After the success of Gay Community Night at the Phillies (1,500 in attendance), Comcast-Spectacor (owner of the 76ers, Flyers and other teams) approached me about doing something similar with their teams. As the Flyers are currently not playing, we are starting with the 76ers. We have blocked a few hundred seats for the season opener vs. Phoenix Suns Friday November 5th at 7 PM. Local LGBT groups will receive scoreboard acknowledgement, including Outsports.com. Tickets are only $24. Hopefully some of you can make it. Feel free to e-mail me or PM me if you have any questions.

We can buy some tickets together and have an Outsports group, similar to what we did with the Phillies gay day games the last two years. But November 5th is less than a month away so if anyone's interested, reply quickly.

Sounds great! A first for an NBA team, as far as I know.

Aside from going through you, how would people get tickets for this event? How is it being promoted in Philadelphia? Are there community groups involved?

People can call the 76ers Group Sales office directly and purchase tickets. Phone # is 215-952-5441.

There are fliers about the event at most gay bars in town, some local groups are promoting the night via e-mail, and we had a table at Outfest on Sunday giving away fliers. Pretty much the same way Gay Community Night at the Phillies was promoted.

But how will Allen Iverson react to his new "fanbase"?

Can somebody pleeeeeeze get me a shirtless pic of Casey Jacobsen?! I have money!

This sounds like lots of fun but y'all gotta give a bit more notice. Maybe someone should do something in January or February, I will try to get there. I hear Philly is beautiful in January.

Saw the listing for the event on gayoutdoors.org.

Sorry, but this came together last minute. If the the NHL starts playing, we'll look at doing an event in early 2005 with the Flyers.

Will they put it anywhere on the Sixers homepage?

No, just like "Gay Community Day" at the Phillies, this is an outside group coming in and attending a group, not any different than if your employer or church was attending as a group.

Scottie's article on Out at the Sixers night is now posted on the Outsports home page.

There's just one word I think should be removed from that article. Can anyone guess what it is? wink

The PDF sheet mentions that for an additional $10 you can get a 76ers value coupon, which entitles you to a 76ers cap, hot dog, popcorn, soda, and "Opteks." Since a cap itself can cost almost that much (or more depending on the brand or the style), it's not a bad deal. But what are Opteks? Anyway, as I stated above, if anyone who wants to be part of an Outsports group we can get a group of tickets together, and if you also want this value coupon let me know.

I was told an Optek is some type of high tech (??) binocular that is rented to you for the game.

Giving this a bump...and a thought: what we need is for someone to invent high tech binoculars that can see through clothing. wink

Saw this mention on pennlive.com (listing on Sat. Oct. 16)

There's a link from this article to scottie's article on Outsports.

[ October 20, 2004, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Google Alerts? "Warning! Warning! Google Alert! Google Alert!"

Two weeks until the game. Anyone interested? Anyone? Bueller?

Count me in!

From today's Philadelphia Gay News (posting full story because link will probably only work for one week):

Phila. Gay News story

OUT at the Sixers planned Nov. 5

By Alison Dickman
PGN Staff Writer
© 2004 Philadelphia Gay News

The first OUT at the Sixers Day is planned for Nov. 5 at the Wachovia Center.

After two successful Gay Community Days at the Philadelphia Phillies baseball games, organizer Larry Felzer said he was approached by Sixers owner Comcast-Spectator.

"This was the team approaching me," Felzer said. "It is almost unheard of. With the Phillies, we approached the team, not other way around. This is revolutionary. "

Stu Cohen, account manager in group sales for the Wachovia Center, said he had heard of what Felzer had done with the Phillies, and thought Comcast-Spectator should get involved.

"I was sure there were plenty of gay basketball fans, and maybe they aren't Phillies fans, so they didn't have the opportunity to attend a basketball game in that type of environment," Cohen said.

Cohen took the idea to his supervisor, who agreed it would be a good idea for Comcast-Spectator to try out with its teams, which include the 76ers and the Flyers.

"As far as we knew, it is something that never had been done in the NBA," he said. "I think it is definitely something we can grow on. This is definitely an experimental year but there is an opportunity for it every season."

Felzer said he hopes the event helps to dispel stereotypes that gays aren't sports fans.

"We want to dispel the stereotypes that gays are all into theater and decorating, and that all gay men are like Jack in 'Will & Grace' ... nothing is further from the truth," Felzer said.

Unlike Gay Community Day at the Phillies, which drew 1,500 gay individuals and their friends in August, Felzer is expecting a smaller audience at the Sixers game.

Between 100 and 200 people are expected to attend the game, which is the season opener against the Phoenix Suns. Fans will sit in a section blocked off for gay and lesbian spectators, he said.

"We're expecting less than baseball season because first of all, basketball season hasn't started yet, and people aren't thinking about it yet," Felzer said. "Also, there probably aren't as many l/g/b/t basketball fans as baseball fans. There are two l/g/b/t softball teams, and I don't know of any l/g/b/t basketball teams."

