FanPost

Should ATL Hawks Step Up Marketing?

I never even been to Atlanta, but from what I hear it's a big market.

I know you probably need more $$ in ownership, but its all about location right? And Atlanta is primed real estate.

I'd like to see the marketing step up. What Brooklyn had is corny. ATL can do better. But of course you have to win games and have management step up to deliver on being creative and proactive with ads.

Here's the Nets are doing: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8192332/brooklyn-nets-introducing-borough-team-core-four

"It's clear from the big crowd at our recent public celebration at Borough Hall Plaza, as well as our successful ticket and merchandise sales, that the borough is excited for their Brooklyn Nets. We're thrilled to be part of the community as we get ready for opening night."

Examples of the ads include:

• "Hello Brooklyn. I'm #8, Deron Williams, three-time NBA All-Star and father of four."

• "Hello Brooklyn, I'm #7, Joe Johnson, six-time NBA All-Star and lifelong Razorback."

• "Hello Brooklyn, I'm #11, Brook Lopez, 20-point scorer and Batman's biggest fan."

• "Hello Brooklyn, I'm #45, Gerald Wallace, All-NBA Defender and offseason fisherman."

The Hawks management needs to reintroduce themselves, and the players, Im thinking to revitalize the fanbase.

It might be better to advertise before Dwight hits free agency or even if we are trying to trade for him.

I'd go with Zaza, Al, Teague, Josh. Or maybe a team photo with Josh in middle Teague and Al to either side and Morrow and Jenkins sitting down and Ivan Korver etc etc. A team photo billboard similar to what SLAM did with Joe, Al and Josh.

I'd like to see Hawks branding step it up in anticipation of 2013 Free Agency. Anytime you see Brooklyn or Nets replace it with Atlanta or Hawks. I think this should be the goal and I'm not sure it has been.

"Our goal is to own Brooklyn," Mangione said. "We want to turn the Brooklyn Nets into a global brand, so it's not just in the tri-state area, but it's globally and internationally. But we try not to get caught up in (Nets vs. Knicks). We leave that to the fans and the writers to get into that.

"We have a long ways to go. We have to win some ballgames and we have to get the people in the market excited about us, and we think this is the first step towards it."

I think this should be the goal and I'm not sure it has been in the past. If we have a legit shot at Dwight it's time to ''truss'' the city up with Hawks players and make the city identify with the Hawks. The Hawks should be working on cornering the Atlanta market by now. It might not come down to winning games because look at the Golden State Warriors, I'm sure there are other examples but the marketing needs to step up and get rid of the fairweather fans. I don't have many ideas how to do this besides winning but here's an idea:

No more fan merchandise when your in the playoffs.

Ways to win on the court:

1) get a superstar (Dwight) and/or

2) play Nellie-ball with Josh as the 4 (Al Harrington) or

3) playing Domineering Defense (Josh and Al and a center) and letting offense come to you

I'm going with #3 as most plausible, have no hope or desire to watch a system that doesnt fit players in #2, and think #1 is the only way to win a title.

But off the court I think its time to start marketing some of our players (Josh) and show impending free agents that the Atlanta Hawks can run the city.

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