Last night the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Dallas Stars were eliminated from the first round of the NHL playoffs a couple of weeks ago. The Texas Rangers are out of contention one month into the MLB season. The Dallas Cowboys training camp is a couple of months away. The opportunity to capture the attention of the sports viewing public of the metroplex is there for the taking. I am interested to see if HSG will seize the moment and increase their exposure in the market over the next two months, or if they will continue to operate on auto-pilot. They may never have a better opportunity to establish their brand like they have right now.
Good thing this opportunity coincides with the team playing like crap and throwing generally unwatchable performances.
I have a thought along these lines. do we have any actual numbers on what kind of crossover there is between NFL fans, MLB fans, NBA fans, and NHL fans? how many people actually care about, follow, and attend more than one on a regular basis? I've always had some doubts about marketing to the "sports fan" audience, just like I have doubts about marketing to the soccer mom audience.
5.5 games is hardly out of it. If they continue to play like they are then they will be out of it soon but 5.5 games can be made up in one hot week.
RSL has yet to show me anything to prove that they have changed. That may change with Kreis but I doubt it will. RSL looks like they are way behind the rest of the west. They may be able to jump over one team but I doubt that they will be able to jump over two. And that is assuming that the East doesnt get 5 playoff spots. There is no way RSL will finish 3rd. Also we are talking about two totally different sports here. If RSL had 126 more games to turn their season around then I wouldn't be so quick to claim them dead. I realize that they have only really played like 15% of their games but their next four games are against the top two teams in both conferences and their schedule never really gets any easier.
There is no chance for FCD to get generate nore interest in the sport the way they play. I have been to two games so far and their performance has been a disgrace to the sport. You are not going to win fans over with such a showing. I rather continue spending my money travelling to Europe to see top flight football than to go to Pizza Hut Park and see what I have seen the last few weeks. I have been twice to PHP and I have seen a poor spectacle both on the field and in the stands. The team lacks character and organizations. the fans ( they are none except the infernos ) are pathetic and do not care about football but food and drinks. There is attendance but they are all walking aroud stuffing their faces and completly uneducated about the game. FC Toronto despites its tough start is showing character and have real fans... Our marketing is terrible ( fireworks and Clai Aitkens for the 4th of July ). You are going to fill the stadium but no one will care about the team or the game . ... ). This is what you want for the future of football....
to EUROFAN: I've read two of your posts so far and they've been very annoying and consist of the oft-stated obvious, but in a rather rude way. there is no chance that they will generate nore interest from me. I rather continue spending my time reading Ze Bill's posts, and that says something.
I was there last night. The Rangers are D-O-N-E with this current lineup. They have a good infield. But the rest of it is crap. Of course, I still enjoy going to the games (Its still baseball, and I'm a season ticket holder, doncha know), but I have no expectations of success.
Mike Young isn't going to hit .198 the rest of the season. Tex seems to be getting a little hot and Sammy has been better than expected. If the hitters can turn it on like we know they can (they do have track records). Then they wont be done for a while. I am sure that Astros fans thought their team was done a few years ago when they were 15 games back at the all-star break but they went to the World Series so you cant say the Rangers are done yet. Rangers fans are way to pessimistic. I guess it comes from the years and years of losing but I am the other way around I get really pessimistic about teams that I expect to win (Mavs) than I do about teams I don't (Rangers). And much like you I will still go to Rangers games if they are 50 games up or 50 games back. I love baseball and find nothing more enjoyable then going to the Ballpark. Sorry for all the baseball talk.
I don't think the Metroplex sports gods are smiling at any team. First FCD then the Cowboys, Stars and now Mavericks have made the playoffs and lost in the first round. The Rangers may turn out to be one of those occasional horrendous teams that flirts with losing 100 games. Is there some curse out there that we forgot about? Oh yeah now I remember the Sea Hag planning a parade for the Mavericks in the Finals last year. No team here has done squat since then. Thanks again Sea Hag.
Wearing my Padres jersey to work I was asked by a co-worker "if I was glad the mavs lost because I like all those california teams". My response was almost spot on to what you're stating Chamo.
Offense is streaky, even when it is on. Esp. in baseball, give me a consistent defense/pitching and a reliable rather than high-octane offense and I'll believe in it. 'Til then, this is the baseball version of the Chuck and Duck. And I've seen this team when it was good - I know of what I speak.
Are you telling me that Millwood and Padilla aren't both capable of being better than average pitchers? Tejeda has been magnificent early on. The bad defense early on is yet again another uncharacteristic thing that is plaguing the Rangers. I don't see how everyone can say they are going to lose 100 games when this is basically the same team from last year that finished 80-82? You may not think so but the pitching staff is improved. Our bullpen is one of the best in the AL. If we can get McCarthy going this team will start winning games sooner or later.
I'll say a prayer for you. You could offer to pick me up in a limo....take me to the best seats in the house (have no idea where they they be) ply me with free tickets, food and drinks all night.....and unless there were hot naked chicks included in the limo I'd tell you to fcuk off.
totally on board with this and the lesson from the abject and very welcome failure of the Mavs is this: The regular season means next to NOTHING.....so....go balls to the wall to entertain the fans....play wide open....take some chances....chances are you'll make the play-offs anyway....The ONLY way to attract the average sports fan (the soccer moms are good for one thing....and it ain't selling tickets to them )....is to play wide open, attacking soccer.
Capable? Sure. But show me something before I put any expectations forward. And they haven't shown me anything yet. I'm not 100% on Washington as a manager, either. Unfortunately, I think the bad defense might be a sign of that. Is there potential there? Yes. But right now, I don't see any traction to indicate that they are anywhere near getting anything going.
sure you're correct....equally sure I don't give a fcuk.....see, I was born and raised in England.....didn't grow up with baseball or any other "American" sport and have exactly zero interest in any of them....and never will.
Even if they play in a "wide open" attacking way? See, if Americans took your view towards soccer we'd be screwed.
Fact is soccer is the Worlds Sport....wether Americans like it or not....and "their" sports can compete with cricket and rugby for second place.....thats just the way it is....hope you caught Tom Hicks' quote in wednesdays DMN when talking of Liverpools triumph over Chelsea.."The single most electrifying sporting event I HAVE EVER WITNESSED....and, chances are, he's been to a few....