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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

MLB: Enter to be a Part of MLB Fan Cave 2012

As the lone comment sez…“Baseball Wives isn’t embarrassing enough?

Major League Baseball announced today that the MLB Fan Cave in 2012 will start the season with a group of fan contestants, some of whom will be eliminated throughout the season until one winner is crowned before the end of the World Series. Multiple contestants will begin the season in the MLB Fan Cave and watch every single MLB game each day while chronicling their experiences online through videos, blogs and social media. Along the way, they will compete against one another over the course of the baseball season in a series of challenges, with fans online helping decide who gets to stay in the Fan Cave and play host to the baseball stars and celebrities who will visit throughout the season. Entries – which include a series of essay questions and a video submission – are now being accepted at MLBFanCave.com, with a deadline of Friday, January 13.

The MLB Fan Cave will return to the 15,000 square foot location at 4th Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village that was formerly the home of Tower Records. After hosting a number of holiday-themed events this month, the MLB Fan Cave will shut its doors in January to be redesigned to feature new technology and interactive elements. The MLB Fan Cave is a unique event space and content factory mixing baseball with music, popular culture, media, interactive technology, and art. It also serves as a digital hub for all baseball fans, with a constant flow of online video and conversation via social media.

Thanks to T. Hissey.

Repoz Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:44 AM | 34 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: announcers, business, fantasy baseball, media, television

Reader Comments and Retorts

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Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Starring RMc as Bradley Scotchman Posted: December 07, 2011 at 02:50 PM (#4009096)
watch every single MLB game each day while chronicling their experiences online through videos, blogs and social media.


This is my idea of Hell.

No, really. I love baseball, loved it all my life. But being required to watch every game and tell the world about it? Shudder.
   2. sinicalypse Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:01 PM (#4009110)
i hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate this MLB Fan Cave crap. seriously, whenever i saw it featured on official MLB propaganda i shuddered with the fury of a thousand douche chills. they seemed hell-bent on shoving as many "now" players and legendary retired players through there to pose for photo-ops with the super-nerdy-looking idiots they had in there watching every game or whatever... and it made me wonder how they could watch EVERY game if they had to stop and take pictures with chase utley or something?

like the poster above me pointed out, i would think that being forced to watch and blog about every game would be akin to the kind of torture afflicted upon alex in "a clockwork orange" during his mental re-programming.
   3. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:43 PM (#4009143)
Do you have to know how to tweet to live in that thing? 'Cause I can't tweet.
   4. Erix Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:49 PM (#4009148)
While it is a bit silly, I checked it out when I was in NYC... It's kinda cool.
   5. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt! Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:53 PM (#4009153)
Do you have to know how to tweet to live in that thing? 'Cause I can't tweet.

Just put you lips together and blow.
   6. NJ in NJ Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:54 PM (#4009154)
I really don't get what this is. No matter how many times I RTFA about this thing I can't conceptualize it.
   7. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt! Posted: December 07, 2011 at 03:58 PM (#4009157)
I really don't get what this is. No matter how many times I RTFA about this thing I can't conceptualize it.

The contest or the actual cave? I walked by the cave a few weeks ago and it just looks like a fancy sports bar.
   8. NJ in NJ Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:19 PM (#4009183)
Just to see if I get it: The people who win this contest are charged with watching and reporting on every single game of the MLB season? Is that even possible without some sort of DC Comics-worthy timeline fudging?
   9. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt! Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:33 PM (#4009196)
Just to see if I get it: The people who win this contest are charged with watching and reporting on every single game of the MLB season? Is that even possible without some sort of DC Comics-worthy timeline fudging?

That and there also seem to be some Survivor-like challenges and the audience gets to vote them out of the cave one at a time. I think.
   10. and Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:35 PM (#4009197)
Yeah, I have the same question as NJ. Do you have to watch each game individually or do you sit in front of 16 TVs and watch all the games going on at once?

I could probably do the latter.
   11. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:38 PM (#4009200)
The MLB Fan Cave will return to the 15,000 square foot location at 4th Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village that was formerly the home of Tower Records.

spent many an hour there in the 70s
   12. Karl from NY Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:43 PM (#4009205)
They have to watch every game live. If there's 10 games going on, that's 10 TVs. Remember there's never actually 16 games at the same time, given the West Coast time difference and Cubs weekday day games. I would think the worst times are when there's only one game going, as with Cubs day games and the Sunday prime-time slot; they have to be there and watching with no secondary option if the game or teams suck.
   13. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:47 PM (#4009213)
They have to watch every game live. If there's 10 games going on, that's 10 TVs. Remember there's never actually 16 games at the same time, given the West Coast time difference and Cubs weekday day games.


