Brand bandwagons.
So I just finished watching my hometown Atlanta Hawks win an unlikely second game in the NBA playoffs against the Celtics. The Hawks have been a consistent disappointment to their hometown fans over the years, yet now, with just a couple of wins, they’re the talk of the town.
People get their panties in wads about fair-weather fans. As if everyone should shell out money for a product that’s no good just because the product has their city’s name in the name.
Why should sports teams be more immune to the ebbs and flows of popularity than the rest of the products in the world? Especially when they’re so darn expensive to “purchase”?
So the Hawks are suddenly hot. Is it great for the franchise? Well it’s better than the alternative. But it’s nothing to get too excited about too soon. If McDonalds only offered Quarter Pounders one week each year, I’d be McDonalds’ biggest fan. For exactly one week each year. So far, the Hawks have shown their best for one week. And I love it. Whether I’ll love it, much less pay for it, after this week is entirely up to them.
