The Cincinnati Reds had a game on May 19th that allowed fans to bring their dogs.  Dogs and their owners sat in a section that was reserved just for them.  Ticket package with the dog was $25, human tickets were $17, making dog tickets only $9.  This unique idea helped to increase ticket sales, something their team’s been unable to do on its own.

Reds merchandise doesn’t exactly fly off the shelf.  Their marketers need to take note–this dog population is an entirely new group that the Reds could sell their goods to.  Little doggie hats, bandanas, and jerseys at steep prices.  Dog toys with the Reds logo.  And, along with hot dogs, vendors could sell Kibbles and Biscuits.  For the humans, a choice between Red Dog and Flying Dog beer.

The dogs in attendance Tuesday night watched the game more closely than the humans.  The majority of them were disappointed with the fielding of the ball.  Some howled at the pitching.  There were a couple of fights in the stands.  A few were thrown out for indecent licking.  One held a sign that said “Pedigrees Against PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs).   Another, who when interviewed, gave his name only as Rover said, “This is a great time.  It makes Cleveland’s Dawg Pound look like a joke.”

Dogs at baseball games are not an entirely new concept.  The Greensboro Grasshoppers bat dog, “Master Yogi Berra,” recently became infamous for crapping on the field in the middle of his shtick.  Fans loved it.  The YouTube video clip of the event has had almost 20,000 hits (and after this blog will most likely get two more).  Incidentally, the Greensboro team has another bat dog named “Miss Babe Ruth.”  That name brings to mind the pool scene from Caddyshack with the Baby Ruth bar.  I’m sure that if fed properly, Babe won’t disappoint the fans.

Bark in the Park could be the way that Michael Vick redeems his reputation.  He needs to impress upon fans that he has changed his ways and is now a dog supporter.  He can find employment as a pooper scooper.  Instead of a number 7, his uniform will say, “Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.”   Picture him behind a Saint Bernard whistling “Who let the dogs out?”