"It Begins"

[Beach_Red]

Okay, has anyone seen the Volkswagon Presents, "It Begins" video on the MLS page?

http://web.mlsnet.com/vw/rtc.jsp#/it_begins/

I really don't know what to say, I mean, I'm speechless...

And it's only "Episode 1."

[Keyman]

What the hell was that?

I just wasted precious minutes of my life watching that.

[Roogsy]

Isn't that the chick from Mad TV?

[canadian_bhoy]

Good job MLS - video's like this will ensure that soccer fans will remain in bars watching the EPL on Saturday's instead of going to your stadiums.

And people wonder why only 5000 people showed up for the playoffs in NE

[Wagner]

WTF.
1) it's not the chick from madTV, but she should sue them for ripping off her character.
2) soccer mom's....seriously??? that's who garber is still targetting? hasn't he seen the success of TFC? and the marketing of the new teams, focusing more on getting young urban fans out...

what a big step backward.

[SilverSamurai]

The dude's expressions speak for the hardcore...

MLS! WAKE UP! Families should not be your intended audience! They only go for free!

[kelzag]

Can't wait for episode 2 "Juice Boxes". Who needs Christmas when you have this? :rolleyes:

[Roogsy]

Pretty sure it is. Mo Collins I believe.

I don't feel one way or another about this commercial. After all...it IS a commercial, and by one of the sponsors.

What do we want? BMO does a commercial trying to honour the fans, we complain. VW does one appealing to the soccer moms, we complain.

I think we'd all prefer if MLS does no marketing whatsoever...LOL!

[canadian_bhoy]

That vid was great. In the words of "the Deaner"

I was just thinking to myself that I could really go for a 3 minute sit through of sh!t.

http://msp51.photobucket.com/albums/f396/WrathofMac/deaner.jpg

[king dave]

We should all just swear our fucking heads off at the games en mass.
Send those cunts running for the exits with there fucking precious litter in tow.
KD.

[Kickit09]

just terrible. typical MLS garbage.

[Beach_Red]

WTF.
1) it's not the chick from madTV, but she should sue them for ripping off her character.
2) soccer mom's....seriously??? that's who garber is still targetting? hasn't he seen the success of TFC? and the marketing of the new teams, focusing more on getting young urban fans out...

what a big step backward.

I couoldn't tell if it was aimed at soccer moms or making fun of soccer moms. I mean, she forgot her kids....

[manic.street.preacher]

wtf 'it's like you'll be my girlfriend for 8 days' ... i want that 2 minutes of my life back :S

[Jack]

What the hell was that?

[Oldtimer]

Just terrible.

[Benficachop20]

Isn't that the chick from Mad TV?

Ya pretty sure that's Mo Collins.

Anyways that was lame

[sully]

weird...

[Ladies Love Julius James]

8 days on a road trip with her? I'd be making plenty of babies

[tfc_4_ever]

I just lol'd at the patheticism of that footage

[LucaGol]

Um... ohhh kaay.

What's wrong with these ppl .. I mean seriously.

They do one good thing by re-designing the MLS Cup ... and undo all that by having a completely ridiculous line of commercials.

These ads are supposed to get ppl pumped about soccer so that they'll want to take in a post-season game.

That was just utterly ridiculous. I hope the MLS blogging community rips the league a new arsehole for this latest f up.

[nascarguy]

Okay, has anyone seen the Volkswagon Presents, "It Begins" video on the MLS page?

http://web.mlsnet.com/vw/rtc.jsp#/it_begins/

I really don't know what to say, I mean, I'm speechless...

And it's only "Episode 1."

it is just away to show off the new mls cup and new Volkswagon.

and I'll say this if you do not like do not watch the mls & Volkswagon did not spend there money to make everyone here happy

[LucaGol]

it is just away to show off the new mls cup and new Volkswagon.

and I'll say this if you do not like do not watch the mls & Volkswagon did not spend there money to make everyone here happy

There are plenty of ways MLS and VW could have reached those ends that didn't involve making a spot for the worst commercial ever made award.

[NewcastleFan]

wow that was a complete waste of time

[Nerepis]

Well, the good news is, the marketing department in the MLS makes the Refereeing look competent by comparison. :eek:

[Chevy]

Relax everyone - it's just a Volkswagen ad!!

