Comments on: Minnesota Thunder “guarantee” victory on Thursday

By: ThroughBall.com » Marketing the Thunder #1: sell the atmosphere

ThroughBall.com » Marketing the Thunder #1: sell the atmosphere — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:33:09 +0000

[...] 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? [...]

By: ThroughBall.com » Minnesota Thunder 3-0 Toronto Lynx

ThroughBall.com » Minnesota Thunder 3-0 Toronto Lynx — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:24:29 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:24:14 +0000

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.

By: bq

bq — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:16:09 +0000

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?

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:51:43 +0000

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.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:27:13 +0000

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.)