Minnesota Thunder “guarantee” victory on Thursday
It is about time. The Minnesota Thunder are guaranteeing a victory over Toronto on Thursday night. What exactly does that mean?
If the Thunder do not win, everybody in attendance will get a FREE ticket to be used at one of the remaining two Thunder home games, on August 13 or August 20.
This is the sort of marketing savvy that has been missing from the organization for as long as it’s been around. Meanwhile, only a few miles away at Midway Stadium, the St. Paul Saints had it figured out on day one.
The Thunder do not play top-flight soccer, much as the Saints do not play anything remotely resembling professional baseball (I attended this game that saw the Saints commit five errors and still win). That last fact, however, does not stop the Saints from selling out the stadium on a regular basis.
Why? Partly because of the twisted genius of Mike Veeck and the rest of the Saints’ ownership and partly because they figured out that—while outdoor baseball is so much better than anything in the Metrodome— it’s the off-the-wall stuff that draws people in; if the team plays well, it is only icing on the cake. The Saints have exploited this simple formula to great success.
In the upcoming weeks, I will be writing a series of articles devoted to improving the Minnesota Thunder’s marketing strategy. Among the topics discussed will be our friends (and one of the Thunder’s greatest assets) the Dark Clouds, promotions and giveaways, outlandish press events, actual VIP benefits, and guerrilla marketing. Stay tuned.
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I will be writing a series of articles devoted to improving the Minnesota Thunder’s marketing strategy. Among the topics discussed will be… the Dark Clouds, promotions and giveaways, outlandish press events, actual VIP benefits, and guerrilla marketing.
Nice, I’m looking forward to this. This is the kind of stuff I was trying to get at in my comment on a previous post. The Thunder need to understand that when most of us have limited disposable income, it’s going to take more than just reassurances that soccer’s a good sport to get us to shift that income from sporting events we’re already enjoying.
I think that’s the main point about soccer getting new fans–you can’t change the fact that I already like certain sports. So before I lay down money on a Thunder game that I may or may not enjoy (instead of a Twins game that I know I’ll enjoy), I need some kind of guaranteed entertainment on top of the Thunder game. Is there a risk that I’ll not be able to see past the extra fluff and actually get into the game of soccer? Sure, but that’s better than a guarantee that’ll never come to a game at all. (And in writing in the first person here I’m vaguely speaking for other soccer-window-shoppers-not-quite-ready-to-enter-the-store.)
This is the kind of stuff I was trying to get at in my comment on a previous post.
I’ve been meaning to write on this for awhile and your past few comments gave me the push I needed to get going on it.
So, you know, thanks; for that.
Thanks Josh. This is great. As a member of the Dark Clouds we will again be in the parking lot at Denning field for pregame festivities and always welcome anyone and everyone who is of legal age to come have a free beer with us before the game. Even if you are not of legal age there is always plenty of jackassery for everyone. Some of the games have been dismal this year so we have to make our own fun. Last game it was, see what could be shoot out of a waterballoon launcher. It’s amazing what flies out of those things. A good time is always had by all. And by the way, I am still waiting to meet you Josh. Maybe I have and didn’t even know it?
bq,
My wife and I will be at the game on Thursday; we’ll try to stop over and see if you are around.
The promise of free beer is too much for me to avoid.
[...] The Minnesota Thunder made good on their promise of a guaranteed win against the lowly Toronto Lynx in front of 2,800 fans on Thursday night. [...]
[...] Editor’s note: following is the first in a series of posts (stemming from this post) that aim to provide strategic marketing advice to the Minnesota Thunder. It should be noted that, while the sentiments may not always be popular, the end goal is to grow the beautiful game in this beautiful state. We can all get behind that, right? [...]
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