...and you know you're gonna watch the other 5 episodes. See, advertising works!!

[Roogsy]

Relax everyone - it's just a Volkswagen ad!!

...and you know you're gonna watch the other 5 episodes. See, advertising works!!

LOL!

Good point.

[Damien]

We Todd Did
Sofa King We Todd Did

[zeelaw]

Fuck this family friendly mls image.

[tlear]

this is so stupid

[jloome]

I think you need a rousing chorus of "Deb's a whore" at the next game, assuming this silliness hasn't been shelved by then.

[Cashcleaner]

Pretty sure it is. Mo Collins I believe.

I don't feel one way or another about this commercial. After all...it IS a commercial, and by one of the sponsors.

What do we want? BMO does a commercial trying to honour the fans, we complain. VW does one appealing to the soccer moms, we complain.

I think we'd all prefer if MLS does no marketing whatsoever...LOL!

I don't mind marketing - If it's valid and doesn't make a mockery of the league and sport. I'm not saying this particular spot is doing that, but I have a hard time making a legitimate connection between a new VW van and the MLS Cup. Look at the Beverly Hills Chihuahua image they had plastered on the league's official website - that was definitely a poor decision on the part of MLS marketing.

[Fort York Redcoat]

I don't mind marketing - If it's valid and doesn't make a mockery of the league and sport. I'm not saying this particular spot is doing that, but I have a hard time making a legitimate connection between a new VW van and the MLS Cup. Look at the Beverly Hills Chihuahua image they had plastered on the league's official website - that was definitely a poor decision on the part of MLS marketing.

I didn't watch the ad and don't need to now. Thanks everyone. The above observatioin actually works with the ad to market to moms and the kids that dragged said moms to what was the one of the highest grossing movies of the year. Not a lot of quality, just a lot of kids.

That's what works when they say "MLS works". Market to kids cause that's what guarantees an atmo people want to experience right? Chuck E Cheese complete with mascots?

These people are unbalanced in their marketing giving up on the adults and concentrating solely on the "next gen".

But don't worry they'll correct it next year with a new MLS cup that will rebrand the league and make it respectable, again.

[felipe]

What a bunch of sourpusses you guys are.

That was fuckin hilarious. I really enjoyed that.



I suppose you all hated the Brennan Poz ad as well...done in much the same 'vein'

[jabbronies]

What a bunch of sourpusses you guys are.

That was fuckin hilarious. I really enjoyed that.



I suppose you all hated the Brennan Poz ad as well...done in much the same 'vein'


Why would we hate the Brannan/Poz ad?? how is it in the same vein???

[Roogsy]

What a bunch of sourpusses you guys are.

That was fuckin hilarious. I really enjoyed that.



I suppose you all hated the Brennan Poz ad as well...done in much the same 'vein'

^ I gotta agree.

Seriously. They are going to market to soccer moms AS WELL as the die-hard soccer fan. It's bad business to cut out one segment of a possible consumer just because you might hurt the feelings of the other. (Are we really THAT sensitive that this bothers us?)

Unless you think the stadiums in the US can be filled with 20,000 screaming crazy 20 year old soccer fans for every game of the season, we should simply understand that Volkwagen (who needs these soccer moms) and MLS (who need them as well) WILL market to them and we can either ignore it and realize it's necessary, or cry about it because somehow it takes away from MLS's credibility (how I don't know, somebody explain it to me please).

If we want major sponsors like VW, Microsoft, Wal-Mart etc. We have to accept that they are putting their money into the league so that they can be exposed to all segments of society, not just the 20 year old male. Otherwise, these major sponsors, who are the ones that WE need more than they need us may walk and take their millions. And then how are we going to get Del Piero over here? You explain it to me. Seriously guys...chill out.

[jabbronies]

Seriously. They are going to market to soccer moms AS WELL as the die-hard soccer fan. It's bad business to cut out one segment of a possible consumer just because you might hurt the feelings of the other. (Are we really THAT sensitive that this bothers us?)



In the two seasons TFC have been around, I don't remember the MLS marketing to the hardcore supporters.