And the fact there are only 30 teams.
   14. Is Zonk Vermin within the Confines? Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:49 PM (#4009217)
Do they get paid?

How in the hell could someone even afford to essentially devote 6 months to watching every game.
   15. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 04:56 PM (#4009230)
Do they get paid?

How in the hell could someone even afford to essentially devote 6 months to watching every game.

That was my question. I mean, I know what the current deal is with the economy and everything, but most people still work, do they not?
   16. Is Zonk Vermin within the Confines? Posted: December 07, 2011 at 05:16 PM (#4009264)
Assuming they feed you, I don't think I'd do this for less than $50k...
   17. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 05:24 PM (#4009277)
Pfft. $50k wouldn't even get me to return a phone call.

Not only would I have to give up my job; given the current economy I cannot be sure how long it would take me to get a new one when this nonsense was over.

On the other hand, my wife would probably love to get me out of the house for the summer.
   18. Swedish Chef Posted: December 07, 2011 at 05:32 PM (#4009288)
Assuming they feed you, I don't think I'd do this for less than $50k...

I assume there are people out there who would do it for beer and chicken wings (that and peanuts cover a person's nutritional needs, right?).
   19. Matheny Hitting School and Investment Strategies Posted: December 07, 2011 at 08:27 PM (#4009517)
Highlights from last season:

MLB Fan Cave 2011
   20. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick Posted: December 07, 2011 at 08:34 PM (#4009532)
The MLB Fan Cave will return to the 15,000 square foot location at 4th Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village that was formerly the home of Tower Records.


spent many an hour there in the 70s

It could have been worse. They could have been taking over where this was.
   21. Is Zonk Vermin within the Confines? Posted: December 07, 2011 at 08:54 PM (#4009554)
I assume there are people out there who would do it for beer and chicken wings (that and peanuts cover a person's nutritional needs, right?).


Really?

I mean - you're "working", even if just watching games and tweeting about it, every day for 6 months... beyond, what, the day before and after ASB (when I assume you'd be expected to watch and report on the festivities).

With Sunday night baseball -- I think that other than a maybe few random Mondays here and there, this means 6 months of NEVER going out to dinner, NEVER going to see a movie or a band, NEVER anything else...

I was thinking $50k -- thinking mainly that it also includes room and board on top -- might be decent compensation for 6 months of work, but the more I think about it, Chris is right... I'd probably want something in the six figure range.

July 4th, Labor Day, Memorial Day BBQs? Nope - working... family events, etc? Nope - working.

I mean, I don't exactly have a packed social calendar now and I'm pretty much working 6 days a week as it is -- but at least I can squeeze in the occasional happy hour or cook-out.
   22. Tuque Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:01 PM (#4009564)
The MLB Fan Cave is a unique event space and content factory mixing baseball with music, popular culture, media, interactive technology, and art. It also serves as a digital hub for all baseball fans, with a constant flow of online video and conversation via social media.


This sentence is amusing to me. That could just describe a bar with a jukebox, TV, pinball machine, a few paintings on the walls, and a young-ish clientele with iPhones. For example, if "interactive technology" means "darts," this could completely and accurately describe the extremely dive-y Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place. It's even kind of a cave, too.
   23. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:13 PM (#4009584)
Do they really need to use real estate lies to sell this? 4th and Broadway is within walking distance of Greenwich Village, but it's only arguably within the village and certainly not the "heart" of it. Broadway in that area is just a mush of Petcos and Best Buys.

Not that that actually matters, but if we can't be obnoxiously overprecise on the internet, where can we be obnoxiously overprecise?
   24. Lars6788 Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:22 PM (#4009595)
I wouldn't be surprised if the people applying for this somehow think this is an opportunity to help them get either a job in Major League Baseball and/or sports media.

For Major League Baseball, it maybe a way to promote the game to attract relatively younger adult fans.
   25. Fernigal McGunnigle Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:39 PM (#4009618)
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has done a couple of promotions where they have someone live at the museum for a month and blog, etc. about the experience. You can sleep in the U-Boat! That would be far more awesome than the Fan Cave.

