What is that Scarf and Why is it Hanging There?
Be on the lookout for these scarves Friday morning. These two were found on a bench at Macalester College at Macalaster Street and Grand Ave. in St. Paul in the early morning hours. One scarf is good for 2 free admissions to Saturday night's Minnesota Stars home opener.
Scarf on the Stars!
That’s the name of the promotion the NSC Minnesota Stars are pushing to get folks around St. Paul and Minneapolis to realize that pro soccer is still alive and well here in the Twin Cities.
The NSC Minnesota Stars are hanging 2,000 scarves late Thursday night promoting this Saturday April 30th home opener at NSC Stadium. The scarves are being hung overnight, adorning public areas first thing Friday morning.
Target areas are: downtown Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul, Uptown, Dinkytown and other areas around Twin Cities colleges.
Finders of the scarves receive two free general admission tickets to the game, and the scarf is theirs to keep.
“We wanted to do something a little different for this market, something that would make casual observers stop and turn their heads,” said Stars CEO Djorn Buchholz. “This is a great way for casual fans to check out what the Minnesota Stars have to offer and keep a little piece of that with them. At the same time as this promotion reaches out to new fans, it honors the long tradition of supporters’ scarves, and we’re excited to have one that commemorates our home opener.”
Finders are asked to tweet photos at @NSC_Minnesota with the hashtags #mnstars and #scarfon.
The two photos with the most retweets and two most liked photos posted to facebook.com/NSCMinnesota win season tickets.
Everyone is welcome to join the Dark Clouds Supporters group for tailgating before the game just north of the exhibition field adjacent to the stadium. The grill will be fired up several hours before the game and everyone is welcome to use it.
Before the game, KS95 radio will be outside the stadium as part of a partnership between the station and the club; Broadway Pizza and Catering and KDWB radio are joint sponsors of $2 Michelob Golden Light draws in the beer garden.
The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association will be handing out mini soccer balls to the first 900 fans through the gates at NSC Stadium in Blaine.
After the match, fans are invited to a postgame celebration with Stars players and coaches at Bricks American Pub, 10340 Baltimore St. NE, one block west of the stadium.
You can reach the ticket office by calling 763-792-7355 or going here to order online.
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By far one of the best supporter scarves ever! Come on you Stars!
“WHY DOESN’T THIS TEAM EVER MARKET THEMSELVES? THIS LEAGUE IS GARBAGE…oh, wait, what was that? Oh, was that another ad on the radio? Oh, nevermind.” – Minnesota Eurosnob
What a great marketing strategy. Simple and yet kinda “In your Face”. The Stars scarfs are good looking, well designed and will make a great keepsake. I hope to see at least 4,000 new fans on the live stream this Saturday.
Go Stars —
Love that they’re adopting the Sounders launch strategy (http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Promotions/2009/Scarf-Seattle/Home.aspx)
Fantastic idea.
Does anyone have any idea where these scarves are located? I’d like free tickets and a scarf.
Thanks,
EuroMike
I saw some homeless guy on Nicollet Mall with about fifty of the scarves. He was using them to try and catch squirrels
Hey Michigan Mike,
Please use a valid email address and a consistent name when posting. No more posing as someone else.
When you wrote this last message BQ were you smiling like you were when posing for the picture with your season tickets?
The “homeless guy” post had to make you laugh a little.
I like the idea – they should have done it before the disgruntle fans were exiting the Twins game.
Didn’t see any out Chaska way
@thesuperrookie pull your head out of your @$#. You know that this team did not market themselves very well last year. They have stepped it up this year.
tomASS, high density target market. That’s why those locations.
Mildly Mike. Very mildly.
@Brian – forgot the smiling face – tongue in cheek, I would really be worried about their marketing if they had put some out this way.
I like the idea, and it’s good to see the organization is trying new and different things (even guerrilla marketing tactics) to attract fans. However, until the team plays in a location that is more accessible, I think attendance will continue to struggle.
