Julie Foudy Sponsorship Deal With Bud Light

[Thomas Flannigan]

I wonder if anyone has any information about this sponsorship deal. During the MLS game of the week on Saturday, I saw a Bud Light ad that was rather remarkable. Two yuppie couples are seated in a restaurant, and one of the guys looks at one of the women and say: "Is it just me, or have you put on weight." The guy's girlfriend or putative wife kicks him though a plate glass window. The waitron appears and asks who ordered the Bud Light. The guy lying amid the broken glass raises his hand and the voiceover goes: "Bud Light, proud spnson of Julie Foudy and the U.S. National Women's Team."
This sounds like a rock group where the guitarist demanded top billing. But it could be because Bud Light has sponsored both for awhile. I remember a Bud Light ad where a male doctor is testing Ms. Foudy's knee reflex and she kicks him across the room.
It is an unusual ad. Commercials usually make the person buying the product appear happier, sexier, more popular, whatever. I can't remember a commercial where buying the product gets you kicked through a plate glass window.
Christian fundamentalist groups and feminist groups have been up in arms about increasingly lewd beer commercials, so this may have something to do with it too.

[Red Card]

This ad certainly does not appeal to men. So it is appealing to women beer drinkers. What percent of beer drinkers are women? It's been my impression that the great majority of women just don't like beer.

[Thomas Flannigan]

Good point. That occurred to me too but I forgot to mention it. Very few women drink beer and very few women watch MLS broadcasts. It seems to be a rather odd way to increase sales of Bud Light. I think there are other reasons for this ad.

[pething101]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
Good point. That occurred to me too but I forgot to mention it. Very few women drink beer and very few women watch MLS broadcasts. It seems to be a rather odd way to increase sales of Bud Light. I think there are other reasons for this ad.

And what are those other reasons, Thomas?

[GoDC]

That is Julie Foudy who kicks the guy through the window. Pretty funny if you ask me but I do prefer the cat fight between the girls at the soccer game where the goalie watches and allows the winning goal to score. I think that one is only hsown on Galavision.

[Lanky134]

http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9712/26/seinfeld.influence/kramer.jpg

Elaine: Ok, why? Why do guys do this? What is so appealing to men about a cat fight?

Kramer: Yeye cat fight!

Jerry: Because men think if women are grabbing and clawing at each other there's a chance they might somehow kiss.

[Thomas Flannigan]

Actually, I think the "cat fight" commercial originated on U.S. TV and it was so popular that they did a Spanish version, which is indeed shown on Galavision. There have been a number of articles about feminist groups and right-wing Christian groups who want the beer companies to pull such ads. The problem is, they seem to be effective in selling beer. I don't see how this Bud Light commercial will sell much beer.

[monster]

Mr. Flannigan, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[GoDC]

While there are some men who like to see women fighting women, there are other men who like to be dominated by women. I do not knwo the precentage of beer drinkers who watch MLS and enjoy being dominated by women, but Anheuser Busch must have done a survey and found out that they can sell their product to this market. That and Julie Foudy is HOT

[Thomas Flannigan]

I have seen lots of commercials in my life but never one where buying the product nearly gets you killed. Usually, consuming the product is depicted as a way of being more popular or cool. Also, is this a new contract for "Julie Foudy and the U.S. National Women's Team?" This would also be a first. I am not aware of any sponsorships such as "Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs." Club sponsors and individual sponsors usually do not overlap like this, no matter how great the star is.

[SpongeBobSquarePants]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
Actually, I think the "cat fight" commercial originated on U.S. TV and it was so popular that they did a Spanish version, which is indeed shown on Galavision. There have been a number of articles about feminist groups and right-wing Christian groups who want the beer companies to pull such ads. The problem is, they seem to be effective in selling beer. I don't see how this Bud Light commercial will sell much beer.

I thought the ad was a good one, that may in fact be geared toward women, but is amusing to both sexes. Beer commercials don't really do things to convince you to buy their product. They are there for continual presence in your mind.

I don't understand why you don't think it will help sell beers. Did you not think the commercial funny?

[TOTC]

What about the Foudy & Chastain takeoff on Starsky & Hutch?

