Why is the National Anthem played at sporting events anyway?

[SHRED]

I've never understood that...still don't.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. It started during WWI, but didn't become everyday until WWII

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that “The Star-Spangled Banner” be played at military and other appropriate occasions. The playing of the song two years later during the seventh-inning stretch of the 1918 World Series, and thereafter during each game of the series is often noted as the first instance that the Anthem was played at a baseball game, though evidence shows that the “Star-Spangled Banner” was performed as early as 1897 at opening day ceremonies in Philadelphia and then more regularly at the Polo Grounds in New York City beginning in 1898.

In any case, the tradition of performing the National Anthem before every baseball game began during World War II. Today, the Anthem is performed before the beginning of all MLS, NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games (with at least one American team playing), as well as in a pre-race ceremony portion of every NASCAR race. Performances at particularly large events are often ended with a military flypast. The NHL requires arenas in both the U.S. and Canada to perform both the Canadian and American national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries, and it is usual for both American and Canadian anthems to be played at Major League Baseball games involving the Toronto Blue Jays, the only Canadian MLB team.

But I agree. Aside from the Super Bowl or World Series I don't think it's needed for every beer league hockey game or Single A ballgame.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Big events with 20,000+ people

Starts around WWII, everybody is fighting everybody, and the state wants unity. Now nobody wants to be the first one to stop doing it, if any of the leagues want to even stop doing it. It's a job for some people. Others get to sing those songs and maybe get their own name out there for future work. School choirs do it. At this point it's just part of the show.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. I'm a season ticket holder for an AHL hockey team

Before every game, we get God Bless America, America the Beautiful and the Stars Spangled Banner (and the Canadian anthem if we play a Canadian team.) It is always a elementary or middle school group (usually awful) and it means like a couple hundred more tickets sold so families can watch their little darlings. It's a money making scheme at the minor league level. Interestingly during the playoffs when there's a short turnaround to schedule games, they pop in a CD, short and sweet and move on.

[The2ndWheel]

17. You get all 3 of those songs every game?

That seems excessive.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

25. Pretty much

Three separate groups means more tickets. We once got a bunch of nine years olds singing that shitty Lee Greenwood song which was disturbing as hell.

My team would sell the ice to an Eskimo if they could. Youth hockey groups each period. Tables in the concourse with salesmen pushing everything from Boston Globe subscriptions, windows and doors, fitness center memberships, etc. Prior to the game, important info like who is or who's not in the lineup tonight or who the refs are is scrapped so we can watch television ads on the big screen scoreboard.


The good thing is there is never any real danger of them moving, so I shouldn't complain.

[Historic NY]

22. It was not the official anthem....until 1931

March 3, 1931, "Hail Columbia" was the De facto National Anthem, written by Phillip Phile in 1789 for President Washington. Phillip was a Hessian soldier, and professional musician/composer with the "Band of Music" that was captured at Trenton on Dec 26, 1776. He sometimes is overlooked. The tune is now the Vice-Presidents official tune. Philip Pfile (Phile)(Phyle) 1734-1793 violinist, composer and musician, he was a members of Regiment Von Knyphausen. He is buried somewhere under Franklin Square in Philadelphia.

[oldtime dfl_er]

31. OK

THAT'S interesting! Thanks!

[Ron Obvious]

2. I agree

I think it makes perfect sense before international games where everybody should stand quietly to respect the national anthems of the two competing countries.

For domestic competitions I don't see the point either.

[Orrex]

3. Because how else will you know that the demolition derby will kick ass?

AMERICA!

[SHRED]

6. AMERICA F*#K YEAH!

[Brickbat]

4. To show we're not like communist or fascist countries that rely on patriotism to shut others up.

[deaniac21]

5. Should be singing

I'l like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony....

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. So you'll buy a Coke at the concession stand?

[demmiblue]

8. I'm still vexed about the fact that they don't sing...

Take me out to the Ball Game during the 7th inning stretch.

That, and the food, was the best part of going to a game when I was a kid!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

11. They still do

Who got rid of it?

[demmiblue]

16. It's been awhile since I have been to a game.

The last time I went, there was a rendition of God Bless America at the 7th inning stretch.