And as for the Fan Cave, we should look at the rules:

Live Every Baseball Fan's Dream!

The MLB Fan Cave is back and is running a contest to select multiple fans to live the dream baseball experience. Winners will hang with MLB stars and celebrities as you take part in exciting challenges against fellow fans to remain a part of the MLB Fan Cave Experience until the final pitch of the 2012 World Series.

As part of the MLB Fan Cave, Winners will 1) watch every single baseball game played, 2) interact and film video content with current and former players, celebrities and musicians, 3) discuss the hottest baseball and pop culture topics through blog posts and social media 4) compete in exciting challenges with other fans to remain in the MLB Fan Cave - and much more. MLB will provide housing and a stipend for Winners while in the Fan Cave. Submissions must be received by Friday, January 13, 2012 by 11:59PM ET.

Each Winner will:
- Be a passionate baseball fan
- Have strong writing skills
- Have strong verbal communication skills
- Have strong organizational skills with the ability to give attention to multiple things at the same time
- Be comfortable in front of the camera and be able to present a positive public image
- Have a fun and creative personality
- Be highly skilled on social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Pass a background check to the satisfaction of MLB

Each Winner must:
- Reside in a location provided by MLB in New York City
- Participate in all aspects of MLB Fan Cave duties, including but not limited to, watching every game played of the 2012 MLB season, taking part in media events, interviews, etc.
- Share thoughts regarding games and topics of MLB and pop culture interest via daily blogging, vlogging and through social media platforms
- Adhere to all other policies and procedures as required by MLB
- Grant all rights in all aspects of his/her participation in MLB Fan Cave to MLB for MLB's use, worldwide, in all media.


No mention of pay in there, though they do put you up and presumably feed you as well. The "Adhere to all other policies and procedures as required by MLB" is what really kills it for me. The way to make this enjoyable would be to go out of your way to do things that would displease MLB and turn it into something like performance art. This clause pretty much says that you have to work within the parameters they're happy with, or you're out on your ear. No fun.
   26. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:42 PM (#4009622)
How in the hell could someone even afford to essentially devote 6 months to watching every game.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here.
   27. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:46 PM (#4009626)
spent many an hour there in the 70s

Neat trick, since Tower didn't open there until the mid-'80s.
   28. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:49 PM (#4009629)
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has done a couple of promotions where they have someone live at the museum for a month and blog, etc. about the experience. You can sleep in the U-Boat! That would be far more awesome than the Fan Cave.

Oh, absolutely. Plus, it's a month. I can scrape together enough paid vacation to do that. Doing the MLB thing means quitting my job.

Man, sleep in the U-Boat? I'd so do that.

I love that museum.
   29. Karl from NY Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:40 PM (#4009733)
I think the Fan Cave is meant to appeal to those who don't have jobs, or at most an expendable unskilled retail type of job. It's not for us professional desk sitters.
   30. rlc Posted: December 08, 2011 at 12:28 AM (#4009755)
but if we can't be obnoxiously overprecise on the internet, where can we be obnoxiously overprecise?


At all URLs beneath the domain 66.197.211.53
   31. Lassus Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:05 AM (#4009775)
I do wonder what the stipend is. It seems like an awful lot of work, certainly.

Maybe one of us would work as the "SABR" contestant. The amount of idiotic abuse one would take - if they had a level head about themselves and were skilled at turning it around - would be worth it.

I probably would never pass the background check, though, out of fear I would say something about the people at MLB.com who I worked for. Or MLB.com, period.
   32. base ball chick Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:15 AM (#4009811)
trust me on this, living in a cave is not EVERY baseball fan's dream.

it looks like a LOT of hard work. and no husband and kids. no dogs. no going outside and just taking a walk. or going shopping. i mean, seriously, living in NYC and no going to 5th avenue? even to look?

i wouldn't mind meeting some ballplayers and maybe getting a few hitting tips. especially from lefty swingers

hehhehheh

but seriously - cooped up for SIX months? no thank you.
   33. Karl from NY Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:12 PM (#4010073)
and no husband and kids. no dogs.

I'm loving the idea already.
   34. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:21 PM (#4010100)
I think it's safe to say, Lisa, that you're not the target audience for this.

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