Going to Blaine is just plain inconvenient. There will always those of us willing to travel anywhere for quality soccer, but successful business models for second-tier professional sports teams in this market rely a lot on casual fans, family outings, and walk-up ticket sales by passers-by. How many people would attend a (St Paul) Saints game if they played in Prior Lake, or a Swarm game in Cottage Grove? I sure wouldn’t, because I’m not particularly interested in baseball or lacrosse. Funny though, I’ve been to both in the last year.
I agree that the location makes it too difficult. I’d love to take my young son, but between the 7:30 start time and a 45 minute drive from the SW metro it just doesn’t work logistically.
the never ending litany of excuses always amazes me
I have driven from my homes in Robbinsdale, Richfield and Burnsville for pretty much every Thunder/Stars game over the last 19 years. It is simply a drive to the north metro and a drive that really isn’t that bad.
There wasn’t a significant improvement, if any, in attendance when the Thunder played at Griffin Stadium (the Jimmy) in St. Paul. The location doesn’t make a difference.
I believe we will see an improvement in attendance this year because the team is finally marketing themselves (Scarf On Stars, radio and print ads). That’s how the casual fan will know about the Stars and will want to come out to the game(s).
I purchased season tickets for the first time and will be driving 90 miles to attend the games. I never even considered going to St. Paul when they were there. My expectation was that there would be to big a hassle finding parking, etc. (even though that may not have been true). The point is, no place is perfect. The Kicks played out in Bloomington and people went. Of course I’m not a casual fan either. Looking forward to tomorrow night.
While I would prefer to attend a game at a stadium in the city, that just isn’t going to happen and OUR team plays in Blaine. That’s just the way it is.
Here’s the IMS Challenge.
I would challenge any of you to clock how long it would take you to leave your house, battle traffic, parking, light rail or whatever and to actually get inside Target field for a Twins games compared to driving 18 miles further north and park for free 100 yards or less from the entrance gate of the stadium.
I’d put my money on you getting inside the NSC Stadium for a Stars game faster than you could get inside Target field for a Twins game. I’m not saying what anyone should do. I’m just saying that if you are comparing going to a game in the city I don’t think it’s a valid argument. I do think there are valid arguments for those that would prefer to be in an urban environment or only use public transportation. But if the issue is truly how long it takes to get to the game, I think you lose on this one.
Working downtown St. Paul I would say the concept has worked. It’s definitely created a buzz here amongst those that follow soccer and even those that don’t. Funny to see people walking out of the office at 8AM to try to go snatch their own scarves on West 7th…can’t be the wedding…the kiss on the balcony had already taken place…
If you see me wondering around the stadium stop me and say hi Ric. Glad to hear you’ll be getting to some games.
@ bruce
“the never ending litany of excuses always amazes me”
I’m more amazed by the apologist attitude to a very valid point. I’ll be attending on Saturday. I’d probably attend even if I lived in the southern suburbs, as I used to. To pretend that some can’t, or won’t, because of the location is disingenuous.
“I’d put my money on you getting inside the NSC Stadium for a Stars game faster than you could get inside Target field for a Twins game. ”
Do stops in O’Donovan’s for drinks count. I left my DT Minneapolis office on Wednesday at 5pm to go to the Twins game. I did not arrive in my seat until 7:45pm. I sat in my seat for 15 minutes and was back inside O’Donovan’s by 8:05pm.
Come on you Stars!
Rutherford B. Hayes is my grandfather.
Chosen One- my head is out of my @$$. That is because I know this team exists. Yet, people continue to make excuses through and through. It is ridiculous.
Wish I could be in the North End with you guys on Saturday. Instead, I will be driving 2.5hours to Tampa to see the Rowdies play Atlanta.
Support your local pro team.
Maybe the Stars should hand out questionnaire’s at the game to see what people enjoy about the games as well as what factors are causing them not to attend as much. Any feedback is helpful… Hand out a bottle of water to people that fill out the feedback on the spot. Probably a lame idea, I am not much for marketing. In my opinion some feedback is better then none.