Unless you think the stadiums in the US can be filled with 20,000 screaming crazy 20 year old soccer fans for every game of the season, we should simply understand that Volkwagen (who needs these soccer moms) and MLS (who need them as well) WILL market to them and we can either ignore it and realize it's necessary, or cry about it because somehow it takes away from MLS's credibility (how I don't know, somebody explain it to me please).


Right now, the stadiums aren't being filled at all. And this is with the current marketing that is already being targeted towards those soccer moms.

[Roogsy]

In the two seasons TFC have been around, I don't remember the MLS marketing to the hardcore supporters.

I really don't know what this could possibly look like. I see lots of complaints that soccer moms are being marketed to, but what does it look like when you market to hardcore supporters? Isn't it the point that you don't have to and shouldn't market to hardcore supporters?


Right now, the stadiums aren't being filled at all. And this is with the current marketing that is already being targeted towards those soccer moms.

So the best idea is to stop marketing to them? And even worse, to displease the sponsors who WANT the league to market to them? Please don't run my business Ravi. :D

[Damien]

In the two seasons TFC have been around, I don't remember the MLS marketing to the hardcore supporters.


What about the BMO ad with the old guy jumping out of the stands who looks like he has something rammed up his ass?

Oh wait, that's a BMO ad.

[Parkdale]

all things aside, it's not a very good add.

it's not very funny, and it's not going to hold your attention (it didn't hold mine).
The league can try to cater their advertising to whoever they like, as it won't
change the relation we have with out team, but if they're going to produce
pieces like this, they should at least try consulting first. Hell... this thing
made a TFC TV fluff piece look like 60 Minutes.

[Roogsy]

^ This I agree with.

But I am tired of the whining about catering to soccer moms. You know what? Soccer moms are the ones buying $45k Volkswagens. If you aren't...then I suggest you not complain when VW wants to market to someone who has more money than you. Or find someone to replace them who is willing to cater to you for whatever reason. Until then...money talks. It's the world we live in. Who doesn't know this?

[Fort York Redcoat]

I really don't know what this could possibly look like. I see lots of complaints that soccer moms are being marketed to, but what does it look like when you market to hardcore supporters? Isn't it the point that you don't have to and shouldn't market to hardcore supporters?



So the best idea is to stop marketing to them? And even worse, to displease the sponsors who WANT the league to market to them? Please don't run my business Ravi. :D

Great points but seriously, what did you expect? I was over on the TFC soccer moms site and they were really pissed about BMO forgetting about them.;)

[Roogsy]

:rofl:

Please tell me where it is...I'd hit them soccer moms for real.

[Parkdale]

Soccer moms are the ones buying $45k Volkswagens. If you aren't...then I suggest you not complain when VW wants to market to someone who has more money than you.


good point. Wolkswagon isn't trying to sell The League. They are using the league to sell their cars. Let's not get that twisted.

[jabbronies]

I really don't know what this could possibly look like. I see lots of complaints that soccer moms are being marketed to, but what does it look like when you market to hardcore supporters? Isn't it the point that you don't have to and shouldn't market to hardcore supporters?

So the best idea is to stop marketing to them? And even worse, to displease the sponsors who WANT the league to market to them? Please don't run my business Ravi. :D

If the league is so concerned with keeping everyone happy, The best idea is to stop marketing to both of these demographics exclusivly. Why is there a need to sell to either the hardcores or the moms? Why not selling the league, the players and the game itself.

The NFL does it, the NHl does it...even MLB does it. Why is there a need to sell the supporters and the moms as a means to get people in the stadium? Is the game that boring to them? is there not enough appeal in the game itself that they can only sell the lifestyle soccer has to offer?

[jabbronies]

good point. Wolkswagon isn't trying to sell The League. They are using the league to sell their cars. Let's not get that twisted.


As for Volkswagon, I haven't seen the full campaign yet, but how does a lunatic soccer mom sell more vans in thier opinon?? Doesn't this just stereotype the vehical as being an option for crazy housewives?

Lets say I'm a father of 3 and I'm in the market for a vehical to get my kids around to a game...how does watching a crazy old soccer mom get me interested in a vehical? Is that the image i want for myself? being a crazy old Soccer Dad who goes to games and "screams at kids and gets super duper involved with everything my kid does because i have no life otherwsie!!"

