Have you, or have you not bent over fohttps://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=8016r a product placement?
there are 2 schools of thought 1) hardcore fans - i hate red bull, i hate corporate ownership, i'll never watch the team/ go to the stadium/ buy a red bull drink 2) everyone else (myself included): i love soccer and i love my local team. i love the brand new stadium that was built. i support my team (whether or not i buy their products, and full disclosure i can't say that i buy red bull any more or less than a few years ago before they bought the team). i could give a sh!t about any of the following: - product placement during games - product placement on my jersey - product placement in the arena as long as: - i have a beautiful new arena i can call home - i have a competent team (coach, players, management) that is making decisions that will hopefully lead to a championship seriously, unless phillip morris bought the team, or a warlord from somalia became the chief investor, who cares who or what the owner is? we go to the stadium to watch soccer and have fun.
It's this seemingly conditional acceptance that keeps the debate going. If everyone just stated upfront that they know they are supporting a marketing strategy and that they either hate it, love it, or don't care all this yang-yang would go away.
Well said, bukie2k. The socio-political arguments that are made in this dialog are generally so flawed that it is best to just ignore them! That said: I left a comment at the blog post (because I can't resist a good debate!).
I'd rather have a discussion about Seattle Sounders bandwagon fans and whether they'll still bother to show up once the team hits their inevitable downturn in our salary capped league. Discuss.
Red Bull Arena is being recieved by local soccer fans as a Godsend, and is already considered the finest building of its kind in North America. Time will tell if the club will produce results, but this year at least the fans can sense that the tide is turning with better management, and a true bond between supporters and the players is being created. Like with the curious name Real Salt Lake, Red Bull NY can mean something new and exciting that brings to mind the exploits and hopefully winning ways of guys like Petke, Angel, Lindpere, Woly, Ream, Richards,etc, and the image of an energy drink will be the last thing that anyone thinks of down the line. The Red Bull hate is dying, because people are beginning to understand that Red Bull as an organization wants champions, and they will spare no expense to get them. I am no motorsports guy, but my basic knowledge leads me to believe that they have pumped big cash into all forms of speed competitions, producing fine results. They built that orange haired Olympic Gold snowboard kid a $500K mountainside practice hill. Their soccer teams in Europe have been well-financed I believe, winning some hardware. Marketing strategy, of course, but for fans of the sports fine entertainment. Loss of soul? In this overly corporatized world, not so much anymore. In soccer, where adverts adorn almost every kit, and the name of the EPL is actually called Barclay's EPL, who cares anymore, really? Isn't it obvious that now that RBA is finally here tight-fisted MLS owners are willing to add a second DP post World Cup to capitalize on the deep pockets of NY, LA, Seattle and maybe TFC? They want NY to be a success in the worst way, so they have logically concluded that the time is right for the next step to be taken, and all of MLS will benefit by bigger attendance figures, more press, higher TV ratings, better play and raised sponsorship fees if say Henry and/or Raul came to NY. Red Bull is great for MLS.
I think the atmosphere last night should put to rest the ideas that people won't come to see FC Energy Drink. I spoke to a lot of people that had never been to a soccer game before and were enthralled. What's the price really? Red Bull logos on our jerseys? It's not that much different from thinking of Chelsea as FC Samsung - and it sure beats being AIG United. Red Bull as a drink is kinda gross, but it does have its place. The organization hasn't been perfect, but whatever's getting that awesome stadium I'll take it!
Newcomers at the game last night didn't seem to be putoff by the Red Bull logo on merchandise. Jerseys, hats, scarves, fleeces, etc. were flying off the shelves. There was a massive line out of the Bullshop by the end of the match. By the way, I tried that new Red Bull Cola at the game and it's pretty decent. It kind of tastes like RC Cola.
Seattle Sounders: The Microsoft Team. Xbox360 Field? Xbox 360 on the jerseys? Yeah, there's a big difference between that and Red Bull Anyone who thinks Red Bulls' commitment to the team is just marketing isn't thinking clearly. IS it marketing? Sure. But JUST marketing? You're crazy. You don't bring in coaches and players and a $250 million stadium just to push a crappy drink. Coke would have done that years ago, if that's true (Or McDonald's, or Microsoft...oh, wait...) Look, product placement is a part of soccer. Every team is owned by people trying to sell something and make money. Every team (well, nearly) has sponsors on their jerseys. And in their stadium. Etc. To me, that takes nothing away from my excitement and my loyalty to the team.
Or Bethlehem Steel or Clark's ONT - teams being named after a company are really a throwback to the roots of American Soccer Football!
Well said, kahlva. I agree. Red Bull is clearly committed to success at every level in all their investments. They have done a great job with RBNY. This notion that one corporate name is better than another corporate name is absurd. C'mon, the last name was Metrostars, named after MetroMedia. How was that better? Just move on. Our team is owned by Red Bull and they are also our jersey sponsor and they own our stadium, and they are doing a perfectly good job.
I left this comment on his blog: Seems to me like you are linking to an article that is factually wrong. Red Bull would NOT have to do any such strike busting move as indicated in the article for the mere fact that the Santos game was scheduled to happen BEFORE THE STRIKE. In other words, the players would go on strike AFTER the game was in the record books. As for product placement, I hardly see how anyone can call Red Bull a "Very Bad Product", given the fact that it has generated enough money to build the Red Bull empire. Seems to me that the Red Bull bashing comes from folks who resent the success of the product and its marketing. And don't go trying to sell me on the dangers to health. Sorry, but any number of alcoholic beverage companies have killed way more people through product neglegence (drunk driving and alcohol poisoning) and have had far worse long term health effects (liver, kidney and heart disease) than Red Bull would ever cause. Yet, no-one is outraged if a beer company puts a logo on a jersey that a 10 year-old may wear. So spare me the bandwagon jumping on of your Red Bull Bashing. If you feel guilty for liking what Red Bull has done for MLS, go see a therapist. You have issues. Me, I'm fine with everything Red Bull brings, guilt-free.
"It's good because it's popular and makes money. It makes money because it's popular and good." Gotta love it.
Please highlight one sentence in my post where I said the product was good. Don't misquote me. I said if the product was so bad, why does it sell so much? The judgement on whether or not the product is good is left to the individual consumer. I might not think the product is good, but that doesn't make it a bad product. BTW - I have been known to order the occasional sugar free Red Bull, but I hardly can be considered a regular consumer. Of course, if you are trying for the whole good vs evil angle, it's an inamimate object. Inaminate objects are only evil in Harry Potter books.
Didn't we have 5 threads like this already since RBNY took over? This topic is getting damn old (and why are we responding to a f***ing troll?) and made to seem even older now that it is obvious that Red Bull waited to unleash all its fan support, advertsising and promotion until their new stadium was ready to go? I also was sceptical about their motives, especially last year, but that has all been laid to rest after seeing their new stadium and the new mentality the FO has exhibited this season. You can also see it in the way the players are playing...
Well if we had some moderators with an ounce of tolerance that the Scum United moderators had, this would not happen