Is RSL losing the PR battle?

[AreliusIV]

Today the Salt Lake Tribune turned up its criticism and scrutiny of RSL. In one article, it accused RSL of having unrealistic revenue and attendance projections. In another it quoted the Salt Lake County Council in saying that if RSL plays its scheduled game vs. "Real Madrid" in LaVell Edwards Stadium, it can say goodbye to its funding for a Stadium in Sandy.

Is RSL losing the PR battle?

In the face of increasing media scrutiny over RSL's "unrealistic" attendance projections and RSL's unwillingness to share confidential information, RSL has remained tight-lipped.

Where are the RSL spin doctors? RSL has some spokepersons. RSL has contracted with Love Communications. But what is Tom Love doing other than saying, ""Under our attorneys' advice, we cannot comment."

What does RSL need to do to stem the negative PR tide that is being heaped on by the media?

[fuegote]

Is it even a question that needs to be asked?

[AreliusIV]

Originally Posted by fuegote

Is it even a question that needs to be asked?

BTW, there is more than one question here. The other question is: What does RSL need to do to stem the negative PR tide that is being heaped on by the media?

Maybe the FO could garner a few ideas from this thread...

[knowwonnose]

Originally Posted by fuegote

Is it even a question that needs to be asked?

You're right about that, but let's come up with other ways we can vent.

[fuegote]

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

BTW, there is more than one question here. The other question is: What does RSL need to do to stem the negative PR tide that is being heaped on by the media?

Maybe the FO could garner a few ideas from this thread...

gotcha.

I wasn't blasting the poll by the way, I just thought it an obvious answer to the question being asked.

that being the case, what can RSL do....

1. something. They haven't done anything to stop this media coverage. Look, they have this very loyal fan base, but in terms of building future fans, they need to be out on the front lines. The Letter by Uncle Dave is not enough.

2. We need to start a letter to the editor campaign. all of us. get some talking points together and everyone blast a letter to the Trib.

3. the FO has to be on the offensive in letting the community know their plan and why the stadium is such an important structure to the community and not just the team.

[Deuce]

I agree with Fuegote... there needs to be much more positive activity from the FO/Dave Checketts... the negative PR from the Larry Miller ass-puppets snowballing into a mess that RSL will have a tough time getting over.

If RSL FO turn up the heat and melt the snowball, by getting out and challenging the points made by the ass-puppets showing the people that it is in their best interest... then they will win...

But the current tactic of playing the jilted lover that had their love letters published without their consent is just sad...

Fight fire with fire get out there and win back the public opinion... stop the clowns in the council and that bogus taxpayers association that is on the side of the highest bidder and not on the side of the taxpayers....

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by Fuegote

2. We need to start a letter to the editor campaign. all of us. get some talking points together and everyone blast a letter to the Trib.

Yep. We all do, or at least those of us that can put together intelligent arguments. I really should be doing this, but I keep forgetting. Let's get the talking points together as Fue mentions and then hit it, and hit it hard.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Aerick

Yep. We all do, or at least those of us that can put together intelligent arguments.

Does that mean I have to leave out the Larry Miller Ass-Puppets remark?

I am not sure I can do that but I can try!

[the Bardguy]

I just wanted to voice my support for the FO and their treatment of me and our club. They have been supportive, encouraging and very pleasant to deal with. I have been utterly shocked by how approachable every one of them have been, even bending over backwards it seems at times to help us out.

So to hear the Trib vent its obvious bias against RSL is surprising to me. Is it really just crying over spilt milk...Dave didn't want the stadium in Salt Lake so RSL gets the shaft in the newspapers? I mean, this article in the Trib this morning explaining RSL's "tiniest in league" is absolutely poor journalism at best, an outright manipulation of facts and figures to make RSL look bad. Or is it that there is a disconnect somewhere in the FO, and they've got open, communicative people dealing with its hardcore fans and then they've got these shady, secretive, not very media savvy people behind the scenes?

I guess I just don't get it. I just wonder if a lot of this negativity and bad press wouldn't be happening if we were winning some games.

[prk166]

It doesn't help when reporters at the trib are willing to do the dirty work.

Like Jense's article today : http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3774537

He consistantly finds ways to bring up numbers that fit his claim. For example, why is an atricle published tuesday not including the 2nd home game from saturday? At best it's being lazy. But when you look at, the article is more than willing to bring up questions ouver the leagues future without the other side. 1/2 the teams in the league play or will soon play in their own stadium (chivas is part of that in that they play at the HDC). Or as for attendace, if you look at how RSL drew for it's 2nd home game of the season, they drew better than all but 3 of the teams in the league. And season tickets sales are still open. That is, those numbers are getting added to as we speak. I'm not saying RSL's business is running so well it's going to end world hunger. But there have been a few articles that have been more interested in presenting the negatives and then touching on some "no comments" type things to imply the other side had a chance.