Anyways, Soccer moms and hardcore supporters are not the symbols of the sport you want in this continent. The game has a bad rep with the media already with regards to hooligans and soccer moms, the last thing MLS should be doing is focusing on this.

[Parkdale]

As for Volkswagon, I haven't seen the full campaign yet, but how does a lunatic soccer mom sell more vans in thier opinon?? Doesn't this just stereotype the vehical as being an option for crazy housewives?

clearly it must increase sales of else they wouldn't be doing it. Companies don't want their products shown in a bad light, so wolkswagon probably has creative control over the adds. If they run them, it's because they think it will sell cars. That's it.

They are in the business of selling cars, and anything they do is for that point only.

[jabbronies]

clearly it must increase sales of else they wouldn't be doing it. Companies don't want their products shown in a bad light, so wolkswagon probably has creative control over the adds. If they run them, it's because they think it will sell cars. That's it.

They are in the business of selling cars, and anything they do is for that point only.


Not clearly...there is no proof that this campaign sells cars. Just because it's running, it doesn't mean that it's succesful. Just look at the Microsoft ads with Seinfeld and gates...it ran, it got alot of hits on the web, but then it got pulled because sales were shit. Reviews were shit.

IMO and the opinon of a few others on this board, this first volkswagon ad is shit. plain and simple.

Yes they are in the business of selling cars. They are selling cars to soccer moms at this point. Great. I'm sure the large number of soccer moms in the US are going to drool all over these ads..shown on MLSnet.com....How many soccer moms do you suppose visit MLSnet.com on a regular basis? More than actual soccer supporters (males) you think?


Anyways, I can't really say what's completly on my mind until i see the rest of these ads. But right now, the first impression...is not a good one for me.

[Roogsy]

If the league is so concerned with keeping everyone happy, The best idea is to stop marketing to both of these demographics exclusivly. Why is there a need to sell to either the hardcores or the moms? Why not selling the league, the players and the game itself.

The NFL does it, the NHl does it...even MLB does it. Why is there a need to sell the supporters and the moms as a means to get people in the stadium? Is the game that boring to them? is there not enough appeal in the game itself that they can only sell the lifestyle soccer has to offer?

You are speaking from the point of view of a fan already in the stands. And since there aren't enough of you and me, obviously they have to market. If your question is "why do they have to market" your answer is found in attendance figures for the playoffs.

Armchair quarterbacking a marketing campaign is all well and good, but there is a reason marketing executives make big bucks and we don't.

[jabbronies]

You are speaking from the point of view of a fan already in the stands. And since there aren't enough of you and me, obviously they have to market. If your question is "why do they have to market" your answer is found in attendance figures for the playoffs.

Armchair quarterbacking a marketing campaign is all well and good, but there is a reason marketing executives make big bucks and we don't.

I'm speaking from someone who works in an ad agency and works on big campaigns a regular basis.
It's not a question of why do they have to market...it's how they are doing it and who they are targeting.

They are not going to convert a hockey fan or pointy ball fan to watch soccer by splashing a crazed soccer mom as thier campaign spokesman.

[TFCREDNWHITE]

^ I gotta agree.

Seriously. They are going to market to soccer moms AS WELL as the die-hard soccer fan. It's bad business to cut out one segment of a possible consumer just because you might hurt the feelings of the other. (Are we really THAT sensitive that this bothers us?)

Unless you think the stadiums in the US can be filled with 20,000 screaming crazy 20 year old soccer fans for every game of the season, we should simply understand that Volkwagen (who needs these soccer moms) and MLS (who need them as well) WILL market to them and we can either ignore it and realize it's necessary, or cry about it because somehow it takes away from MLS's credibility (how I don't know, somebody explain it to me please).

If we want major sponsors like VW, Microsoft, Wal-Mart etc. We have to accept that they are putting their money into the league so that they can be exposed to all segments of society, not just the 20 year old male. Otherwise, these major sponsors, who are the ones that WE need more than they need us may walk and take their millions. And then how are we going to get Del Piero over here? You explain it to me. Seriously guys...chill out.

^^^^ AGREED!!!

[J .]

At first I thought it was a porno...