You are browsing the archive for public relations.

Avatar of jonnylons

by jonnylons

Marlins Seek Professional Help for PR Problem

January 30, 2013 in Offseason

The biggest challenge of the upcoming baseball season may be the one facing JeffreyGroup, the marketing and communications agency hired this week to help repair the Miami Marlins’ tattered image.

“We plan to help the team communicate effectively with each of its key stakeholders, including media, community leaders, partners and, most importantly, loyal fans,” said Mike Valdes-Fauli, President of JeffreyGroup.

Fans have been in an uproar this offseason since the Marlins dumped about $150 million in salary in trading veteran players for prospects following their first season in their new ballpark that was funded largely by public money.

The team has also taken a PR beating in comparisons with the Dolphins’ approach in seeking support for stadium renovations. The discussion has revived animosity about the Marlins’ ballpark deal.

JeffreyGroup replaces RBB, a Coral Gables firm that has represented the Marlins since 2003.

“We feel it’s critical to enhance our dialogue with the community to ensure we are doing the best job possible,” Marlins President David Samson said in a statement.

via Marlins seek professional help for PR problem.

Tags: , , , No Comments »

Avatar of jonnylons

by jonnylons

No FanFest for Marlins This Year

January 16, 2013 in Offseason

How do you reach out to the public and fix things? How do you make things right for a fan base that has turned almost completely against you after a 93 loss season and a perceived fire sale? You pull the plug on the annual FanFest. Oh, and you silence anyone from talking to the media.

Instead of calling it FanFest, it will be called a “Winter Warm Up” and scheduled for February 9th from 10 – 3pm at Marlins Park. According to a report by Joe Capozzi, VP of marketing Sean Flynn broke the news. “It will be accurate that there will not be an event named FanFest,” Flynn said. The player caravan, Capozzi reports, is also not going to happen as it did in the past but will be modified – and culminate at Marlins Park after a week long series of events.

This coming on the heels of another seemingly bad PR reaction – Jeffrey Loria has reportedly muzzled team president David Samson from talking with the media. Barry Jackson reports:

Besides forbidding president David Samson from doing his radio show, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria also told Samson that he can no longer do interviews. That’s short-sighted, because Samson made himself more accountable and accessible than many team presidents, even amid unpopular decisions made solely by Loria. Loria, by the way, has refused to speak to the media since mid-November.

As the Fish shore up their roster with meager, fringe players, and fumble around with various PR moves, it looks like it is going to be a long offseason and possibly longer 2013 season. There is still hope that this lineup over performs and racks up some interest early on, but leading up to that point expect very little excitement for this franchise.

Tags: , , , No Comments »