Get out the word! (Revolution grassroots media campaign)

The Magpie · Sep 17, 2002

Revolution Grassroots Media Campaign: Get Out The Word!

On Saturday, September 21, 2002 at 7:30 PM (EST) the New England Revolution will be playing in arguably the most important match in club history. The Revolution, riding a five-game unbeaten streak, head into the final regular season match of the year needing only to beat regional rivals Metrostars in order to assure a place in the 2002 MLS Playoffs.

This is a team with our own version of Tom Brady, a player who stands a good shot at winning the league scoring title. It's a match with its own intrigue, former players from Metro playing here in New England, and former Revolution players competing for Metro...

... it's a team that atypicall of New England professional sports franchises, has gained momentum at the end of the season, rather than lost it….

As Revolution supporters we need to make every effort to beat the drum, raise our voices, and get the word out about this match. Several die-hard Revolution supporters are doing their part in buying up extra tickets, bringing friends and acquaintances having not yet experienced a professional soccer match.

If you can't do that there's another way you can help.

This is a match that requires not only the attention of its supporters, but from the media as well. With the Red Sox on the skids and the Bruins and Celtics still outside the media radar screen, the Revolution should for once get equal billing in terms of media exposure… save for the 800-pound Gorilla that are the New England Patriots.

Get out the word. Contact the local broadcast media outlets in Boston and let them know of the interest in this match. Let them know how important this is: the playoff place, the rivalry, the hometown star, the subplots; this is are things ANY New England sports fan can appreciate.

The following is a listing of contact information for the Boston-area broadcast media outlets:

WBZ-TV, Channel 4 (CBS)
Sports Director: Bob Lobel
Blobel@boston.cbs.com

WHDH-TV, Channel 7 (NBC)
Sports Director: Gene Lavanchy
Glavanchy@whdh.com

WLVI-TV, Channel 56 (WB)
Sports Director: Mike Ratte
Mratte@tribune.com

WFXT-TV, Channel 25 (FOX)
Sports Anchor: Butch Stearns
Bstearns@fox25.com

WCVB-TV, Channel 5 (ABC)
Sports Director: Mike Fernandez
Mfernandez@hearst.com

NECN, New England Cable News
Sports Director: Morry Levine
mlevine@necn.com

As fans we should do what we can to let these people know that there is a sports story… a positive sport story right here in New England that doesn't involve the Patriots.

Write these guys, share with them your enthusiasm, show them that there is interest in this match. Tell them about Twellman, tell them how the team's fought back from the brink to earn themselves a shot… tell them we're playing a NY team (c'mon, who's Metro kidding, eh?)

Be positive, show your support, try to make them see the match as you see it.

The Revolution have gotten it done on the pitch here at the end of the season, and we should reward such effort with a commitment of our own.

Get out the word.

-Evan

Rev-eler · Sep 17, 2002

although the revs seem not to care much about marketing this game themselves...

i've sent my letter off to the folks above.

thanks for the emails magpie.

The Magpie · Sep 17, 2002

Well, this is a chance for the Patriots staff to impress and the clock is ticking...

BTW: Just sent my letters as well. Not sure if it'll have any effect, but it feels good doing it.

The Magpie

Jim Dow · Sep 17, 2002

The e mnails are sent and I wonder what the Patties ex's are doing at the moment. Maybe trying to figure how to stir their Creamora into their Mickey D's dayold java?

JIM DOW

The Magpie · Sep 17, 2002

Just FYI: The emails to WBZ and WFXT seem to be bouncing back.

For the first, you might try blobel@wbz.com to see if that may work, if not their phone is 617-787-7000, and fax at 617-254-6383. WFXT can be reached at 781-467-2525, or fax at 781-467-7213.

Just let them know you'd like to see increased coverage this week of the Revolution due to their playoff chances.

-The Magpie

JMMUSA8 · Sep 17, 2002

Mine are sent as well. I explained the scoring sensation and the Revs turnaround, and how it would be a great sports piece. I did all I can do.

Rev-eler · Sep 17, 2002

i've actually had bob lobel respond to an email i sent last year from the following address:

BALOBEL@BOSTON.CBS.COM

try it if the others aren't working. the only one that's come back for me so far is stearns'.

JMMUSA8 · Sep 17, 2002

Anything on Butch Stearns?

swissman · Sep 17, 2002

I'm pretty sure Stearns doesn't like soccer.... not really a huge fan of that guy... reminds me of a local version of Jim Rome.

