Events, public relations • June 3rd, 2008

Riversplash shots blur future

by Karl Robe

This just in … man shot in downtown Milwaukee … too many drinks lead to drunken brawl.

Could be any Saturday night in our fair city of beer and brats, right? But this donnybrook has drawn extraordinary attention for its proximity to Riversplash, the unofficial kickoff to Milwaukee’s pride- and revenue-producing festival season.

Organizers of Riversplash, which takes place on the Milwaukee River, have a window of opportunity to ensure the event sees its 20th anniversary in 2009. More than anything, they must take immediate, public and ongoing action that demonstrates how things will work differently moving forward.

While every situation is different, damage control typically starts with taking steps to identify what went wrong, what will be changed and what will be done in the future to prevent Riversplash from becoming “Thugland by the Riv.”

For politicians, event organizers must give them the cover they need with their constituents to once again support Riversplash. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV, summarizes constituent relationships very well.

“Convince my constituents,” he says. “If they’re for you, I’m for you. If they’re against you, there isn’t a way on God’s green earth I’m going to support you.”

Part of this constituency includes media and talk show hosts. Event organizers must demonstrate why the story line and commentary should focus on organizers’ ability to hold a safe, fun, family event over the past 19 years and what is being done to ensure another 19 years of prosperity.

Sponsors of events like this also are part of the constituency. As of this posting, event sponsor Miller Beer has not yet pulled the drain plug on its support for Riversplash. But rest assured, if steps are not taken to reverse the perception of how this festival “devolved over the years into a drunken brawl,” as some have described it, activist groups and other people with an axe to grind will come out against continued sponsorship.

Mayor Tom Barrett and Ald. Bob Bauman, according to a Journal Sentinel editorial, said they will be taking a closer look at similar street festivals this year and, in particular, area bars.

If you are an event organizer within a splash of Vermouth of Milwaukee, you, too, will be wise to recheck your policies and procedures, as well as your crisis plan.

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Leadership, Promotions, Strategic Blueprints • March 25th, 2008

Bucks for the Bucks?

by Chris Lato

So the Bradley Center is among the oldest facilities in the NBA, and the Bucks are worse than bad this season.

So what’s the solution? Build a new arena with taxpayer dollars, of course!

Steve Jagler sounds off on the issue and comments on how the powers-that-be refuse to play nice in coming up with a cohesive plan for downtown Milwaukee. It’s a shame, because it sounds like the potential is there if everyone could just get along.

I’m not going to claim to be some expert on sports (and if I did, those who know me well would call me out on it and embarrass me terribly), but here’s my take on new stadiums for teams. This will sound simplistic but it makes perfect sense to me.

If you’re winning, let’s talk. If you’re losing, go away until you’ve shown a commitment to winning. Then, let’s talk.

The Packers did things the right way. The Brewers, not so much – although last year was incredible. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off the Brewers’ season but it showed that Milwaukee can and will support a pro baseball team that has at least a reasonable shot at success.

But initially, things were a bit rough for Miller Park after the shiny new ballpark goodness wore off. Once a better team started taking the field, interest spiked once again.

A winning team puts butts in the seats. Go figure!

As for the Bucks, well, this season has been an unmitigated disaster. Talk about building a new arena has been churning out there for a while, but who’s going to want to back this loser team?

Playing devil’s advocate for a moment, perhaps the last best way to sell the idea of a new arena under these grim circumstances is to find a way to unite the various forces controlling downtown Milwaukee, design a state-of the art arena that will attract top-shelf live shows year-round, sell the economic benefits to the many skeptics who will control the purse strings, and systematically make the case that this will be a long-term jewel in the city’s crown. All marketing and positioning should seek to strike a balance: the big-city feel of a beautiful new arena with an intimate community connection.

Also, the Brewers have done a fantastic marketing job, making going to the ballpark fun even when the team is tanking. The Bucks need to find a way to capture some of that magic in their marketing and promotions.

This is a lot of work. It would not be easy.

The way NOT to sell the notion of a new arena is to threaten for the Bucks to pull up stakes and move out of Milwaukee. The lingering resentment surrounding mega-rich owner Herb Kohl will only intensify if those who will be asked to foot the bill feel like they’re being steamrolled on behalf of a wealthy owner throwing a tantrum.

But again, let’s see some winning first. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down - and will put some smiles on the faces of those who will be asked to pony up later.

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2008 Primaries, Views on News, wispundits • February 20th, 2008

Great minds think alike

by Chris Lato

Milwaukee talk radio’s afternoon chieftain Mark Belling has a new column up about the potential for Jim Doyle to cut bait and head for D.C. if Barack Obama is elected President.

Great minds think alike (Lato blogged with great humility).

Prospective Republican candidates for governor may want to brush up on their Barbara Lawton opposition research, just in case.

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