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Don't Take Me Out to These Ballgames

10-cent beer night and 4 other ballpark promotions gone foul

By Sophie Goldstein, Newser User

Posted Jul 25, 2007 5:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – Free flashlights or fireworks can be fun, but some ballpark gimmicks haven't worked out so well. For example:

10-Cent Beer Night, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, 1974. Arriving tipsy, a number of fans disrobed or otherwise behaved badly; 9 people were arrested.
Disco Demolition Night, Comiskey Park, 1979. Fans turned their disco records into frisbees, and the explosion from the demolition ripped a huge hole in the outfield grass.
Ball Night, Doger Stadium, 1995. Fans threw their free baseballs at inappropriate targets, including the opposing team.

Cash Drop, Fifth Third Ballpark, 2006. When a helicopter dispensed real money, fans got competitive and small children were hurt.
All-You-Can-Eat Seats, Dodger Stadium, 200. An open buffet of hots dogs and nachos led to widespread vomiting, but the promotion was declared a success and other ballparks want in on it.

[Videos (1)]

The Cleveland Indians' "10-Cent Beer Night" was just one of many ill-fated ballpark promotions. (Shutterstock.com)

The Dodgers' "All-You-Can-Eat Seats" provide fans with unlimited hot dogs, pretzels and popcorn in an experience that left some reporters literally sick. Needless to say, it has become an imitated success. (Shutterstock.com)

Promotions like Chicago's 1979 "Disco Demolition Night" and last year's West Michigan Whitecaps' "Cash Drop", transcended fan enthusiasm and led to chaos and violence. (Shutterstock.com)

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Disco Demolition Night (RSimms (YouTube))

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Don't Take Me Out to These Ballgames

10-cent beer night and 4 other ballpark promotions gone foul