Rev-eler · Sep 17, 2002

stearns used to do radio for the revs when his station carried the games. he's willing to talk soccer...i've done it with him recently on the radio. although, he though he "brought passion to the revs-cast"...in his words. i told him "no comment"

patfan1 · Sep 17, 2002

I sent out an email to all of the ones mentioned. I tried to copy Steve Burton on the letter to Lobel, as he was at the Over Draught for the viewing of US/Germany ... but both emails @wbz.com bounced. I did try sending them to @wbz4.com and haven't received a bounce yet ....

Monty

The Magpie · Sep 17, 2002

Hey, we can only try...

-The Magpie

Fiero20 · Sep 17, 2002

i too, sent out my letters to each of the above listed. i will be unable to attend the game, i regret this, for i know it will be a great match. when i come home sunday night, (we have 2 games in VT this weekend) i will be filled with joy (hopefully) because we won both games, but more importantly the revs spanked the mutts, with twellman capturing not only the scoring title, but the MVP.

sandman012 · Sep 17, 2002

For you Providence area folk:

Scott Cordishi, 790 the score, 3-7ish host
scott@scoreamfm.com

John Crowe, 790 the score, executive producer
john.crowe@citcomm.com

Art Martone, Providence Journal (I have no idea what their soccer coverage has been like lately, but worth a shot)

amartone@projo.com

I couldnt find Providence TV sports dudes email addresses on their websites, but they've always shown Revs highlights when I looked for them.

Rev-eler · Sep 17, 2002

btw...i'll call 1510 "the zone" tonight if mcdonough is there and see if i can't get a little free advertising in.

maybe i'll take the tack...
"if you want to see a team play with the heart you only wish the sox had and you can't afford the patriots live and you are a true sports fan (regardless if you understand" soccer or not)"

AndyMead · Sep 17, 2002

What about that guy who used to cover the Revs for the Providence Journal. Doug something. Anyone got an email on him? I bet he could help.

Popero · Sep 17, 2002

I sent an e-mail to the Sports Guy.

RevsSoccerFan · Sep 17, 2002

Originally posted by AndyMead
What about that guy who used to cover the Revs for the Providence Journal. Doug something. Anyone got an email on him? I bet he could help.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you mean Doug Chapman. He is now the color commentator for Revs TV broadcasts. I'm sure he'll help out if he can.

As for me, I'll write something and send it out asap.

Rev-eler · Sep 17, 2002

good man monty.

i got back to late from the dog walk to call but got there just in time to hear you come on (1510 "the zone"). as soon as you said you wanted to make a comment and then a plug....i knew it was you and where you were headed. i started to get a bit worried though that sean may cut you off before you got a chance to get the revs plug in. i'll try to make a pitch for it tomorrow as well. hopefully, sean will try to get heaps into the station this week. he said he's got 2 friends on the squad....who's the other?

sandman012 · Sep 17, 2002

Originally posted by Rev-eler
maybe i'll take the tack...
"if you want to see a team play with the heart you only wish the sox had and you can't afford the patriots live and you are a true sports fan (regardless if you understand" soccer or not)"
Click to expand...

That's what they say about women's basketball.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Jim Dow · Sep 17, 2002

I just checked my e mail and, lo and behold, there was an extremely interesting note from Bob Lobel saying that my arguements for supporting the Revs were the most cogent he had ever read and that he was going to try to find ways to squeeze in the stories I had suggested over the week.

Whether or not that pans out, I certainly appreciate his taking the time to answer as well as the contents of his reply.

So keep at it folks.

GO REVS

JIM DOW

Tea Men Tom · Sep 17, 2002

For what it's worth, when the Revs were last in the playoffs I heard Lobel being interviewed on some radio station (can't remember which, it may have been EEI) talking about the growing interest in the Revs and soccer in general.

Like him or not, Lobel is pretty tuned in to the entire local scene. That may be one reason he's been around for so long.

Weber King · Sep 18, 2002

Hey all

Just to let you know your efforts are paying off. Lobel made a wicked big mention of the game, referring to it as "the biggest game in Revolution history" on the 6:00pm sports report.

Keep up the good work!

- Jon

The Magpie · Sep 18, 2002

Yeah!

The Magpie

Owlsfan · Sep 18, 2002

Magpie:

Just wanted to thank you for posting the emails of the local sports media.... I did send off an email to each requesting more coverage.