SPORTS
THE TEBOW TOUCH
BY GREG GARDNER
Minor league baseball teams benefit from
player’s promotion to St. Lucie Mets
Tim Tebow’s debut game as a St. Lucie Met was
one for the record books without a single pitch
being thrown.
The June 27 game was postponed when a
violent thunderstorm with lightning and hail moved
over First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, but concessions
brought in more than $5,500 while more than 3,000
Tebow fans waited out the storm.
The storm was kind of an omen from above for the
mania about to sweep through Florida ballparks. “It
was the most insane, end of the world storm I have ever
seen at the field,” said Traer Van Allen, St. Lucie Mets
general manager. “We saw the wind shift the flags and
we just got the tarps down in time.”
The St. Lucie Mets attendance records had been
broken since Tebow joined the team for the second half
of the season. The former University of Florida Gator,
National Football League quarterback, devout Christian
and Heisman Trophy winner draws crowds. This
year the team set a single-season attendance record of
108,057 with 13 home games still to be played. If the
pace continues, the Mets could top the record by as
much as 20,000 spectators.
LARGE STATE TURNOUTS
Attendance records were set in Fort Myers, Port Charlotte
and Kissimmee when Tebow was in the lineup as
an outfielder or as a designated hitter.
“Tim Tebow has brought an excitement to the entire
state of Florida, the Florida State League and it is un- >>
8 Port St. Lucie Magazine
GREG GARDNER
Tim Tebow’s promotion to the St. Lucie Mets for the second half of the Florida State League season has brought record crowds as fans show up to see if the
former NFL quarterback can launch a second career in baseball.