I couldn't find a thread on this so...is there interest in having a group at the game together? I spoke with Ted P. about it the other day, he's interested (and I believe plans to bring a friend). Anyone else?

Just wanted to remind everyone this is happening in a few weeks. The Delaware Rainbow Chorale will be performing the National Anthem at the game.

There will be be an "after-party" at Shampoo, with free admission with your Phillies ticket and the Phanatic will be making an appearance at Shampoo.

Lastly, in addition the all the other changes (new general manager, and the various trades in the past week) the Phillies adopted a new banner and sign policy at Citizens Bank Park for the 2006 season.

"This policy is due, in large part, to our experience with Repent America and Gay Community Night over the last three years. As a result of those experiences, we wanted to find a more appropriate way to deal with this issue. So we enacted a new banner policy. It's our recognition that all of our fans - gay and straight - are here to enjoy baseball. We're a baseball park, not a forum for political commentary" - Michael Stiles of the Phillies quoted in Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) 5/19/2006

More details on the game are available at Gay Community Night info

Okay, now I'm really impressed. And I've actually been to Shampoo once, too.

[ August 02, 2006, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: FireCharlieManuelNow ]

Reminder - this is tomorrow night. Executive Director of William Way Community Center will be throwing out opening pitch.

WIP (sports talk) was making fun of Phanatic's appearance at Shampoo tomorrow night.

Tickets for game in the "gay night" sections are still available, call (215) 463-5000 (Phillies ticket sales office).

I'm supposed to be getting my ticket from phillyrunner tomorrow night.

Another Gay Night at the Phillies...another Phillies loss on Gay Night at the Phillies. eek!

The crowd looked to my untrained eye like it was smaller than in the past couple of years, but still in the hundreds. I'm sure scottie can give a ticket sales count.

It's not whether they win or lose, it's that they're still just 2 1/2 games out of the wild card. And isn't it nice to have the consistency of always losing on a specific night, sort of the Phillies version of the Ben Affleck Birthday loss for the Red Sox?

~Adam

Any time I go to a game odds are they'll lose. This year's record is 6-10; and 4-9 at home (to go along with the 2-1 record at <Insert current name of telecommunications company> Park in San Francisco). And I'm going again tonight. eek!

The Gay Night games have fallen into two patterns: fall behind big early and fail to rally, or have a lead blown by the bullpen...

2003: 6-3 loss, Brandon Duckworth gives up 4 in the first
2004: 4-2 loss, 8th inning lead blown by anti-gay Todd Jones
2005: 5-4 loss, 8th inning lead blown by Ugueth Urbina
2006: 6-4 loss, Brett Myers gives up 3 in the first, 2 in the second

Group numbers were down a little bit, we had about 550 attendees this year. I am confident this number will increase next year. And for those of you who missed the Phanatic at Shampoo after the game, well, you missed a lot of fun...

The figure quoted for last year (according to the Outsports article) was 880, so that would seem to be a pretty hefty drop...around 37 percent, if my math is right. Any thoughts as to why? Possible theories:

• The game was on a Friday compared to previous years' mid-week games, and many people go out of town on weekends
• Lingering anger over last year's protestor fiasco
• Being the 4th time, it's not as big a deal as it was the first couple of years
• Some people are down on the Phillies despite their presence in the wild card race

Unfortunately Shampoo wasn't on my agenda last week. (I've actually been there once, and it was a weird and not entirely pleasant experience. But that's another story. eek! )

[ August 21, 2006, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: FireCharlieManuelNow ]