Where my Tampa betches at? Hey girls, have you ever thought “Darn it, I love football, but I just don’t get it because I am a girl and dumb?” Well the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have got your number. This fall, they’re introducing RED, a movement to help women learn to love football via Pinterest and other things gals go gaga for.
RED is “A movement that will be led by the women of Tampa Bay, alongside the Buccaneers, to become innovators and leaders in changing the way football is enjoyed by women.” That almost certainly means painting the stadium pink and putting Barefoot Bubbly on tap at concession stands. And ladies, feel me, you can’t spell football without Pinterest:
RED will re-invent the female fan experience by providing insight into topics such as: what goes on behind the scenes on gamedays at Raymond James Stadium; how to maximize their gameday experience; how to blend personal Buccaneer pride with the latest NFL fashions; as well as tips on sharing their experiences and ideas via social media platforms such as Pinterest.
I know what you’re thinking, though. How the heck can you enjoy football if you’re not dressed for the occasion? Well gals, since RED just gets you so much, they are throwing a launch party on Sept. 10 at the Bucs’ stadium, where you’ll get game-day style tips from the experts. ;) Also: home entertaining and tailgating ideas that incorporate Bucs paraphernalia and spirit, of course. Oh and I believe, at some point, there will be an explanation of the game of football, a game where I am pretty sure men get on a field and somehow try to run a ball to the other side of that field. If I’m getting that right, the person with them most “goals” or “points” wins in the end and gets to go home with the opposing team’s women.
RED is not unlike the WOW women’s program the Skins launched a few years ago. The respective Football, But For Women campaigns have a lot in common: they’re completely out of touch, condescending, and misogynistic for starters. The ironic thing about these programs is that they only serve to show how little NFL teams actually care about women. RED and WOW are nothing more than surface-level pandering, and I’m positive these programs are started by a bunch of men in suits, sitting around a table smoking cigars, thinking of ways to get girls (and their wallets, more importantly) involved at games. “Uhhh, Pinterest! Clothes! Tailgating! My balls itch!” The attitudes that produce programs like RED presume that female sports fans are inherently dumber than male fans. Sure, maybe women want to feel more included at sporting events, but this isn’t the way to do it Here’s an idea: if you want to make your female fans feel welcome, do something that’s basically the opposite of this. And don’t pander to us! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some jerseys that need bedazzling.