I Have An Idea… Sell Your City

“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington

If Kevin Durant played in Los Angeles or New York, do we really think the “where will he sign” debate would be nearly as juicy as it is today? No. It’s because he plays in Oklahoma City and the assumption is that no superstar athlete would want play out his career there. I understand why; in fact, I’m under the same impression. Think about it. When was the last time you heard someone say, “I’ve always wanted to go to Oklahoma City”? Probably never. Similarly, we’ve all been asked: “if you could live anywhere in the US, where would it be?” I’ve been asked that question on multiple occasions and I’ve asked that question on multiple occasions. Not once did I or someone else utter the words “Oklahoma City” in response. I’ve heard New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and even Portland as of late. But no Oklahoma City. That’s the biggest issue the Thunder are dealing with. Location. Specifically the lack of reputation surrounding that location. Dare I say, if Durant played for the Seattle Supersonics (RIP), this might not be a discussion at all.  

When looking at new jobs, location matters. When buying property, location matters. Similarly, when choosing a school to spend the next four or five years of your life, location matters.

 

That’s the lesson here. When it comes to college athletics, there are tens and sometimes hundreds of unrestricted free agents at the (high school equivalent) level of Kevin Durant. Every school is after those top 250 blue-chip football athletes and those top 100 blue-chip basketball players; each trying to convince these young superstars in the making that their school is right for them. Again, location matters. Knowing that, it’s as much your job to build hype and excitement around your city or town, as it is to build hype and excitement around your program. Why? Because UCLA or Miami may have a down year (or two or ten), but they will always have one thing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Pullman, Washington, and Blacksburg, Virginia do not have. They have the cities of Los Angeles and Miami. No matter their records, those cities will always be attractive places to play and live.

Your hometown may never have what those cities have, but on the flip side, I guarantee your town has something special about it that those cities don’t. Start telling that story. The bottom line is that you can and should help build your hometown’s reputation and by doing so, you may just land the next Kevin Durant.

 

“I Have An Idea…” is a series written for College AD by the author of Brands Win Championships, Jeremy Darlow.