Sporting KC and the European Sports Club Model

Kansas City Wizards rebranded as Sporting KC and fans were up in arms. But the rebranding signals a shift away from a single-sport model to more of a European 'sporting club'. Here some of the reasons why that is a good shift and why other teams might start to follow.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Sporting KC
• Sporting Clubs
• sports business

[jackhutchens]

great explanation, dude! in fact, the best i've heard so far! GO SPORTING!!

[ryanjknapp]

@jackhutchens Glad to hear you enjoyed the explanation and yes...go SKC!

[Stevejohnson232]

Problem is, you aren't marketing to Europeans. You are marketing to Americans. This isn't how professional sports work here. The college comparison doesn't work because people usually have ties to the school. What ties could people have to Sporting KC? Rugby and lacrosse are inconsequential and Major League sports don't need the association. I think this is a terrible idea that is doomed to failure. I just hope it doesn't cripple the franchise for the loyal fans it did have.

[ryanjknapp]

@Stevejohnson232 "This isn't how professional sports works here." That's not really an argument. Soccer was placed in the 'this isn't Europe' category when MLS started..look 16 seasons later.

The university argument works perfectly. You choose to go to the school, so you are a member of the club who attend the school. Your tie can also come from other ways as well (parent of a student, teacher, etc.).

[ryanjknapp]

@Stevejohnson232 It's not marketing to Europeans either, it's trying to provide an organization with a larger sports focus instead of one team.

The lower sports are not inconsequential. Lacrosse is growing at the same clip that soccer was/is. Great source of new revenue coming in.

Appreciate the comments.

[WC3POchannel10A]

@Stevejohnson232 It cannot help but cripple it!

[OldManIowa]

I used to be a Bills too. Changing to Sporting KC is a great idea.

[riccorich]

Ryan, u bring a point, and compared it to college sports, thats nice and dandy. But lets be serious here, the Soccer team is trying to be european, its marketing as a wannabe euro soccer or sports club as they claim to be really isnt going to work and really wont be successfull. the team already started alienating existing and potential causual sports fans just changing the name alone. If the team didnt have a brand new statdium that team would have been done like steak .

[pprofiti]

It's a good point you make. Totally in favor of the rebrand.

[skl623]

hey i think you make a great point. i remember the same experience of supporting my school in multiple sports also.