Home / Sports / Pope Night Sells Out: Sox Hat Giveaway Goes Viral
Pope Night Sells Out: Sox Hat Giveaway Goes Viral
12 Aug
Summary
- Pope Leo's fan connection to the team sparked a massive hat giveaway.
- Initial promotion for 2,500 hats escalated to over 40,000.
- The team wonders if Pope Leo is aware of the 'Pope Night' event.
The Chicago White Sox recently embraced a unique fan connection, celebrating 'Pope Night' in honor of Chicago-native Pope Leo, who is reportedly a fan of the team. This event, which was inspired by the papal conclave's election of Pope Leo in 2025, was initially planned as a promotional giveaway for 2,500 hats.
However, the promotion's popularity surged, leading to ticket sales that exceeded 40,000, necessitating a significant increase in the hat giveaway. The team's marketing chief noted this as an unprecedented event for promotional items, with lines forming outside the stadium well before gates opened.
Manager Will Venable expressed excitement for 'Pope Night,' anticipating a large crowd and hoping the pope's fandom would bring good fortune for their game against the Cincinnati Reds. As of the event, the team was unsure if Pope Leo was aware of the extensive celebration.
