Rhode Island FC
Building an organically local brand from the pitch up
Services
Public Relations
Earned Media Outreach
Brand Building
Community Engagement
Reputation Management
The Challenge
Rhode Island lost its minor league baseball team and the void threatened to cut at the state’s pride. From this loss, our client saw an opportunity to revitalize a long-neglected part of Pawtucket and bring an independent professional soccer team to the Ocean State. It only made sense for soccer to fill the void; the Providence market boasts some of the most robust viewership of international and premier league soccer. But it meant the new owners would need to build a club, a fanbase, and a culture from the ground up, all while navigating historic economic uncertainty.
The Solution
The team needed a communications firm that had a fresh take and the confidence to respond to tough questions from a sometimes skeptical public audience. With Half Street’s expertise in public and media relations, and emphasis on strategic planning, our team built a media relations approach that helped Rhode Island FC and Fortuitous Partners navigate the local media market and introduce an organically local brand. Our work included support for proactive and responsive press relations, robust media training, and grasstops stakeholder engagement.
Half Street supported a community tour of all 39 cities and towns which secured local media and social media attention and built excitement amongst diehard, casual, and new soccer fans alike.
The Impact