Blues finally get it right with 2010 ad campaign

by gallagher on Sep 6, 2010 11:30 AM CDT

Clearly, I'm not ad man or marketing exec. I mean, I still have my soul and everything. But while I don't pretend to know what the perfect ad campaign would be for any organization (see: previous GT marketing efforts such as the 13 minute lifetime of GT Wikipedia), do know a shitty P.R. scheme when I see one. And beginning back with the embarrassing and misdirected "Blue Revolution" and continuing on almost every year since then, including the also-embarrassing "beg for forgiveness" ads of a couple years ago, we've given the Blues more than their share of grief for ad campaigns that miss the mark (we even campaigned them to change the slogan from "Whatever It Takes" to simply "Whatever.")

Don't get me started on that "You're the Missing Piece of the Puzzle" nightmare.

But this year I think they finally got it right. As you can see for yourself in this first 30 second job from the Blues own website (since they apparently don't want us to embed the video and get them more views), they realize that the focus needs to get away from silliness like white skates and frosted tip hairdos and focus on the games. They aren't kids anymore, they say, and it's time to realize that every game counts.

Well, no shit, but I do think it's important for the team, from the "no longer kids" up to coaching to management to ownership to acknowledge that the slow starts of the last two years are simply not acceptable this season. If the focus becomes winning the games, and winning every game, even if it's being played in October, this team has a chance to take the next step. I think it was important for the marketing effort to at least admit that the team phoned in a lot of the early contests the last few years and that the effort will be to change that this year.

The big question now, of course, is whether this is just advertising bullshit or if the Blues really are dedicated to winning every game.

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The only problem I see is

I could have sworn that I read somewhere that with the Green Goblin gone, Perron was planng on rocking the white skates again this year. So already the commercial has a glaring mistake in it if that is true. “Who does that?” Oh, we do BECAUSE WE ARE STILL FUCKING KIDS I GUESS!

by Bleedbluecp2 on Sep 6, 2010 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

You are correct.

Perron tweeted about busting out his white skates a few weeks back.

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? - Satchel Paige

by Dan. on Sep 6, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Im alright with a little F U IMMA DO WHAT I WANT BITCHES, from Perron.

He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.
Just because Jay McClement is the best defensive forward in the NHL doesn't mean he should win the Selke.

by Icion on Sep 6, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

as long as he wins us games, anyway. if he turns into a 30-goal scorer this year i’d be alright with him busting out the white skates and tinted visor. hell, i’d be ok with him throwing a mullet in there if he earns it.

by russkidan on Sep 6, 2010 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I was just trying to be funny, which as you can see I am not very good at. I really don’t care if Perron wears pink skates. He has the right to do whatever he wants so long as he shows up every game.

I just thought that was a silly point to make in that commercial. Otherwise, it would seem that the Blues PR team was almost basing that ad on what they read on this website. I am not sure how I feel about that.

by Bleedbluecp2 on Sep 6, 2010 5:25 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

If they start running "David Backes Facts" then we'll know.

I want to see their next ad if they stick with this theme.

by Paperwork Ninja on Sep 7, 2010 7:05 AM CDT up reply actions

here is the deal . . .

from what DP has said. . . he was not sure he was going to go back to the white skates (guessing it was because he really liked the ones Reebok had given him most recently), BUT then the guys at Reebok approached him about wearing the white skates this season, and that is when he decided to bring them back. . . and then he preceded to justify his choice, by pointing out the fact that almost every other player on the team wears skates that are more grey, than they are black.

by breibird on Sep 6, 2010 1:24 PM CDT reply actions

I completely agree.

When I saw the add I thought to myself “Nailed it.” I just hope the players actually believe it.

by KCMizzou on Sep 6, 2010 4:08 PM CDT reply actions

i noticed they made backes say it

captain in training publically poking at the youth on his team. and that youth is what? 3 years younger?

why wasnt brewer saying it. hmmmm

lol ok we ALL know why brewer wasnt saying it.

they also didnt swip at any golf carts… or party starting…

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Sep 6, 2010 4:57 PM CDT reply actions

gotta save something

for spot #2, right?

by TheDubGee on Sep 6, 2010 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions

extremely interestied in #2

the campaign is “every game counts” so did they run a “we be a young-gun team” sub theme in all the spots, or will we get a vet heavy spot and maybe even a coaches spot?

sniper kitty will fire if we get a spot with brewer making fun of the vets

and sniper kitty never misses

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Sep 6, 2010 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think Captain Flatline's programming...

