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St. Lucie Mets Getting Box Office Bump With Tebow Debut Tonight

Tim Tebow will be “making his St. Lucie Mets debut” in the Single-A Florida State League tonight, and he “already is drawing a crowd,” according to Jon Santucci of TCPALM.com. St. Lucie Mets GM Traer Van Allen said, “I would estimate our overnight pre-sale between 400 and 500. Just that the fact there is a buzz and a pre-sale for a Tuesday game really is great." He added, “The social media buzz has been incredible. This is unlike anything we’ve experienced with the St. Lucie Mets during my 17 years here.” When Tebow played with the South Atlantic League Columbia Fireflies, the team “averaged a league-best attendance of 5,230 fans per game.” That is “almost three times what the St. Lucie Mets drew per game during the first three months of the season.” If yesterday is “any indication, Tebow will have a similar impact on St. Lucie’s ticket sales.” The Ft. Myers Miracle, who host the Mets on Friday, also had a “steady crowd of fans buying tickets” yesterday. They “sold several hundred tickets” between 8:00am-noon ET (TCPALM.com, 6/26). In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis notes the St. Lucie Mets are “one of the better drawing teams” in the FSL, averaging 1,745 fans per game. St. Lucie Mets Media Relations Dir Adam McDonald said of Tebow fans descending upon the ballpark, “I don’t know when the last time a Florida State League game has ever been sold out for anybody” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/27). Meanwhile, in Ft. Myers, Seth Soffian reports former Miracle PA announcer Ted Fitzgeorge "was asked by Miracle owner Jason Hochberg on Sunday to coordinate box seating" for Univ. of Florida fans "along the first-base line, above the visitors' dugout" ahead of Tebow's visit this weekend (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 6/27).

BUSINESS, AS USUAL: ESPN's Dan Le Batard noted Tebow's promotion may not be warranted from an on-field standpoint, but it is "fair from a business perspective." Le Batard: "If any of the guys on that team could get them seats sold at a higher division of A-ball, which is what Tim Tebow will do, they would get called up.” ESPN’s Domonique Foxworth said Tebow “puts butts in seats, so he deserves it” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN, 6/26). FS1's Jason Whitlock said, "This is about selling jerseys, about selling tickets. The Mets aren’t really doing well on the field or at the ticket booth. Here comes Tim Tebow to save the day.” FS1's Jason McIntyre: "Tim Tebow is great business. He was a legendary college football player, fans love him. He’s a good person, he does good things. You want to be in business with Tim Tebow" ("Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 6/26). SNY's Marc Malusis said, “I don't think he is a Major League ballplayer, but he’s good for the organization, he’s a good representation for the organization. You’re able to make money off Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow’s able to make money. So everyone at the end of the day is happy" ("Loud Mouths," SNY, 6/26). But MLB Network’s Robert Flores said, "I don't ever want to hear anyone complain about Yasiel Puig's home run trot and disrespecting the game. That right there is disrespectful. Tebow, batting .220-something, almost 30 years old, being promoted? Come on” (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 6/26).

JUST A PR MOVE
: In DC, Neil Greenberg wrote Tebow’s promotion by the Mets appears to be “nothing more than a PR move for a franchise struggling to find its footing during the regular season” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/26). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said of the Mets, “They’re going nowhere. You promote Tim Tebow, you get some talk and try to get back on the back pages later in the summer when you call him up. That’s all this is.” ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser: “He’s going to be called up in September because you want to sell seats, and he can sell seats. You have to get him ready for coming up” ("PTI," ESPN, 6/26).

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