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Monday, February 04, 2013

Royals only promising to ‘Come To Play’ in 2013

No brash promises this year from the Royals, not even after overhauling their battered rotation in the offseason.

The club’s 2013 slogan, announced Monday, is “Come To Play,” which is notable primarily for its toned-down expectations after a 12-game losing streak last April turned 2012’s “Our Time” theme into a punchline.

“The idea behind it is a dual thing,” said Toby Cook, the Royals’ vice president for community affairs and publicity. “We want to communicate that every one of our guys, every game, will come to play – ready to give it their all.

“The secondary idea behind it is that it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play – to get involved in it. We’re all in this together.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 04, 2013 at 03:59 PM | 33 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: come to play, marketing, our time, royals, slogans

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1. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:21 PM (#4362566)

“We want to communicate that every one of our guys, every game, will come to play

So KC fans can look forward to a Perfect Attendance blue ribbon hanging from the rafters at Kauffman Stadium for years to come.

2. Bob Tufts Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:33 PM (#4362574)

"Come to play"? They should have used Tower of Power's "We Came To Play" and had Victor Conte join them for the season.

3. dr. scott Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:37 PM (#4362577)

I love these taglines. the best was for the 2008 Giants, who had some serious issues. the tagline was "All Out, All the time". And it described the team perfectly. A bunch of hitless wonders. The best regular hitter on the team was Randy Winn... ah, the good ole days.

4. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:38 PM (#4362578)

it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play

That could help attendance and the quality of the Royals' play.

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:47 PM (#4362588)

This is sensational - Sloganalysis: The Worst MLB Slogans Ever, And What It Says About Your Horrible Team

6. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: February 04, 2013 at 05:54 PM (#4362597)

“The secondary idea behind it is that it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play

--we need a secondbaseman."

7. Ellis Valentine's Bright Future Posted: February 04, 2013 at 06:01 PM (#4362602)

Great link to the slogan analysis.

I guess I gotta believe.

8. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: February 04, 2013 at 06:10 PM (#4362611)

Finished just ahead of "Haven't lost a playoff game in 27 seasons".

9. The Yankee Clapper Posted: February 04, 2013 at 06:59 PM (#4362660)

“Come To Play,”

The fans abhor a forfeit.

10. Topher Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:07 PM (#4362672)

I'm not a huge fan of stealing a slogan that previously was used by another team. But if you are going to go down than road, you could do a lot worse than emulating the 2003 Detroit Tigers.

11. Jim Wisinski

Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:08 PM (#4362674)

Pretty sure "We Come to Play" was an old Devil Rays slogan, probably '04 or '05

12. Lassus Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:22 PM (#4362680)

What some team really needs to do is go with #10's "Allons-y!"

13. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:42 PM (#4362701)

The Sloganalysis is brililant.

Probably the most depressing slogan ever was "We Will", for one season of the Zach Duke-era Pirates.

The most mysterious might be the 2011 Marlins' "Catch Our Moves".

14. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:44 PM (#4362703)

I'm not a huge fan of stealing a slogan that previously was used by another team. But if you are going to go down than road, you could do a lot worse than emulating the 2003 Detroit Tigers.

But the modern equivalent of the 2003 Tigers is the 2013 Astros! Now they have to find a different slogan.

15. Jack Carter, calling Beleaguered Castle Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:53 PM (#4362712)

"We Will", and "Taking you There"?

HTF did those past muster?

16. Walt Davis Posted: February 04, 2013 at 07:56 PM (#4362713)

The secondary idea behind it is that it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play

It's how the Astros built their roster.

17. Shredder Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:03 PM (#4362717)

“The secondary idea behind it is that it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play – to get involved in it. We’re all in this together.”

See, I would read this is as completely the opposite. I usually go through the mental gymnastics of getting myself ready to play at every MLB game I go to....JUST IN CASE!! But at a Royals game, I wouldn't even worry about it, because they've already promised me that THEY'VE come to play. I see it as "We come to play...so there's no need for you to worry about getting called into the lineup at the last second", which, let's be honest, has probably been a real source of anxiety for Royals fans the past couple decades.

18. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past

Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:13 PM (#4362726)

I'm not a huge fan of stealing a slogan that previously was used by another team. But if you are going to go down than road, you could do a lot worse than emulating the 2003 Detroit Tigers.

Pretty sure "We Come to Play" was an old Devil Rays slogan, probably '04 or '05

RR's link in #5 says the '04 Rangers used it, too.

Your 2013 Kansas City Royals: We're so poor, we can't even afford an original slogan.

19. Tom Nawrocki Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:17 PM (#4362731)

I think the Mets a few years back used the slogan "Show Up at Shea," which is just depressing on so many levels.

20. Jack Carter, calling Beleaguered Castle Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:37 PM (#4362740)

The full slogan was "Show Up at Shea. Or not. You know, if there's nothing on cable. Because we'll be here. We have to be. But you don't. I mean, why would you? Just think about it. That's all we ask."

21. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:44 PM (#4362746)

this stuff gives marketing interns something to do

what can you expect from a bunch of 24 year olds?

22. The District Attorney Posted: February 04, 2013 at 08:57 PM (#4362760)

"Show Up at Shea" was indeed horrible. But as any long-time Met fan knows, the 1986 team had the slogan "Baseball Like It Oughta Be", and won 108 games. Including that would have made a significant difference in the sloganalysis (particularly if it were classified in the otherwise hapless "Pride Tradition Heart Pride Blah Blah" category.)

23. boteman Posted: February 04, 2013 at 10:13 PM (#4362792)

Orioles: You Gotta Be There!

That was from 1988, the season of the horrendous 0-21 start.

Followed by the ever-hopeful "Y NOT?" season in 1989.

24. Canker Soriano Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:10 AM (#4362831)

Nothing was more depressing than the Cubs' "We're working on it" from sometime in the mid-90s.

Of course, it's not like 2013 projects to be any great shakes. Cubs 2013: "We'll never finish 6th in the division again!"

25. JJ1986 Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:14 AM (#4362832)

I liked the 1989 Indians slogan - "they're still shitty."

26. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:33 AM (#4362840)

We’re all in this together

Didn't the crew of the Titanic utter this many years ago?

27. The Yankee Clapper Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:41 AM (#4362843)

Save Our Season would work for a number of teams.

28. smileyy Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:49 AM (#4362845)

A team with no hope could do worse than stealing "IT'S TIME IT'S TIME IT'S VADER TIME!"

29. Austin Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:51 AM (#4362846)

There aren't a lot of good slogans in the article, but most seem harmless to me. However, a few really stood out as mind-bogglingly bad ideas:

"Back to the grind."
"Come see the Expos for all the right reasons."
"Your season has come." (This one is cheating, but it was the '07 Mets, and the irony is too good to ignore.)
"It's your call." (By far and away the worst. Am I missing the interpretation that makes it make sense? Was someone trying to sabotage the Expos?)

30. smileyy Posted: February 05, 2013 at 12:51 AM (#4362847)

[12] Perhaps the Padres, to mark the rise of Yonder Alonso?

31. Jim Wisinski

Posted: February 05, 2013 at 01:50 AM (#4362859)

The old Rays also used "Let's Play! It's a Tampa Bay thing" (I think that one was 2004) and "Watch It Happen" which, considering the product on the field, quickly got modified by the fans to "Watch What Happen?" or "Watch #### Happen".

32. Random Transaction Generator Posted: February 05, 2013 at 03:19 AM (#4362877)

If a team ever uses the phrase "believe in pride," which you know one of these damn teams will do at some point, call 911 or tell a trusted adult.

I did a spit-take on that one.

33. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: February 05, 2013 at 07:44 AM (#4362890)

If a team ever uses the phrase "believe in pride," which you know one of these damn teams will do at some point, call 911 or tell a trusted adult.

I did a spit-take on that one.

I don't get it. Maybe I need another 7 cups of coffee.

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Monday, February 04, 2013

Royals only promising to ‘Come To Play’ in 2013

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