Gay groups that purchase 25 or more tickets and a few groups that help publicize the event will have their names displayed on the scoreboard.

If you go
What: "OUT at the Sixers" game
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.
Tickets: Cost $24
Information: Call Stu Cohen at (215) 952-5441; Web site: www.Outsports.com

Outsports Media Whore Strikes Again! Bwa-hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

I sort of figured that.

Think we need to set a deadline for people to indicate if they want to go, as game is next Friday night.

True -- how about Tuesday? That would give me time to order tickets and I can pick them sometime prior to the game.

Any word on how many tickets were sold so far?

I want to give this a bump. Talking to scottie tonight, he wants to order the tickets for anyone who wants to go. The deadline is Tuesday...not sure of a specific time...how about noon ET?

Final bump - if no one posts they want to join us, I will be purchasing 2 tickets tonight.

Scottie, I wish I could make it... but I'll be on my honeymoon! (Also check your PMs)

Is it a honeymoon if you're alone? :confused: wink

Thpppppppppppt!!!

I would be there to drink with my Philly in-laws, but alas, family functions (including showing off the hubby wink ) require me to be in Albany this weekend.

What's all this I hear about someone Showing off the chubby? This is a disgrace! Public displays of nudity are disgusting! Why, in my day gentlemen were gentlemen! They didn't go around exposing their private areas! Oh! I've never been so angry at such a....what?....hubby?....oh! That's very different. Never mind!

wink

Soooooooooo....if it's just me and scottie, based on the discussion about meeting FeverDog this past weekend, does that make this....a date???

Can't be a date, I'm too busy trying to fix you up with the other over 2700 registered users on this thread. Besides, I had a date with someone last night, it's too confusing to have dates with 2 different people in the same week.

Does it strike anyone else as odd that he says he's trying to fix me up with 2700 Outsporters and yet he's the one who went on a date last night? wink

At least the 76ers will be 1-0 going into the game tomorrow night.

You know, scottie just isn't very good at this matchmaking thing. He actually brought a guy with him to the game. I think, maybe he's trying to set us up? But nooooooooooo. Turns out the guy is straight. Geez. wink

It was a small, intimate gathering -- I believe he said around 80 or so tickets were sold. In fact, they had us in a few rows of 2 or 3 sections. Some rows that had been held were released back to the 76ers. So the atmosphere wasn't really like the Phillies' gay day events.

On the other hand, there were no protestors in sight -- apparently they were out of town all weekend.

Oh, and continuing in the grand tradition of Philadelphia Gay Days, the 76ers lost to Phoenix. eek!

And they put up the names of groups on the scoreboard just before the third quarter began, and I wasn't able to get a picture of it. Dammit. eek! eek!

What's the matter with those Philly teams? Can't they 'win one for the gay boys?' Perhaps you didn't cheer loud enough--stand up, rip off your shirt and wave it over your head while shouting, "Take it to the hole, Iverson!"

Which groups were named? Outsports? Any obviously gay group names?

What was the ratio of men/women in the gay section? And did you get any phone numbers JiP?

I'm not much of a basketball fan. But I should have gone. I'm sorry.

I guess I'm just bewailing the hockey season that won't be.

Joe - There are over 2700 registered Outsports message board users. Isn't that enough potential dates for you??

The following groups names were supposed to be displayed on the scoreboard (I say supp. to because I was distracted when the showed the group names and didn't see all of the names):

Dignity Philadelphia
Ladies 2000
Outsports.com
Penn's Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia
William Way Community Center

Next year, and when this event happens with the Flyers (a.k.a. when the Flyers start playing again), we'll have to work with group sales to make sure everyone is seated together, as we were spread out over a few adjacent sections.

If you're going to date all 2700 at one time, you'll need to book at least one of the luxury boxes! And I have images of you sort of like the Bachelor in "the most dramatic rose ceremony yet" handing out 2400 roses while 300 of us are sent home!

Too bad the Sixers lost last night, but considering how this season is shaping up, you'll have to get used to it. wink Sort of like those of us who (sort of) follow the Lakers.

~Adam

I'd prefer to date one at a time, thank you! That is, assuming that more than one would be actually interested...which in turn assumes that even one would be interested...and we all know what happens when you assume.... eek!

You're not the only one...maybe you'd like to meet some of the other local Outsporters? Either watch a game at a bar or go to a Phantoms game, perhaps?

It occurs to me that it might be difficult with the Flyers, since they have season-ticket sales for partial-game plans and the like now, and the lower-cost seats might be snapped up by people buying those plans. But it's certainly worth a try.

The thought occurred to me that perhaps we should write to someone at Comcast-Spectacor or the 76ers to thank them, as it was suggested we do with the Phillies after the 2003 Gay Community Night.

You're not the only one...maybe you'd like to meet some of the other local Outsporters? Either watch a game at a bar or go to a Phantoms game, perhaps?


When I'm over this head cold I have...sure! (But right now I'd be no fun to talk with...since I have no voice.)
It was fun seeing everyone at the Phillies' last season, even if I didn't know you!