Whether it be on their website or Twitter ads the New York Red Bulls (who have made their home in Harrison NJ forever) are plastering scenes and images of NYC all over their promotional materials. So, are the Red Bulls trying to shore up wavering fans who might be changing allegiances to an actual NYC team in NYCFC? Are they trying to let NYC fans know "He we play around here too?" Are they pissing off this New Jersey resident with this advertising? Oh you better believe it. In Johnny's opinion the Red Bulls have been kicking around the greater NJ/NYC area for over a decade and not doing a whole lot to truly become this region's MLS team. Wanna know who obviously agrees with Johnny? The MLS or why would they have dropped Manchester City's little club over at Yankee Stadium? If the Red Bulls were a hugely successful and iconic team here that move may have been to another city for Man City. It wasn't though and the fanbase was ripe to be picked over by NYCFC.
It does not help the Red Bulls that Thierry Henry left after last season while David Villa arrives at NYCFC and after the first home game is treated to this. When was the last time that happened in Harrison after a Red Bulls game? What did the Red Bulls, so successful in their playoff run last season do to improve and bring fans to Harrison? Fired their manager and not a whole lot else. Johnny's of the mind if the Red Bulls don't figure out a real marketing plan (and it's going to involve the Red Bulls actually stooping to advertising to New Jersey residents and having events in New Jersey unlike their big one coming up in Brooklyn).
Johnny fears if the Red Bulls don't start grabbing the attention of New Jersey residents and those closest to Red Bull Arena they could be gone in time. They've never really captured the imagination of NYC residents in the numbers they'd hoped. Their success or failure is going to stand on whether or not they really love where they play or still wantonly just keep looking east across the Hudson River because those fans have a new team to call their own.
Does New Jersey?
No comments:
Post a Comment