The Rapids - Arsenal Partnership

By: Clint | February 20th, 2007

So I was thinking about the world of partnerships and what makes some successful while others are… um, less successful (I’m looking at YOU Yankees-Manchester United). Is a partnership only successful if BOTH entities reap rewards beyond what they would have without the relationship? Do non-monetary considerations make any real difference in the evaluation? For example, if XIFIN partners with Mayo Medical Laboratories, does Mayo “win” if they make twenty billion dollars and XIFIN loses ten billion? Or, is that a failed partnership?

Well, seeing how XIFIN and Mayo DID partner up, and since both of those countries are about as well-known to the average American as the Colorado Rapids, I think that was a fine introduction to this question - should the Rapids blog partner up with the Arsenal blog now that the two business entities that represent various interests and money making schemes (oh yeah, and I think they have a few athletes on the payroll somewhere, as well) have joined forces to, uhhhh, what was it again? Oh yeah, to have “a combination of commercial and marketing efforts along with an exchange of best practices”.

I’m not sure if it’s wise to make such a strategic move at this early of a juncture. After all, like the clubs themselves, the Rapids blog is quite young and possesses neither the respect nor the heritage that our potential partners have. Also, what happens to our blog’s colors if there is a partnership? Do I need to send articles to the Arsenal peeps before I post them on the Rapids blog (for review and potential poaching in the unlikely case I write something halfway decent)? You know, all other factors go down the toilet if the relationship involves a mandatory pre-season tour of London next week. If that’s part of the deal, I’m in. WAY in.

And here’s the most important question: should the Rapids blog get upset when Arsenal lose? Does a team-to-team partnership extend to fans? To blogs? To hearts? To bodog.com accounts?

Your reward for reading this far - a brilliant behind-the-scenes look at the Westminster Dog Show.