 Usually on the Sunday preceding or
following the November 23 national holiday, each team
sponsors a "Fans Day."
While
it's not exactly a game, players compete with fans in
three-legged races and other similar events. The
atmosphere is loose, there are prize give-aways, musical
entertainment and other diversions. Members of each
team's fan club participate on the field while other fans
watch from their seats. While this is (or should be) an
event geared toward kids, many teenagers and adults show
up too.
Attendance
is usually free, but the actual event is seldom
publicized.
During
the last few weeks of the regular season, flyers were
passed out at Jingu Stadium, explaining to fans how to
get tickets for Yakult's Fans Day. Essentially, all you
have to do is send a post card, and tickets for the event
will be mailed to you.
The
twelve teams may have ulterior motives for sponsoring
Fans Day. Booths inside and in front of each ballpark
sell discounted team merchandise. It's their last chance
of the year to get rid of the stuff and giving away free
tickets is a great way to attract potential buyers.
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