Any word if the front office has anything special planned to get the word out about the playoff game? Print, radio, tv? I'm still waiting for the 'Striker Liker' bumper stickers...
Have you talked to any of the Striker FO folks at the games? They are actually quite approachable & quite willing to listen to any ideas you may have (no guarantees they'll do what you'll ask, but they will listen......). Maybe you could convince them that that bumper sticker should be part of the season ticket package. For the playoff game on the 15th they may add some $$$ to the advertising budget for that. I expect the emphasis to be in Broward and Palm Beach Counties since the vast majority of the Strikers support comes from there, but most of the major media outlets are in Miami so some $$$ have to be spent there. Just keep in mind that, as a Div 2 team, they do not have an unlimited budget & that prohibits them from doing all the things we, or they, might want them to do. For all of that I had the good fortune of speaking to one of TPTB from the FO Saturday. His promise was that there will be improvement in all areas for next season. He also stated that within 5 years the plans the Strikers have in place will make them *huge*. We'll see about that, since a significant improvement in getting the word out about them is required for them to grow just a bit, maybe a major emphasis will be forthcoming to actually get more fannys in the seats, say 2,000 season tickets for 2012, to happen. That and fan gear - in all it's various forms - would be a worthy investment for them. Especially if it is made available online again. We'll see how all this play out over the next few weeks for this season and the months that follow for next season and the seasons to follow. If nothing else it gives us something to discuss, and bitch about, in the off-season...
One other thing we are forced to keep in our mind's when we start throwing out ideas for the team to market itself better or just more in general, is that Traffic is financially backing three teams. One of those was a last minute emergency as well thanks to the Wellman's picking a less than ideal time to pull out right before the season was ready to start up. I honestly believe we've seen Traffic make the decision to go all in on this team. It just feels different this year. But I think that financial curve ball of having to step into Cary probably hurt the Strikers budgeting as well. What we need is for Traffic to be able to divest itself of at least one team in the short term, and two as soon as feasibly possible. With all their resources poured into just one team, I think they'll be able to do a lot more things we'd like to be seeing now. Ideally what you'd want is to see investors come in for ATL and CAR. But the reality is, if other markets join the league, Traffic can always pull out of those two towns if that is what is necessary for them financially. As for the current playoff run and spreading the word, I think Tim Robbie has to be the key. We know they're not going to spend a lot, especially after the pitiful crowd we had Saturday (didn't even match our season average). What we need is some cost free coverage. We need Tim to call in some favors and get on the local tv and radio stations' sports coverage. Get on with Joe Rose in the morning. Get on with our good friend and fellow Striker Liker Big O in the afternoon. Get Bokamper to do an interview with him and maybe the coach. I think the one place to possibly spend a little would be for an ad in each of the local papers, Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, and Palm Beach Post. At least half a page in each. Papers are so desperate this probably isn't even as expensive as it might once have been.
Now that the NASL final is almost a fact, I would like to see a big crowd at Lockhart on october 15, and I am talking Orlando-numbers
If i'm not mistaken, I think I saw a Strikers playoff ad on the Panthers pre-game show on Fox Sports Florida. It was on mute at Duffy's in West Palm Beach, but it was something definitely about the Strikers.
Two things... Duffy's has the playoff promo that the team cut "These goals got us this far (goal montage, ticket price information, date of game, etc.)" on their in-house channel at their restaurants--I saw it at the Hillsboro location Friday night. For a moment, I thought the team had bought time on a major network, since the tvs on each side were ESPN. Oh well, better than nothing. Also, there was a quick mention of the game at the conclusion of the USMNT game vs. Honduras last night. They even put up the game information on the JumbroTron--for about 10 seconds.
The jumbo tron ad for the 15th was also on before the US game as well. It came with a PA announcement for those that could hear it(in the Outlaws section it was tough to hear anything lol). They also had guys walking around passing out flyers for the semis and selling tickets.
Speaking of advertising... on the way down to SunLife via the turnpike on Saturday, I saw that there was billboard for Miami FC still up. Why hasn't that been taken down and replaced with a Strikers ad I wonder...
There is some kind of legal dispute with the land owner and the guy who owns the billboard space. So I guess that has not been settled and Miami FC's Turnpike Tombstone remains lol.
Ultras pres Pieter Brown took the liberty of creating a retro "Striker Liker" bumper sticker for those looking for one. You can get one for $3.95 on the online store: http://www.zazzle.com/classic_striker_liker_bumper_sticker-128203225665960223 A tiny fraction of the proceeds goes to the supporters.
Not sure if it had been mentioned...there was an LED-light sign on the side of Cypress Blvd before the Edmonton match and I saw a similar one on I-95 north tonight as I tried to avoid the crashed plane on the turnpike near where i work. It basically promotes the $10 ticket price, but I don't recall it saying how to get them. However, I could be mistaken. It was a "two-page" display. I took took a pic, but I don't have my data cable available. LoL at the old Miami Fc billboard. I see it every morning. There is no year on that sign. I wonder if anyone has attempted to attend those summer matches. Haha. Not likely, right?
They usually have one of those traffic sign things out on Commercial Blvd and Cypress Creek Road near Lockhart a few days before each game, promoting the opponent, $10 tix and free parking. I dunno it that's what your talking about Newtbomb.
Sure, the same type. However, since I travel the same way everyday, I noticed the more unusual spots and that they actually say "playoff" tickets. One was between Cheers and I-95 on Cypress (twice I saw that one). The other was actually on northbound I-95 (I forget where exactly...I will check on it again tomorrow.) I am not saying this is particularly impressive marketing, just throwing it out there in relevance to the thread.
I saw the one on northbound I-95 when I went and got my ticket today. I was told there is one both northbound & southbound on I-95 just before the Commercial exits on I-95. Not much, but, within budget, noticeable and, hopefully, effective....
FYI the Strikers were out promoting at the Panthers game last night. They had the big inflatable jersey and were selling tickets(and giving away mini retro NASL balls with a purchase!).
Just received my two bumper stickers from Zazzle...Cruising around town with the red and yellow, baby!!! Right in people's face!!! A captive audience, yes....
The Strikers facebook page just mentioned that CBS' local show, "SportsZone" will have a feature on the Strikers. The show starts at 7 PM, hopefully those interested can set the DVR in the next three minutes or so.
Where can I order FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS gear online? There is no "store" on the strikers homepage??? What?...We are suppose to go all the way down to the stadium? or a physical store way down there... COME ON! I know people all over the USA, South America, Canada and Europe that want strikers gear! jerseys, scarves, t shirts, hats bags,etc etc Same thing with the Puerto Rico Islanders page? No "Store" Maybe we will all just go to the Tampa Bay page and buy their gear from their online store. The STRIKERS should really really really really have a store link on their webpage. Now that is just bad marketing and advertising that they don't. Thanks... (as I wait with my credit card, ready to order tons of stuff)
Come down for the Championship game this Saturday and you can buy all the gear you want. I think the NASL teams are really focusing on embedding themselves with the local fans right now. I do agree that the online store should be up and running, but if your in WPB you should drive down for the final.