Selling Fear in Sports

bedir than average · 12-06-2006, 02:55 PM

Recently the Seattle SuperSonics were purchased by a group based out of Oklahoma City. This combined with the lack of activity on the part of the city and the region to build a new stadium has led most people in the Greater Puget Sound to think that the team is likely to move to OkCity once the current lease is up, if not sooner.

So what does the team do for advertising? "The Sonics 40th Season, their most important ever."

No joke, they are selling the fear of the team moving. I only know of one other recent incident with something similar - the Montreal Expos.

Has this ever worked for a franchise? Has the attendence generated ever kept the team in place?

John F · 12-06-2006, 03:05 PM

Well, in part, I think so but... It's not a fear advertising campaign as-so-much word of mouth thing.

I mean, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to sell out so many games during their horrid years in the 80's and early 1990's and from what I recall, they used to make a big thing about getting games to sell out to send a message -- especially after Malcom Glazer and family bought the team, or while the team was still for sale with guys like Peter Angelos trying to buy the team to relocate it.

I think for a long time in MLB, Tampa Bay was dangled as a fear inducing levearge move to get stadiums built in othercities. Not just in Chicago, but in Seattle (I recall the Mariners taking a jab at Tampa Bay in a season ticket commercial before the Rays were awarded. The commercial was supposed to take place in the distant future and an old man muses about his childhood and the relocation threat and how he's glad the Mariners stayed, and that "they say Tampa Bay might finally get a team this year") and San Francisco too (though ATT Park was built well after Peter McGown purchased the Giants).

I just don't recall the direct marketing of fear to the fans (official advertising). Only the word of mouth stuff. ("We gotta show up or they will relocate!")

Lenny · 12-06-2006, 04:44 PM

I tink it worked fine for the Expos. Attendance is very good for them now. You just have to be ready to act on your threats and not just make them.

John F · 04-17-2007, 09:53 PM

And yet how many years did it take for those threats to become a reality?

Heck, Expo fans rebelled against the team in part because of the threats. They didn't like Olympic Stadium either but they saw no reason for the Team to hold them hostage.

And no, the situation didn't work out as well as you speak. That's not a jab at the Nationals but at MLB as owners and how they held DC hostage regarding financing of the new stadium..

12-06-2006, 02:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Selling Fear in Sports Recently the Seattle SuperSonics were purchased by a group based out of Oklahoma City. This combined with the lack of activity on the part of the city and the region to build a new stadium has led most people in the Greater Puget Sound to think that the team is likely to move to OkCity once the current lease is up, if not sooner. So what does the team do for advertising? "The Sonics 40th Season, their most important ever." No joke, they are selling the fear of the team moving. I only know of one other recent incident with something similar - the Montreal Expos. Has this ever worked for a franchise? Has the attendence generated ever kept the team in place? __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

12-06-2006, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,497	Well, in part, I think so but... It's not a fear advertising campaign as-so-much word of mouth thing. I mean, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to sell out so many games during their horrid years in the 80's and early 1990's and from what I recall, they used to make a big thing about getting games to sell out to send a message -- especially after Malcom Glazer and family bought the team, or while the team was still for sale with guys like Peter Angelos trying to buy the team to relocate it. I think for a long time in MLB, Tampa Bay was dangled as a fear inducing levearge move to get stadiums built in othercities. Not just in Chicago, but in Seattle (I recall the Mariners taking a jab at Tampa Bay in a season ticket commercial before the Rays were awarded. The commercial was supposed to take place in the distant future and an old man muses about his childhood and the relocation threat and how he's glad the Mariners stayed, and that "they say Tampa Bay might finally get a team this year") and San Francisco too (though ATT Park was built well after Peter McGown purchased the Giants). I just don't recall the direct marketing of fear to the fans (official advertising). Only the word of mouth stuff. ("We gotta show up or they will relocate!")

12-06-2006, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lenny Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 240	I tink it worked fine for the Expos. Attendance is very good for them now. You just have to be ready to act on your threats and not just make them.

04-17-2007, 09:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,497	And yet how many years did it take for those threats to become a reality? Heck, Expo fans rebelled against the team in part because of the threats. They didn't like Olympic Stadium either but they saw no reason for the Team to hold them hostage. And no, the situation didn't work out as well as you speak. That's not a jab at the Nationals but at MLB as owners and how they held DC hostage regarding financing of the new stadium..