I think it’s a great promotion. But I’m always opposed to free tickets. Free tickets do not lead to a future purchase, just the expectations of more free tickets. I would have done a 2 for 1 coupon. Will be interested in seeing if what the response is, if they eventually release that. I think they did a good job of targeting college areas. But still somewhat of a shot gun approach. Maybe some regular presense at soccer viewing areas / pubs in the area. Or better yet, work with one of those establishments in sponsoring a beer bus to a game. The Globe Pub does that here in Chicago. But like the fact that they are being proactive and trying new things.
This is a fantastic promotion. And although I generally agree with ButlerBob about not being in favor of giving away free tickets, in this case one has to “work” for them (ie find the scarf). Hope Manny and the boys have a great opening night
As far as the stadium location goes, I know that gas prices are high and commuting time can be a pain. But BQ is spot on when comparing going to a Stars game as opposed to a Twins game at Target Field. Being able to park close and for free is a nice fringe benefit.
I drove an hour one way to attend ACSTL games last season. I sure wish I had a home team again — I’d be glad to make that commute again to see NASL soccer.
@buttler bob says-
But still somewhat of a shot gun approach. Maybe some regular presense at soccer viewing areas / pubs in the area…
What about the weekly trivia events at The Local these past few months?
What about the near constant soccer watch parties at The Sweetwater in St. Paul?
What about the four or five events that have happened at Brit’s Pub in the past 5 months?
Seems to me the team has been pretty constant in getting the word out. Will what they do ever be considered enough? Then again, the Kansas City Wizards existed for 15 years and they had to change their name to get more attention, but at what point will the first mention of the team no longer be, “Oh, they need to do this…”
The only challenge to Brian I would provide is that public transportation makes getting to a Twins game very easy, if you leave early enough and stay late. Other than that, as a conservative, I hate public transportation since it can’t make money on its own.
Maybe we need some pub party buses going from downtown to the Stars games?
“Going to Blaine is just plain inconvenient. ”
Getting in my car and driving some place is inconvenient. However, I support the Stars because I enjoying seeing a higher level of soccer played at a great facility and not on TV. Come on you Stars!
“Getting in my car and driving some place is inconvenient. However, I support the Stars because I enjoying seeing a higher level of soccer played at a great facility and not on TV. Come on you Stars!”
So, for the casual fan (which is what the Stars need to target in order to increase attendance)what makes more sense:
1) Drive to Target Field and watch World Class athlete who are paid millions of dollars in a state of the art facility.
Or
2) Save 5 minutes of time (IMS Challenge) drive to Blaine and watch quality soccer at NSC.
@soccerboy – that is why on-line shopping is so nice
there are two lists most people keep whether they know it or not
1) WANT TO List
2) HAVE TO List
The key for the Stars is to convert the WANT TO into a HAVE TO.
Their focus should be the soccer fans with the Stars still on the Want To list.
@ Michigan MIke
“Drive to Target Field and watch World Class athlete who are paid millions of dollars in a state of the art facility”
refinements to your comments
1) World Class athlete who are paid millions of dollars for missing many games due to injuries that most soccer players would find merely “inconvenient”. These millionaire stars also seem to get every 3rd game off when they are not on the disabled list.
2) my experience – whether outside at a state of the art facility or outside at any park, – if the beer is cold and the company not half-bad. It tastes the same……great!
There are two different things going on here. One is the fan is us saying, “I do this because I love soccer. GO STARS!” and the other that is the fan in us saying, “how can we get soccer to succeed here?”
This 2nd part leads to the constant “oh if it weren’t in Blaine” and “if only they personally walked up to every Arsenal fan at the Local and fondled them”… etc. etc.
I understand this second part. I understand wanting to see Stars succeed, but the constant whinging about “oh if only Stars were an MLS team who were huge and located downtown…” should stop. Let the business folk do their business-folky things. Djorn can worry about marketing, because it’s his job.
