Pretty frank stuff for a team's own website. I really liked that each of them had a tough question and answered it pretty honestly.
Interesting that they all mentioned Heaps. We tend to dismiss him on this board, but three of the big 5 (SJ, TT, SR, MP, MR) seem to feel that he is important.
Theres a reason they all mentioned heaps, it looks to me like he is the motivational force the team. With that said, I don't think that there is another team out there with more heart then the revs!
I like it. This is the type of ad campaign they should be doing....sadly hardly anyone who's not already a fan will see it.
Exactly. How great would this be in the papers, Boston.com sports section, or on the Providence-Stoughton line?
I believe so, although I imagine there are exceptions for those who already have tickets to the game.
It's tough to say, how do you measure heart? I'd love this to be a TV commercial that they're going to start showing in the Boston area in the next couple of weeks. Ha, I made a funny!
My head still hurts, the surgical wound is healing well and I can walk with help. SO, I intend to be at the next match, which they'd better _ _ _ _ ing WIN
I really like the new section. I think it will make people more excited about the players. It's nice to see them try new things on the website.
I heard a quick, "Revolution secures playoff spot" blurb during morning sports on WBZ 1030am today. That was the total report. Kraft and the Revolution really need to put this out on the airwaves, imagine what the response would be? Most of the 300 people I work with don't even know there is a professional soccer team here.
I don't know if it's a negative reaction. The problem is if you're marketing on your site, in general, the only people coming there are fans anyway. It's kinda like marketing for people to buy tickets while they're showing Revs away games. In general, the people who are watching the away games probably have tickets already (see the ratings for proof). Every little bit helps, I just know I'd rather see an ad like this out in the mainstream, not just their own site.
Only problem with it isn't the content, it's the half-assed presentation. I didn't go to school for marketing but it seems to be less-than-productive if the only people you advertise to are the people who already know about you. The team is already low on the totem and now that we're in Soxtober that position falls even farther down. An ad like this shown on TV (*gasp*) during NESN's post or pregame coverage would, I think, work wonders. And before anybody says how expensive that would be let me tell you lower-league teams do it. The Long Island Rough Riders of the PDL advertise during Mets games and the Timbers do it during Mariners games. We already know they want the Cup. We want it too. Tell New England they want it. EDIT: I mentioned this on the Revs' blog and got a response. Take the their last sentence as you will.
"we just found out yesterday that we were officially in the playoffs." Doh! I think that for a team with serious title ambitions, making the playoffs would be a given. We ain't Tronna or the Fake Lake where just being there would be like Uzbekistan qualifying for a World Cup. We'll see if this ad sees the light of day. Interesting that the Lawn Guylin Rough Riders advertise on Mets games--I never would have thunk that. That's the problem in a nutshell about MLS and US Soccer prmotion as a whole--most of the time the only place you see ads are on FSC or other soccer games. The people you are reaching are already fans and likely already know about the WC Quallies coming up.
I pretty much agree. The Offside Rules blog (http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2008/10/ooooh-revs-want-cup-gotta-have-that-cup.html#links) drew my attention to it and Brad Feldman also hinted at it on Revolution Recap. Hopefully more blogs and other sites pick up on it too. It might not be the most effective campaign at the moment but it could help sway people to come to the game instead of watch it on TV. "Football. Futbol. Soccer." is the new marketing strategy of the MLS. It tries to draw in soccer fans who otherwise wouldn't pay attention to the MLS for various reasons. They tried targeting general sports fans and decided that wasn't the best idea. Personally I think the Revolution's ads in the Sports section of the Boston Herald still target general sports fans though, as soccer fans probably wouldn't be going to the Herald for their soccer news.