As we head into a new year, I was thinking that it would be a good idea to brainstorm/steal ideas that work in other places as friendly suggestions to our owner/FO. Every thread turns into a bitch fest about general investment in players/marketing/game day experience/fireworks/hot dogs etc. So, instead of simply complaining about what is wrong, how about suggestions of what can be right. I was home in KC for Christmas and the footprint of SKC on that community is absolutely amazing. No, it was not a simple new stadium and new name and logo. They have done a lot right and we should liberally steal those ideas where it makes sense. I thought I would start this thread with one thing that I thought was REALLY effective and could probably work here as well. As always, when I close in on the metro area on I-35 or I-70, I begin frantically looking for a radio station . . . ANY radio station that isn't complete crap. In the past, this has been fruitless. This trip, we came across 96.5 The Buzz. Basically the same play list as Alt Nation on Sirius XM. http://www.965thebuzz.com/ Click on the link and check out the banner. Boulevard Beer and SKC, including an SKC scarf wrapped around a Boulevard beer. When you listen, a few times every hour, they are on with something like: Coming to you live from the Sporting KC studio, 96.5 brought to you by Boulevard beer. I have no idea how much they pay for this. I know that Cadillac sponsors the WMVP Studio. But in my mind, its a brilliant use of marketing money. Tying up the SKC brand with the most popular radio station in the 18-35 market (and as a bonus with the most popular beer in town.) I do listen to XM when I am in town, so I'm not even sure what station would work. I still listen to XRT when I do listen to FM but I'm not sure if that demographic is too old. Nevertheless, its probably not that expensive in the grand scheme of things and beautifully markets to the perfect demographic multiple times every hour. Just that mention is something that really builds brand awareness. So there you have it. Let's have other ideas of how we can do things better. They can be stolen (like mine) or original. Mine is marketing, but it can be anything from training facilities to game day programs to recruiting foreign players. What I don't want to see this thread turn into is complaints about what we currently do. Let's just assume that there are many things that can be done better.
God, I wish we still had neg rep. Can we please try to keep this thread in the spirit it is intended. There are hundreds of threads we can hate on Andy or complain about Pause. I might be naive, but I believe we can actually have a constructive conversation about good ideas to make our club better regardless of ownership.
That's more like it. Wow. There really isn't a good alternative station outside of XRT, is there? Well, there is a niche for you. We could look into an English, a Spanish and a Polish language station as well.
I would pick Revolution, it is from Chicago, and they already sell have sold it Toyota Park. However, I would be happy, happy, happy with 3 Floyds.
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Chicago&state=IL http://www.wbig1280.com/
On that second link, there are a ton of college and even a high school station. They have pretty limited reach, but if college is the way it was back in the day, they would have a pretty dedicated following of good, potential targets.
Damn, I was thinking there was something like this but my memory failed. A merge would be appropriate.
I don't think these radio banners will do anything positive in this market. I do think a radio broadcast in English and Polish should be available again like it was in the early 2000s. Maybe have it broadcast in Toyota Park near the vendors like WGN Radio is in Wrigley.
It's not the web banners as much as the on air mentions several times an hour. Broadcasting live from the Chicago Fire Studio in downtown Chicago, this is XRT Chicago.
IT would have to be the Chicago Fire soccer team studios or something to that effect. Or else people would get confused with the television show on NBC. I also don't think it will make much a difference.
Maybe mix the messages too and add players names and Fire lore. Using phrases like "Chicago Fire Studio", "Headquarters", "Ring of Fire" broadcasting from "Mike Magee's living room", "Sparky's doghouse", etc.
Either is fine, and I am actually serious that a partnership with one of the top area craft brewers would be a very smart move.The Fire could invest in a small brewing facility with a canning line-they put up that investment cost into Toyota-then the brewer comes in and makes a one of kind product -like for 3 Floyds a variation of their popular Gumballhead.The 2-3 million initial investment would really be a marketing line item -the Fire wouldnt see any wholesale or retail profit outside of Toyota, but the ability to place brand awareness on every single 16 oz can-could do the schedule on it every spring or rotate the schedule in 2 month blocks to keep it more eye attracting.There are a host of quality local brewers in the Chicago area, Revolution and 3Floyds pop out as the top. I Mean think about it "Old Firehouse #10 ". brewed @ Toyota Park in partnership with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club"
It would have to be a really good beer in a stadium that is already over-saturated with beer selections. Last time I went to a match I remember there was a Tecate Beer guy a Modelo Beer guy, and a Corona Beer guy who passed by my isle all before the 40th minute. It was bizarre.
the idea isnt so much in stadium selection, its about partnering with a quality brewer and getting your brand in their hand .The in stadium brewery is really about giving the small area brewer the option to add an additional product without having to reduce their current sales as most have very limited production capacity.A 15 BBL line with a small canning operation could likely be setup in the 2 million range-the Fire would own the brewery equipment but would lease it out on marketing/branding rights.So something like a 5 year agreement with someone like Revolution , you would get your schedule and brand in front of a million potential customers over the year (a 15BBL system would generate about that many cans of beer).The potential customers would likely be of a key demographic that is highly prized by marketers.
Lagunitas. They're moving into Chicago in a huge way. I always wanted the Fire to have a beer branded for them and available at the team store.
But it would be counter-productive to have an in house beer if no one is purchasing it due to the other millions of beer selections. So it better not taste like crap.
Put it in cans and sell six packs at the the store. If it were an actual good beer people would go to the store and pick it up on non game days.
WPNA Polish AM radio is a brokered station and would do just about anything if the price is right. Just depends on what the Fire is willing to spend and how good their staff is at negotiating.
exactly, thats my point.you partner with someone who makes a quality product with built in distribution.you then get your brand and identity in most quality Chicago area bars and liquor stores.I personally think that kind of marketing is something that would have longterm residual benefits.The 2 mil upfront is hefty but the longterm would equal out and the cost would be minimal for the club.Also thy could always sell the equipment 5 years down the line if it didnt work to plan (which I think it would)