the programs. The church didn't come to the park and say "Hey, can we hold a God Night?" No, it was a marketing company trying to figure out how to fill seats for its client. They realized, according to the story I heard, that Christians will buy anything if you make it about them. God Night is perfect, when you think about it. When Mel's Jesus opus came out, they bought theater tickets by the lot, filling entire theaters and bringing in their congregations by bus. Then, when it came out on DVD, Wal Mart was able to sell it in ten packs. It is one thing holding "Dad's Night" and having to market to and draw in thousands of separate dads and families. With "God Night," they come in groups, or "congregations" anyway, by the bus load, and make a fellowship event out of it. It is brilliant, if not a bit scummy in the same way Benny Hinn or those teevee preachers are scummy. They may be providing a "service" to the faithful who actually believe it, but from their end of the bargain, they're just in it to make a buck.

[Bluzmann57]

13. I like sports

and I like attending sporting events but if a team has a "Faith Day", I won't attend that particular day. Sports are supposed to be an escape, not a political or religious event. We want to see players hit homers, catch passes, perform slam dunks, etc., not all that other stuff.

[Scout1071]

14. This has been going on for years. Oh no!

For many years teams have marketed certain days towards the churches - youth groups in particular.

Frankly, I don't see a problem with it at all. The kids have a fun night out and generally stay out of trouble and the team boosts the gate. Where is the problem?

You don't have to be a part of their group to go to the game. Just as you don't if you happen to visit someplace like Six Flags on a day where there group is there.

Whether you like it or not, this is a massive audience to tap into because darn near every church has a youth group. I simply don't see anything wrong with this scenario.

PS- Churches have always made it their business to make money.

[Serial Mom]

15. It's more than just a group attending

they have stage set up on field and broadcast their "message" to all in stands, they sing, they pray, they do everything out loud and for all in stadium to hear and "partake"!

I know it is only because of money, but I am tired of the religious right taking control of public events!

[immoderate]

18. It's a form of "bait and switch."

--IMM

[Scout1071]

20. OK, I have been to a sporting event centered around churches.

You know what the difference was? After the game a Christian rock band set-up and played on the field. The rest of the game was exactly the same as any other. And everyone who wanted to leave.....did.

I don't know a single sports team in the US that would preach during a game. I ask that you provide a specific example of this with a link.

[smirkymonkey]

22. Fortunately, I hate both sports and religion so I will have no

problem staying far away from this new assault on our collective sanity.

What the fuck is happening to this country? Everytime I think that New York is too stressful a place to live anymore, I hear of things like this and think again.