"Take that, jive turkey!"

[skipshady]

The basic rule of thumb when it comes to advertising is, if you don't get it, then you're not the target audience.

I have no idea what went on at the planning meetings with Annheuser-Busch and the ad agency, but my guess is that the commercial is targeted at the much coveted demo of males 25 to 34 with moderate to moderate/high income, some college education or more and the ability to understand tongue in cheek humor.

[SpongeBobSquarePants]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
I have seen lots of commcercial in my life but never one where buying the product nearly gets you killed.

Unlike the beer commercial where the guy goes flying onto the silk sheet bed and then goes flying out the window? I'm sure there are a lot more like that.

[Scoey]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
I wonder if anyone has any information about this sponsorship deal. During the MLS game of the week on Saturday, I saw a Bud Light ad that was rather remarkable. Two yuppie couples are seated in a restaurant, and one of the guys looks at one of the women and say: "Is it just me, or have you put on weight." The guy's girlfriend or putative wife kicks him though a plate glass window. The waitron appears and asks who ordered the Bud Light. The guy lying amid the broken glass raises his hand and the voiceover goes: "Bud Light, proud spnson of Julie Foudy and the U.S. National Women's Team."
This sounds like a rock group where the guitarist demanded top billing. But it could be because Bud Light has sponsored both for awhile. I remember a Bud Light ad where a male doctor is testing Ms. Foudy's knee reflex and she kicks him across the room.
It is an unusual ad. Commercials usually make the person buying the product appear happier, sexier, more popular, whatever. I can't remember a commercial where buying the product gets you kicked through a plate glass window.
Christian fundamentalist groups and feminist groups have been up in arms about increasingly lewd beer commercials, so this may have something to do with it too.

Do you have a point?

And, for the record, the commercial does not imply that buying Bud Light gets you kicked through a window. He gets the beer after he's been kicked through the window.

I do agree that it is strange that the sponsorship is for Foudy and the rest of the team. But, how many sponorships are there of National Teams, as opposed to league team? I'm sure that has much to do with it.

[GoDC]

It is called TV. It is not real life. Someone would not really almost get killed just to order a Bud Light. Just as a man would not be able to clean his whole house with one sheet of Brawny papertowels and thus miss watching the big game. Also a dude would not butt heads with an elk (?) just to get one can of Mountain Dew back.

The guy told Julie to kick him under the table if he said something stupid. he said something stupid, she kicked him. Due to her being a world class soccer player, that kick propelled him into the air and through the window. It is a joke.

Others at home mus trealize that I have a 6 year old so I am used to explaining the difference between real life and TV. Since some people here visit reality so rarely, I will try to provide a similar service. Just my opinion.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
I have seen lots of commercials in my life but never one where buying the product nearly gets you killed.

Ever see an ad for a car that's going over the speed limit?

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by Scoey
I do agree that it is strange that the sponsorship is for Foudy and the rest of the team. But, how many sponorships are there of National Teams, as opposed to league team? I'm sure that has much to do with it.

The NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB have Collective Bargaining Agreements which prohibit active athletes from endorsing alcoholic beverages.

[Thomas Flannigan]

Beer commercials normally exist to sell the product. It is called capitalism.
It is mildly funny, but I must admit that beer commercials are not the place to look for fine art. The "Julie Foudy and the U.S. National Team" is what struck me more. I think Nike sponsors the Brazilian National Team AND Ronaldo. You see a lot of ads in foreign countries for both. But I have never seen a "Ronaldo and the Brazilian National Team" ad, even though he is one of the top players in the world. Julie Foudy is not one of the best players on the USWNT.

[Anthony]

Originally posted by Red Card
This ad certainly does not appeal to men. So it is appealing to women beer drinkers. What percent of beer drinkers are women? It's been my impression that the great majority of women just don't like beer.

FIrst off, BUd Light has been a long time sponsor of women's soccer (I guess they feel women drink more light beer than men).

Second, I found the ad very funny.

Thrid, it did not make me want to buy Bud Light, mostly becasue, their MLS and US Soccer sponsorship notwitstanding, I do not like Bud.

Fourth, my wife likes beer and drinks it when not pregnant.