Xplorers and Third Coast Sports introduce "Faith Night" this Friday
April 25, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
One year after Third Coast Sports introduced the nation to "Faith Nights" at minor-league baseball stadiums from coast-to-coast, the young company travels to Southaven, MS to launch its first-ever arenafootball2 "Faith Night" with the Memphis Xplorers at this Friday night's game with the Macon Knights at the DeSoto Civic Center. Kick off is at 7 p.m.
During three games this season, the Xplorers and Third Coast will team up to give fans a pre-game concert outside the DeSoto Civic Center. This Friday, April 28, Christian rap group Grits along with up-and-coming recording artist Warren Barfield will be giving a concert before the game. On that date, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber from the hit animation series VeggieTales will be in attendance. Mainstay, a Christian band who recently released their debut album "Well Meaning Fiction," will appear pre-game before the Saturday, June 24 Xplorers game. Finally, singer and songwriter Shaun Groves will perform before the Saturday, July 15 game. In addition to the concert, a Memphis community figure will give their personal faith testimony before the game.
Third Coast Sports has grabbed the national headline in the last week for announcing a sponsorship of a Bible-jersey "Faith Night" with the Birmingham Steeldogs for the upcoming May 5 game versus the Louisville Fire. ESPN.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Arizona Republic and countless other media outlets have run features over the last week. Last year, Third Coast Sports went on the road with their "Faith Nights" and grabbed the front page of the USA Today, a feature on ABC World News Tonight and countless features in local papers. Prior to last season, Third Coast gained national attention with the Nashville Sounds' "Faith Night" series.
Teams that partnered with Third Coast in 2005 saw an average increase in attendance of 22% on Faith Nights as opposed to their season average. In 2004 and 2005, five of the top 10 attended Nashville Sounds games of the entire season were Faith Nights. The Sounds gave away bobble head dolls of Biblical figures Moses, Samson and Noah at three events and gave away 4,000 copies of the New Testament during the 2004 season. In 2005, Third Coast teamed with Big Idea, Inc. to provide the first 2,000 fans at each event with a baseball honoring Bob the Tomato from VeggieTales.
Before Third Coast went national, Faith Nights were featured by ESPN's Outside the Lines, The 700 Club, ESPN2's Cold Pizza, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, The New York Times, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Dallas Morning News, Baseball America and dozens of other media outlets.
Third Coast Sports is the athletic division of Third Coast Artists, a booking agency that represents big name Christian recording artists such as MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Jeremy Camp. The sports division will stop at many sports cities across the nation from Buffalo, New York to Fresno, California in 2006.
"We continue to be amazed and humbled at how this little company continues to grow," said Brent High, President of Third Coast Sports. "God's hand is definitely on this venture as evidenced by our expansion to 50 events and the doors that have been opened in the Arena Football League. Church leaders continue to see Faith Nights as a way to bring their congregations together for fellowship while at the same time reaching out to their friends, neighbors and co-workers who don't have a church home".
Third Coast Sports has partnered with Big Idea, Inc. and World Vision International, a Christian world-relief agency. For the Memphis event, 94.7 and 94.9 KLOVE, Area 1 Ministries, Oldies 95.3, Belhaven College Adult Career Program and Obadiah's Catering have teamed up with Third Coast to provide the Faith Nights for the Memphis community.
Tickets for any Faith Night event can be purchased from Third Coast Sports by calling 1-888-456-0451. For more information, check out www.thirdcoastsports.com.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from April 25, 2006
- Bakersfield Blitz Add New WR/LB Ryan Karr and FB/LB Gil Hernandez - Bakersfield Blitz
- Nick Onaindia and J.J. Johnson on the Coach's Show - Bakersfield Blitz
- Xplorers and Third Coast Sports introduce "Faith Night" this Friday - Memphis Xplorers
- Jefferson named U.S. Army Ironman of the Week - Alabama Vipers
- Speedy Wolves' OS wins Schutt Offensive Player of the Week award - Manchester Wolves
- af2 names week four award winners - af2
- Xplorers assignee Fischer signs with Detroit Lions - Memphis Xplorers
- Louisville Fire game notes - Louisville Fire
- Birmingham Steeldogs game notes - Alabama Steeldogs
- Week four af2 game recaps - af2
- Yard Dawgz Salute the United States Military - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
