By Goonerholic
Twenty-four long hours on and it is time to reflect on the new home kit launch at Arsenal. Fortunate to have a media event invitation I arrived shortly after six and before long a string of familiar faces gathered in the Foundry restaurant.
Well aware that such invitations are a cause for comment on social media sites I will point out the motivation for sponsors like Puma to involve bloggers is that unlike the national press our readership consists almost exclusively of Arsenal supporters, not just at a national level but around the globe. In other words we are a direct route to large numbers of their potential customers.
The plus side to accepting the invite was the opportunity to interview one of the club’s players. The handful of bloggers present were allocated Nacho Monreal, and there will be more on that interview in the next post. Based on some of the reaction from elsewhere we had one of the better interviewees. I must admit, I would have liked a chance to quiz Hector Bellerin, the star of the show, as well. The two full backs and Francis Coquelin were definitely the most improved players this season.
Then came the time to wander downstairs and join the already assembled throng outside. A quick check on the phone confirmed the live broadcast was streaming on the blog. Relaxed, I could now enjoy Gilles Peterson in action. The sounds encouraged the masses to at least do a little shuffle, if not dance enthusiastically, to keep warm as the temperature dropped.
We had already heard from indoors the rehearsal of “We’re the North Bank”, “We’re the Clock End”, and the reason for that would become clear later. The lights came on, the show began, and Peterson was first to be interviewed and he predicted a treble for the Gunners next season. It’s hard not to like that fella.
Next up, with “the words Arsenal legend were written for this man”, Nigel Mitchell introduced his co-host for the evening, Thierry Henry. Titi spoke of his early days when the likes of Tony Adams and Martin Keown would kick him in training to let him know what it meant to play for the Arsenal. He reiterated that he left the club as a fan, and when he returned he spoke of what the goal against Leeds United meant to him as a fan.
The co-presenters set about interviewing a few lucky supporters and before we knew it the players who had earlier been interviewees were introduced in the new kit and quizzed in turn. Large roars greeted Tomas Rosicky setting a target of winning the title next season and Santi Cazorla’s agreement with that sentiment. Hector Bellerin, Danny Welbeck, and Nacho looked more comfortable as ‘models’ and an appreciative audience sang out as proceedings drew to a close.
It has been strange seeing the range of reaction today, more to the event than the kit itself which seems to have drawn critical acclaim from a design viewpoint. Puma know better than to mess with the ‘Arsenal play in red shirts with white sleeves’ expectation. Modern kits aren’t made for old gits with my girth, but I have to say twenty years ago I would definitely have been snapping up one of these.
It is a remarkable phenomenon that so many are enticed to a launch of a product so widely leaked in recent days and weeks. There has been some criticism from those for who this sort of thing is not their cup of tea, but that so many took up their invitations on a far from balmy evening is affirmation of the arrangement of the launch. There is an audience for events like this and the participation of all present last night was great to see.
Puma have pumped millions into the club for the right to hold promotions such as this. In a world of 24-hour social media, they are efficient ways of spreading the message to a worldwide fanbase in a short space of time. The smiles on the faces of those in attendance confirms there is a market for interactive events between club, sponsors, and supporters. That market will be continue to be served, and very professionally if Monday night is anything to go by.
