Inside The Florida Panthers: The Marketing Department.

If you’re like me you’re probably really intrigued by the business side of hockey. What goes on in the offices, conference rooms, hallways, and even homes of NHL executives and employees.  Especially the marketing and advertising departments.  How they come to make their decisions, how they work on the details, and how they crank out the ads is something that I’ve always been interested in.  You?

Creativity is something that you’re born with, just like hockey sense.  Clearly two aspects that are lacking on our wonderful team both on and off the ice.  Although the on ice product at various times is able to put together some strong play, and has the ability to make some good decisions.  Heck even once every year we have a three game winning streak.  However, I thought that it would be important to give you my loyal readers an inside look at the marketing department so we can have a better understanding of how things get done.  Or should I say get screwed up!

In doing some research and compiling tons of data, because those are two aspects that are important when putting together a marketing plan, I’m thinking that it goes something like this:

Now, I can’t guarantee that I’m close, but based on a few recent marketing guffaws, that video paints a pretty realistic picture.  Sure they’re having a good time, and seem as though they’re getting their work done, but something tells me there’s a bit too much horseplay.  Need proof?  Tuesday night the the biggest Hanukkah Party in South Florida took place in what turned out to be another brilliant marketing scheme by the Florida Panthers organEYEzation.  On top of it, the evening was also referred to as throwback night since the Colorado Avalanche were visiting.  Reminding us of the Stanley Cup run of 1996 was the other idea these geniuses put together.

The intent of the yarmulke give away was to hand out said yarmulke’s to those that bought tickets for this Colorado game.  However much to the dismay of those that had purchased tickets prior to the announcement (i.e. season ticket holders) the brains of this operation had apparently changed the promotion shortly before the day of the game.!  A bunch of michegas if you ask me.

Here’s the original press release about the event.  Then the announcement was changed to read “Panthers yarmulke given to those who buy a special ticket pack.”.

As reported by Puck Daddy himself, the promotion was supposed to be geared towards only those who had purchased single game tickets which were sold to them at a discount.  Did it say that anywhere?  Apparently only a few thousand were ordered to hand out to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States.

Total bubkes.   The schlemiel’s behind this promo once again insulted the season ticket holder, giving them a nice royal kick in the tuches!  Makes me want to plotz!

Also, mind you the Panthers did not, I repeat did not wear their red home sweaters for the game.  Hmmmm, I thought it was throw back night.  Now I’m really confused.  No yarmulke’s for you unless you bought tickets for this game only, and the boys are wearing the wrong sweater on throwback night.  Someone please tell me what I’m missing!

On the heels of a three game winning streak where we beat one of the best teams in the league, giving them 8 power play opportunities in the first two periods, you would think that I would have buried this story under my laptop.  Sorry, Jewish guilt can even affect this greek boy!  No offence to either sector.

Yassou and Mazel Tov bubbala.

Thanks for reading.  Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Please visit our NHL main page:  Too Many Men On The Site.

You can follow me on Twitter @TheRatTrick and my colleague David Lasseter  @davidlasseter. Also, please join our Facebook Fan Page and hit the like button.

Want The Rat Trick or another FanSided network blog on your Iphone, Android or Blackberry? Download the application now on your smartphone and get the best in Florida Panthers coverage