I’m bringing up a topic I wrote about on my Fox sports blog. Timeout, and also because I’m going to see the revamped Metro, er, Red Bulls next week in a Brand-strava-ganza with Shakira and Wyclef at halftime. You can read my original post to set the stage.How far should brands really go in sponsoring something they think will connect with consumers? With the 50,000 kid-friendly events they have scheduled for this game, it’ll be interesting to see if any of it has an effect. For the more diehard fans of the game like me, it won’t. Simply because it doesn’t do anything to promote aspects of the game itself. Instead, these events make it more fun to attend a game.
And that’s a two-fold problem for MLS and Red Bull, (and brands in general). For MLS, until they do things to build grassroot interest that get kids playing soocer in the same manner our generation picked up a ball and glove, their efforts will be misguided. For brands, they can’t just throw cool t-shirts at kids and think their work is done.
I’d like Red Bull to sponsor these teams from Sierra Leone, for they are truly dedicated to the sport. That is what true passion for this sport is all about, and brands need to respect that. You don’t need halftime shows.
Tags: advertising, brands, Red Bull, soccer, sports
4 comments:
this isn't so much a comment on the post as the fact that i fucking love your blog and all of the links on it. keep it up, i check every day. and give some more info about your film!
Cool, thanks. As far as the other film project, yeah, as it gets tighter and more 'legalized' I'll be able to say more. Right now, I need to chill out on releasing details just yet.
:cough: Go F.C. Dallas :cough:
I definitely agree that grassroots is one of the best ways to promote the sport and the MLS. I also agree that having a bunch of pop stars will certainly not improve the game, but I think you are too quick to discredit Red Bull. This is the united states, not the rest of the world, teams need to have "other" forms of entertainment to bring in the casual fan. Hopefully some day we will not. Also do not forget that Red Bull spent around 100million dollars on this team. Not to exploit the game but to help keep the potential and growth of the MLS going. It may not be as passionate as the rest of the world but it has only been a major league for 10 years. It is companies like Red Bull that will help keep the teams in areas where there are already established fans instead of moving them around all the time like the Houston Dynamo (san jose). Plus, I think the red bull logo is kind of cool.
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