Cosmic baseball is ready to shed light on parks nationwide

Summer boys have captivated baseball fans for generations with sweet swings, salted hot dogs and a welcome escape during the stifling months. But what happens if, for a few weeks of the year in a handful of ballrooms across the country, they have become the boys under the black lights?

Cosmic Baseball offers a new electric version of the American hobby which has UV reflective neon balls and fluorescent jerseys played before screaming fans and children who are fairly lucky to score tickets.

The first half of the game generally resembles a regular confrontation, with a few quirks like launchers in helmets and players flowing backwards. But after a brief intermission, there is a cosmic “transformation” for a brand new night game.

“For us, it is how much you can create an environment,” said Chris Martin, the creator and co-founder of the League. “And how many memories can you bring when black lights go?”

Martin says that around 80 to 85% of the players who make up the two teams – cosmic peppers and glomojis – are former professionals who have contributed in minor leagues or abroad and wanted to be part of something that innovates.

With a huge smile, he added: “You will see something and say:” It’s absolutely crazy. “”

Martin founded the Tri-City Chili Peppers a few years ago as part of a summer collegial league. He told NBC News that one day, a bulb started in his head during a stick and the night of the 80s – and if they were trying to play the game in the game dark.

Martin said that he was initially pushed by the lighting companies responsible for trying to make it.

“We met a group and they said,” It doesn’t exist, “recalls Martin. “You could put 300 black lights and it will probably not light up, because there is nothing that exists that will have as much diffusion game on a field like this.”

Quick advance of six months with heavy R&D, and the same company recalled it to let Martin know that they had cracked the code.

“”I received an SMS saying: “Hey, your black lights are ready,” said Martin. “I did not expect … I thought (this vision) was over.”

Far from it.

During its second season, Cosmic Baseball flooded social media flows and currently has a waiting list of 300,000 to 400,000 people.

The cosmic peppers and the glomojis – selling attractive goods and loot that generates long lines in the stadiums – play the shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights, in Virginia, with a seats of around 2000 people.

But the immense popularity of the game has already led to an expanding summer calendar, the teams taking their law on the road to large parks in cities like Nashville, Sugar Land and Durham.

Major leagues baseball has supported the initiativeAlso, pump the exhibition games which could one day be played in a multitude of minor parks and even major league.

“I think the biggest piece for us is:” How do you create a family environment? “” Said Martin. “And everyone approaches us at the end of the day and says:” It is built For families. ”