… includes any humor-recognition subroutines.

by BleedBlue42 on Sep 6, 2010 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the fact that Backes was the "star" of the commercial is pretty telling

He may wear the A right now, but he clearly is the captain of that team.

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Sep 6, 2010 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I always liked Whatever it takes but I do agree,,,

they really nailed it this year

"HOLY JUMPIN!"

by stlAJ on Sep 6, 2010 7:28 PM CDT reply actions

I don't care if the ad was good or not.

David Backes is the voice and the face of the ad, which makes the ad fucking awesome on its’ own.

“David Backes doesn’t have hair on his testicles, because hair does not grow on steel.”

St. Louis Game Time . . . I need another beer.
And I can also write things in 140 characters or fewer.

by Donut King on Sep 6, 2010 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Maybe they hired

a new ad exec that has watched some of the commercials from some of those eastern teams. Gotta admit a lot of those were pretty cool.

Hockey players wear numbers because you can't always identify the body with dental records.

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder

by luvhockey on Sep 6, 2010 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

I think I like the fun poking attitude...

… though it does seem to me to be a massive admittance of “we fucked up last year because we had the emotional maturity of a 6th grader.” Which is 110% true. but I don’t know if it belongs in an ad or not.

The St. Louis Blues – We’ve graduated from junior high!

Thrashing the Blues
SB Nation Atlanta - home of the Fairest and Weatheriest fans on the net.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Sep 6, 2010 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

It could have been worse...

“We’ve graduated from junior high! We still reserve the right to let Cam Janssen give swirlies to Carey Price, though.”

by Paperwork Ninja on Sep 6, 2010 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha! I actually watched the video of Cam trucking him again earlier today

Never ceases to amuse me.

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Sep 6, 2010 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions

That clip needs a truck horn added to it.

Seriously.

by Paperwork Ninja on Sep 7, 2010 7:00 AM CDT up reply actions

I wish that I could find a clip of the interview w/Cam afterwards.

That was absolutely classic.

Thrashing the Blues
SB Nation Atlanta - home of the Fairest and Weatheriest fans on the net.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Sep 7, 2010 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

To reiterate...

"Every Game Counts" is a much better slogan than last year’s piece of the puzzle. Acknowledges the main knock on last year’s team, which shows that management hears what the fans are saying, something I’ve always liked about the current ownership group. Also like that the commercial doesn’t take itself too seriously. Its no Boston Bruins "never date within the division" commercial, but it’s pretty good.

If the team takes the message to heart it will be a good year. We’ll know by Thanksgiving.

http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2010/8/18/1630438/the-new-commercial-with-david#

The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. But that's the way to bet. - Damon Runyon

by baroose on Sep 7, 2010 7:05 AM CDT reply actions

I thought it was pretty lackluster

It just seemed kind of unpolished, partly because Backes can do anything but act apparently. The references were kind of obscure I thought and a little too geared to people who are already big fans (instead of the more casual fans they are presumably supposed to rope in and who probably don’t know much about the color of skates, the hair thing, etc.)

I never really got the problem with the “piece of the puzzle” ads.

Speaking of ads, has anyone seen the Blues hat making a cameo in the trailer for some upcoming romantic comedy? I tuned out what the name of it was but the dude in it (not Jon Hamm) is wearing a Blues cap.

Blech, after some searching of upcoming romantic comedies, it’s “Life As We Know It.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzjDrrZIdE

by BlueMonday on Sep 7, 2010 7:33 PM CDT reply actions

I dunno

I like the funny but what I want from the Blues this year is some swagger, some edge, some braggadochia that they’re coming for your daughters. We’re too soft as a team to win the cup right now.

Just a chew toy for the hockey gods

by spectr17 on Sep 7, 2010 8:30 PM CDT reply actions