MLB "is no longer a game. It's an experience, a
national pastime laced with enough gimmicks to provide fun
for those who can and can't recite the definition of the
infield-fly rule," according to Doug Haller of USA TODAY.
Haller writes that fans come to watch Cardinals 1B Mark
McGwire and Cubs OF Sammy Sosa, but "don't forget about the
Beanie Babies, Pokemon and bobble-head doll giveaways and
the" sausage mascots at Brewers games. Not "too long ago,"
entertainment like this could be found "only in minor league
ballparks," where baseball "with a theme" was used to "lure
fans to a showcase of no-name players." But in an era of
"instant entertainment" and "soaring ticket prices," the
concept has "infiltrated" MLB, as KC & The Sunshine Band
"grooves before a game in Chicago," and Portuguese water
dogs "dive for home run balls" in S.F. In addition, a
recent report issued by the commissioner's office showed
that while women "make up 46% of the average crowd" at an
MLB game, 43% of women "couldn't name a player" on their
home team. Haller: "The sausages have substance." Brewers
VP/Stadium Operations Scott Jenkins, on the new marketing
efforts: "Baseball is entertaining, but what we try to do is
enhance the experience any way we can. Obviously a lot of
people come here just because they're baseball fans. But
there are also a lot who come just to have a good time."
Brewers OF Jeromy Burnitz: "I still feel like the game's the
bottom line, but I don't see anything wrong if there's added
entertainment for the younger kids. They get bored watching
baseball. Even I'd get bored watching it. It's a slow
game." But Pirates OF Brian Giles said, "It bothers me that
the club seems more interested in marketing a pierogi race
than its own players." Cubs VP/Marketing & Broadcasting Jim
McDonough: "The sports landscape has changed, and it's going
to change even further. I really believe there's going to
be a strong alliance between sports and entertainment in the
very near future. That's why we have to continue to
aggressively market the kids. We need to play by their rules
in their arena" (USA TODAY, 8/15).
BOBBLEHEADS: The Rangers will give their fans a "chance
at this year's most-sought-after" promo, as it will hand out
20,000 free Rafael Palmeiro bobblehead dolls this month.
Rangers Dir of Events Sherry Flow: "We're always looking for
something that's a hot trend" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/14).
In Minneapolis, Paul Levy wrote that despite the Kirby
Puckett bobblehead doll giveaway at the Blue Jays-Twins game
Sunday, "not everyone walked away from the Metrodome happy,"
as some fans who received the dolls left before the game and
others who bought tickets but "arrived after the dolls were
gone also walked away" before the game (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/14).
