The Chicago Red Stars, a founding member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), promoted the 2023 season schedule through a social campaign in which the players leveraged viral interest in a dance scene in the Netflix movie ‘Wednesday’ by recreating the iconic movie moves in an online video with a few added ball skills, flicks and tricks.
The players recreated the dance scene, also set to The Cramps’ 1980 version of the 1962 song ‘Goo Goo Muck’ by Ronnie Cook, and posted it across their social media accounts.
The central video was supported by additional social content including a bloopers style spot and the content aims to drive viewers online to explore Red Stars’ schedule and the season ticket packages available on the website.
The player initiative aimed to boost awareness of the schedule release, the new 2023 season kick-off and to drive ticket sales.
Plus, the team will hope it helps start to rebuild trust between the organisation and the fanbase after January 2023 saw former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames banned from the NWSL for life and the team fined $1.5m after a league investigation reported systemic abuse and sexual misconduct.
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If you’re in the sub-set of Chicago Red Stars supporters who like the Netflix show ‘Wednesday’ and dancing, then you’re going to love this.
Other new season start social content included a pre-season team trip to Sneakerhead University: a black-owned museum in Downtown Chicago highlighting kicks, culture, history, and individuality through shoes.
The Red Stars, who are based in the suburb of Bridgeview and were a founding member of the WPS before they joined the NWSL in 2013, have something of a tumultuous history on and off the pitch. The team was at the centre of two separate investigations of abuse in the league – which saw a coach banned for life and a majority owner pledge to sell – and yet also held the record for the longest active NWSL playoff streak (2015–2022).
The 2023 NWSL season runs from 25 March to 11 November and the Red Stars’ first home match of the new season is on 1 April against the Houston Dash.
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