Greetings all.
Yep World Cup 2010 is right around the corner and the South African marketing initiatives to raise awareness for the competition seem to be puttering along pretty slowly. I’m stoked to see that the stadiums are coming along nicely, I’m very impressed, especially with the Durban stadium…it’s breathtaking.
But, what about the television marketing and online side? The momentum just doesn’t seem to be there.
Has the World Cup marketing taken a back seat in relation to the actual physical stadiums and infrastructure?
Listen it’s not like we don’t have the creative talent to put together awesome adverts and enlightening TV specials…so why the lackadaisical approach to the World Cup 2010 marketing?
What’s more, how much information is being sent across to the rest of the world….if we are actually in the country where it’s being hosted and there is such little action, what the heck is happening elsewhere. I think it was last week that we saw people gathered in New York putting on some kind of public pump for the World Cup…however it look no better organized/funded than some kind of protest march.
It’s interesting that while there has been a bit of marketing on the television, there seems to be very little online. Well at least I remember that when I was living overseas in 2006 and the World Cup marketing machine was in full swing it was like an unstoppable wave of football fever that was just about everywhere you looked. Even the subsequent run up to the event a year prior was absolutely huge.
Is it just me or does there seem to be very little going on in South Africa in terms of marketing the event?
It’s painfully obvious the World Cup 2010 marketing here and abroad has a long way to go.
Perhaps somebody can help me out here. Who is responsible for funding the various marketing/advertising initiatives for the host country? Is it entirely up to the host, or does FIFA get involved and help out? I’d be surprised if the other countries that qualified did not contribute in some way…other than dazzling football skills that is 
When will there be a turning point in the level of marketing?
I’m waiting for the World Cup tsunami to hit, but so far it’s a 2 foot shore break.
D.
I found your website whilst researching consumer PR angles for Cape Town. Your shop in included in a feature on the City in a UK travel magazine, so well done on that! I am the UK press and PR representative for Cape Town Tourism and I wanted to tell you that I am working my socks off to get Cape Town and all it’s wonderful parts high on the travel shopping lists of UK consumers for the World Cup next year. Cape Town Tourism is doing great work to promote to consumers in the UK, the States and on the continent. Maybe you could support thier efforts, perhaps you already do? I think a WC tsunami will hit CT next year and in the years after that.
Hi there Mary.
I do believe we were in an article, The Times wasn’t it? Its always fantastic to get overseas recognition. I’m glad to hear you guys at Cape Town Tourism are working hard. Nicely done.
This World Cup is about to be twice bigger than the one in Germany
You WANT to be there and buy the FIFA 2010 products from the people there