The only way we can address the 2nd part (the worrying about soccer succeeding) is by becoming better fans. Yelling, singing, getting our friends out, getting our grandmothers out, getting our friends’ grandmothers out. Last year Senor Bruce brought me to my first game. Tomorrow I am bringing 4 people to the game. I will buy a beer for anyone who brings more new fans than me. You can find me. I’m the one with a beard (ha).
Now I see why Arsenal fans are scarce at The Local.
Blaine is too far but yet the Vikings are looking at the old Army arsenal out in Arden Hills which is just 5 minutes away from the NSC… Humm! Maybe the Vikings will also struggle soooo far from the City… NOT!
I agree that the NSC is a bit out of the way. I often have to leave the night before or early in the morning before a game. It is a long flight from Dallas, Tx to St Paul. The whole rental car thing and driving out to Blaine. But hey, it is Minnesota Soccer. Isn’t it great, oops!! I mean aint it great.
Good point jw7. Reference a team that brings 60,000 people to games in comparison to the Stars whose attendance figures compare to the Macalester Mens Soccer team.
Is the discussion about how many fans the teams bring to their stadium, TFTOMF? I thought it was just comparing traveling time because some people are saying it takes too long to get to the stadium. I’m confused. If it is just about travel time than what do attendance numbers have to do with it? Its about reasons people make for not coming out to games. Travel time, reasons to be specific.
MM, I did say that I wasn’t saying what sport a person should chose or that one facility is better or not. Those are all personal choices that each of us get to make for ourselves. Getting focused back on the conversation, is traveling to Blaine to see the top level soccer we have in the area a hardship or does it take to long? I will also throw into the argument that I believe we are sort of spoiled in the Twin Cities. Except for bad rain on snow days. Our commutes are pretty easy. On most days I can get from DT Mpls to DT St. Paul in less than 10 minutes. From St. Paul I can be at the stadium (on a weekend) in Blaine in around 20 minutes. Again, I can’t leave my house, park and get into the Target Field or the Metrodome in 25minutes. No way. Maybe the Metrodome but that would really be pushing it.
My reality is it comes down to how bad you want to go. It’s simply a choice.
TomAss, we looked into the party bus idea this winter and the cost just doesn’t justify itself. I even talked to a bar owner or two about it. If it was in town it would make more sense from a financial standpoint because the bus could make several trips. Being out in Blaine it can only do one and then sits around for a couple of hours waiting for the return run. That’s expensive. So chalk one up for the naysayers on that one.
Butler Bob, I did want to note that while I am normally in agreement with you I think this was pretty smart. There is a huge apathy issue here with the Stars after poor play on the field for quite a number of years, a change in venue, 3 changes in ownership and lord knows how many other issue up here like some club soccer folks having issue with the NSC who owned the team last season and lots of club soccer folks having issue with the old Thunder because of their affiliation with the Thunder Academy.
This team has a lot of garbage to get through and get over. Most people in town still think the Thunder are the pro soccer team. So anything to get some pub, get noticed and get a buzz going is a good thing.
Lastly, Djorn Buchholz, CEO of the team said in the Pioneer Press article that the team would not be doing anymore giveaways this season as far as tickets go.
In any event, I hope you fans in Minnesota have a great game tonight!!
I received the best advice ever from my wife after 28 years of marriage before heading out to the game tonight. She told me I should wear some pants
Looked for Brian, Bruce told me he was getting VIP treatment and was warming himself in the press box. Hopefully it was better treatment than Carolina keeper Brad received tonight
I hope I didn’t come across too negative, that wasn’t my intent. I do think they are doing the hard work to try and turn things around. And I’m guessing there isn’t a silver bullet to fix things.
I’m looking forward to actually making it to a game this season. Going to try and make the Montreal game near the end of July. We’re going to stop on our yearly big trip up to Cass Lake. My wife’s family has been going up there for 30 + years. So this year planning on stopping over for a night and seeing a game. It will help to break up the trip from Chicago.
So I know that SOMEBODY up there had to look out for a Brutha and get him a scarf, seeing as I couldn’t make it up there to grab one for myself…