Today the Wizards released their promotion for the first game of the season. This fact has caused quite a stir on bigsoccer, with many people not in favor of the idea. The team has come back with a response on their official blog, Hillcrest Road.
To me, the team completely misses the point of many of the people's arguments against it. In the press release that the Wizards sent out to the media, the team says "Kansas City Wizards to Host Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo, DC United Saturday March 29 at Community America Ballpark in KCK." The problem is the order at which the game appears in the release. To posters like AndyMead and kuhnscoot on bigsoccer the game looks like it is playing third wheel to the two cartoon characters that will be at the game. I have to agree with those two, and I'm sure we're not the only ones. The fact that the opponent on that day appears third on the list of things hosted by the Wizards says to me that the team cares more about the outside activities then the actual event.
This is a press release that the team sent out to the media. What's that say about the importance of your product in the eyes of the people that read that release?
Even in their own blog entry, the team seems to miss the point. The post talks about the fact that the team has events planned out for people of all ages and that this is just one of the things that is planned out for younger fans. They also mention that there will be an event for the 18-35 year old crowd in Lawrence coming up (the fact that the Kansas City Wizards are having their big party for that age group in Lawrence is a completely different thing). But as I said, the team misses the point. The fact is, it's the importance that the team appears to put on this event instead of the game. Even on their website when they talk about the event, is it a picture from a Wizards-DC game last year or some other thing about the team? No it's a picture of Scooby Doo in the article, and on the main page is a picture of a Dora balloon.
OnGoal and MLS have said in the past that they are in support of the "Game First Initiative " yet this seems to go against that.
This has been,
Baines Right Leg
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Wizards Get 3rd Billing.
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4 comments:
I guess there's just gotta be SOMETHING to bitch about, eh?
Well, this is Wizardscharter speaking on this blog, so it makes sense he bitches on his own terms here.
Since the blogger quoted me, I feel I need to respond. I have to agree with him in the extent that it certainly does appear that the team is pushing the cartoon characters over the game.
The team in their advertising looks to be pushing the extra stuff over the game, which is seen by the advertising on their site.
I understand the wanting to get kids involved and that's fine, but make the game the primary focus.
I agree completely with this post and the emphasis put on cartoon characters is embarrassing.
Name recognition in the community for our team and players is more important than this kids promotion.
Yuck!
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