Sunday, March 19, 2006
Red Bulls 1, Old Marketing 0
When Red Bull bought the MetroStars, they trumpted their purchase with a claim that they were going to do things that have never been seen before in MLS. They were going to blow the fans away with their plans. My reaction was twofold... 1) I hope they don't go on a spending spree that ends up bankrupting an already shaky financial league and 2) yeah right, everyone says they'll do things differently but I'll believe it when I see it.
Well, my second concern seems to be alleviated...at least for now. In an unprecedented move (and smart, I might add) the Red Bulls will pay for any of their fans to watch their season-opener against DC United in the Nation's capital. They'll charter buses, they'll buy the tickets, they'll throw a tailgate party...the whole works. The idea sounds brilliant. In essence, the Red Bulls need to recruit fans, and lots of them, and this gives them the fan's ear for 12 straight hours on a weekend. Sure it won't be cheap, but they'll also receive a lot of press for the team. And, any press that they receive, helps not only the team but sales of their energy drink. That, right there, is the Red Bulls' advantage. The soccer team may lose money year in and year out, but if that's more than offset by a rise in sales of their products, no problem. No other team benefits from such calculus.
It should be an interesting year in New York!
Also...word out of the East Cost is that MLS will announce an second team in New Jersey, this one right outside of Philly, tomorrow. No one is quite sure if this will be an expansion team or the new home of the Kansas City Wizards, perhaps. Or maybe this is all just a rumor. We'll see...
Well, my second concern seems to be alleviated...at least for now. In an unprecedented move (and smart, I might add) the Red Bulls will pay for any of their fans to watch their season-opener against DC United in the Nation's capital. They'll charter buses, they'll buy the tickets, they'll throw a tailgate party...the whole works. The idea sounds brilliant. In essence, the Red Bulls need to recruit fans, and lots of them, and this gives them the fan's ear for 12 straight hours on a weekend. Sure it won't be cheap, but they'll also receive a lot of press for the team. And, any press that they receive, helps not only the team but sales of their energy drink. That, right there, is the Red Bulls' advantage. The soccer team may lose money year in and year out, but if that's more than offset by a rise in sales of their products, no problem. No other team benefits from such calculus.
It should be an interesting year in New York!
Also...word out of the East Cost is that MLS will announce an second team in New Jersey, this one right outside of Philly, tomorrow. No one is quite sure if this will be an expansion team or the new home of the Kansas City Wizards, perhaps. Or maybe this is all just a rumor. We'll see...
