31 March saw the social media roll out of a video showing support and gratitude for all those keeping the state and the country running during the coronavirus outbreak created by all the major professional sports teams in Arizona: including the Cardinals (NFL), Coyotes (NHL), Diamondbacks (MLB), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) and the Phoenix Suns (NBA).
Launched a few weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic halted sports across North America, the film opens with a narrator saying: “Today, the roar of the crowd is a memory. We’ve pressed pause on a shared connection we all feel for sports. It wasn’t a choice. But maybe it can teach us a little about our community. Soon enough, it will be gameday once again. But for now, maybe we should stand up and cheer for something different: For a person of sacrifice, for the things and people we once took for granted; for teachers and sanitation workers; first responders and soldiers; for the pharmacists, for the people that supply our food; for the people keeping our electricity on and our water clean; and most of all, for our doctors and nurses. Show how much we appreciate them, for keeping us safe, giving us faith and providing us hope. This time, let them hear the roar of the crowd, from border to border and everywhere in between.”
“Someday soon, the time will come again to drop the puck, We’ll get to be in our seats just in time for the opening tip,” the narration continues. “It will be the top of the first, no one on, no one out. Kickoff will be just moments away, and our children will be back on the ice, court and field. We’ll return to the smell of hot dogs and taste of cold beer, the sights, and most of all, the sounds. Until then, let’s stay together, even if we can’t be together. Be safe, be kind, show gratitude. Thank somebody for doing their job, for you, your loved ones, for Arizona.”
Amplified across the social channels of all five team, the spot carries the hashtag #AIIAZ and closes with the caption: “All of us. All together”.
Comment:
The spot has thus far generated 600,000 organic views across the social channels of the five teams with the biggest views notched up by the Cardinals on Twitter (230k), the Coyotes on Titter (61k), Diamondbacks on Facebook (64k), Mercury on Twitter (5.1k) and Suns on Facebook (17k).
As well as backing, created and releasing the video, all five local Arizona teams have stepped up to play other roles in the crisis.
For example, the Cardinals have been scheduling blood drives at State Farm Stadium that have continued to reach capacity, while other teams have donated money, time, expertise, facilities and more.
Links:
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Coyotes
Arizona Diamondbacks
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Suns
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