Can Swansea capitalise?
By Andy Pearson
My son texted me on his way back from Wembley: “We are Match of the Day! We are Match of the Day!”
There were other chants as well and his pre-GCSE exuberance is to be applauded.
However, his city’s TV exposure for at least the next 11 months will offer much greater value than simply having Lineker, Dixon, Lawrenson and co picking over the strengths and weaknesses of each Swansea City Premier League performance.
Golden
More, it’s a chance for the city to raise its banner and let the whole world see the promise of the golden sands it’s planted in. It’s the city’s biggest PR opportunity – ever!
Already, today’s national newspapers cover the team’s achievements; Swansea locals such as musician Mal Pope are being invited onto national radio stations such as BBC Five Live.
There’ll be a lot more of that to follow as the summer progresses and evolves into a 2011-12 top-flight football campaign.
Remarkable
So the Swans have done their bit, writing a remarkable eight-year rags-to-riches story.
And now it’s up to others to capitalise with the city’s cleverest, most switched-on promotional campaign.
It doesn’t have to be costly, it doesn’t have to be in-your-face – it just needs to be eye catching and effective.
Ambition
Last week a friend said Swansea didn’t have a chip on its shoulder, it had two sacks of spuds. Let’s get rid of them and show some collective Premiership ambition. Chances like this don’t come along too often.
But has the city the individual or organisation to knock the right heads together quickly and effectively? Time will tell. But the talking should be brief and the action swift.
Which of our leaders and visionaries are big enough to kick things off? Stand up if you want to be counted.
Tags: Cardiff, PR, Premiership, Swansea, Swansea City, Wales
