foundphotoslj Funeral

What's the next fad in giveaways sweeping minor league ballparks across the nation? Duh. It's a free funeral.

Days after the Lake County Captains (the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) announced they were giving away a funeral prize package worth $6,000 complete with a basic casket and a vault in August, the Grand Prairie AirHogs have joined the fray.

The independent league team will beat the Lake County Captains to the punch, giving away a free funeral to a lucky--or unlucky fan--at tonight's game. Unlike the Captains, the AirHogs will be covering the burial plot (Oak Grove Memorial Gardens in Irving, Texas).

The Chapel of Roses Funeral home is the other partner in the deal.

"We thought this promotion was a great opportunity for us to showcase Irving's newest funeral home," said the home's director Charlotte Chism Waldrum, in a statement.

The fan will win a certificate for the casket with a choice of color, along with burial preparation, use of facilities and vehicle services. The burial plot will include a 24-by-14 inch granite marker with a zinc base. Fans of all ages, the team says, can participate in the promotion.

Some of the in-game festivities tonight will include pallbearer races, mummy wrapping and eulogy deliveries. And, while they're at it, fans are encouraged to wear black to the game!

Questions?  Comments?