It must have been slightly after 9-11.

I need to get out more! Good to know they still sing it!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

23. As far as I know they do both.

Honestly, live baseball is not my thing unless it's a chance to see a park I've never been to.

But my brother went to a game this year and said they did both.

[Croney]

37. We went to a ballgame last night.

Red Sox and Yankees. A young woman with a beautiful voice sang the anthem. Later a group did God Bless America. Of course in Boston we have our own special anthems at ball games, Sweet Caroline and Dirty Water, but I doubt either of those would go over well as a national alternative to the current one. And yes, we sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame with gusto.

[sakabatou]

14. Last time I went to a ballgame

They played it at some other inning, iirc.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. It Shouldn't Be

Has nothing to do with anything going on. And, now it's become this faux patriotic nonsense with massive militaristic overtones.

So, like you, i don't get it either.

And, you want to end the controversy with people kneeling? Quit playing the song about a flag.

[SHRED]

13. Well the military does own our flag...correct?

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Duh!

What was i thinking? I completely forgot that amendment to the Constitution.

[The2ndWheel]

18. If it started during WWII

Then the patriotic nonsense and militaristic overtones are the reasons the idea of singing a song before a game exists.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Another Post Above Says WWI

The first reply to the OP. And, i don't know why that matters anymore. WWII ended 71 years ago.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

26. I'll correct myself and say it didn't start at EVERY game until WW2

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Fair Enough!

And, i still think it's pointless. Somehow i don't think the soldiers in Europe or the Pacific felt more supported because the fans were singing a song at a baseball game in 1943.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

32. Meh, I don't know about that

I think it's fine during a time of war, especially during that one. If one US soldier back then thought it meant something to them, well that's good enough for me.

My problem is likely different than yours, in that when something becomes rote, it doesn't mean anything anymore. Standing up like a mindless zombie at every ballgame "just because" devalues whatever message one is trying to get across. That's when it becomes simply mindless indoctrination.

[ProfessorGAC]

36. Rote

Which has probably been the case since 1945. So, we clearly agree on that.

[The2ndWheel]

39. The origin of it doesn't matter

It's just that it's done, I would think, in every city, before every game, for every team, in any league, and I doubt any franchise or league is willing to be the first one to stop doing it. Maybe there's one out there that does exactly that, but I don't know.

I don't know what they do in Russia, or Finland, or Australia, or Japan, or anywhere. Does every game in their leagues start with their national anthems? Canada does it. Does Mexico do it? Argentina? If teams in every city across the globe do it, then maybe it's just a thing at this point.

[Brother Buzz]

19. Why isn't the National Anthem played at golf tournaments

[DetlefK]

35. Because the acoustics on open plains is just horrible.

The music/singing sounds hollow and faded because the sound spreads in all directions instead of getting reflected to the audience.

[Brother Buzz]

38. That's why God invented bagpipes

[Dreamer Tatum]

21. Private events...they can do as they please. nt

[ronnie624]

28. That's a given.

That answer is a logical fallacy, however, in the OP's context.

The real reason for singing the national anthem before sporting events, is because it promotes patriotic genuflection to the State.

[LanternWaste]

34. I don't think "because they can" is a valid answer to "why?"

I don't think "because they can" is a valid answer to "why?", though it certainly is a reponse to the question.

[Dreamer Tatum]

40. The question of "why" is vacuous.

It's done because, in general, large gatherings of people are made more cohesive by mutual recognition of things which unite.

That's pretty much it, but I would bet that the question as posed was more rhetorical than anything else.

[Tracer]

24. A few years ago ...

... my adult son and I were at Fenway Park. The national anthem came on and everyone rose --- except me and him. We just sat there calmly, because although we are baseball fans, we are NOT fans of jingosim and refuse to be a part of phony patriotism.

[SHRED]

27. Brave move

Good job.

[Dreamer Tatum]

41. The national anthem is not jingoistic.

That's just how you perceive it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

29. My question exactly.

And why should the Pledge of Allegiance be recited at many events?

Enforced patriotism is a mark of a fascist state.

[RickHworth]

33. Over the last few years

The sports commentators would just talk about the game and they did not even show any of the pregame fluff.