The Alabama minor league baseball team the Montgomery Biscuits is creating a stir for poking fun at millennials for being oversensitive, which has resulted in immense blowback from those lacking the concept of irony.
It all began with a series of promos for the league, that was altered for different age demographics. In an effort to bring in more young people, the team started “Millennial Night,” which the advertised amenities including avocados, craft beer, safe spaces, a napping area, selfie stations, and participation ribbons. “Want free things without doing much work? Well, you’re in luck! Riverwalk Stadium will be millennial friendly on Saturday, July 21, with a participation ribbon giveaway just for showing up, napping and selfie stations, along with lots of avocados” posted the team to Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BiscuitBaseball/status/1017111058174103552
According to Fox News, Vice president of fan engagement, Mike Murphy, told Fox this is just one of 70 promotions the Biscuits offer for their home games, ranging from Outdoors Night to Military Wednesdays and Autism Friendly Night. “80 percent of the people in our front office are millennials, myself included, and we’re just having fun with some of the clichés that people point out about millennials,” Murphy said.
And predictably, there were plenty of millennial outraged by the tweet that poked fun at their delicate sensibilities.
Hi there. Looks like you need to fire your entire social media department. I've got considerable experience – let me know where to send my resume.
— Better Joke Teller (@texaninnyc) July 12, 2018
How about a Boomer night. When the old ppl leave at the seventh inning stretch, we burn the entire field down. Proceeds from Millennial night will pay for the damage.
— Hoss. (@Gamec0cks) July 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/WillWeaverRVA/status/1017419249701318657
One critic suggested a “boomer night” in the future, where they ruin everything and have the millennials pay for it. A reference to the national debt, perhaps?
How about a Boomer night. When the old ppl leave at the seventh inning stretch, we burn the entire field down. Proceeds from Millennial night will pay for the damage.
— Hoss. (@Gamec0cks) July 12, 2018
Others had some funnier takes:
Bravo Biscuits! You know Millenials won’t dig in unless it’s Gluten free!
— Griffith Waller (@gswaller) July 12, 2018
— Mister Joshua (@906graphics) July 12, 2018
If you really can’t understand that this is a joke and not meant to be insulting then you need to get off Twitter.
— Sister Sledge (@BrownsBacker34) July 12, 2018
The theme, by the way, is just poking fun. It’s not like there will actually be selfie stations, a napping area, and participation ribbons handed out in the stadium. “I don’t think [Biscuit employees] meant anything sour by it or to cast a negative light on the next generation at all,” said Biscuits pitcher Benton Ross. “I think they’re trying to make light of it and encourage the next generation to come out, support the Biscuits, support baseball and just be themselves.”
Ironically, the reaction to this PR stunt has only further confirmed some of the millennial stereotypes they cited.