For many, part of enjoying the weekend and turning your mind away from work is to turn on the tube to catch some great sports including the NBA semi finals.
However, to many watching the game or actually being in the crowd cheering for Oklahoma City or Dallas, it may have been confusing knowing who was supposed to be cheering for whom.
That's because the t-shirts worn by almost every fan at the game were blue.
But the color wasn't just any blue. From TV screens at local sports bars to homes all across the U.S., the blue t-shirts that read, "Thunder Pride" actually matched the blue basketball jerseys worn by the opposing team, the Dallas Mavericks.
Typically, during the semi-finals, those who attend the game often receive free items such as rally towels or, in this case t-shirts to fill the visual scene with nothing but home team colors.
This continues to be a great business strategy and guerilla marketing tactic to get the crowd united and 'into' the game and even provide a boost to the players who see their color anywhere they look throughout in the stands.
However, it appears that the guerilla marketing fell flat when someone made the choice of blue shirts instead of white t-shirts to hand out.
Make no mistake. Oklahoma City does have blue as one of its main colors.
However, what may have fallen through the cracks was the fact that Oklahoma City was going to be wearing white jerseys and not blue jerseys this past Saturday, May 21st.
Should someone deciding to have the shirts made have talked to the coach or anyone to verify what jerseys their home team would be wearing, realizing that Dallas has a very similar if not the exact same blue in the colors featured on their jerseys?
On the other hand, could this unfortunate marketing mistake have possibly impacted the lackluster performance of Oklahoma City throughout Saturday's game?
Maybe this could be something to pass the buck or the blame upon as OKC regroups and gets ready for their next game set for tonight beginning at 9:00 p.m. (eastern).
From a marketing perspective, remember that it can be the smallest of details that can often be the most costly or possibly embarrassing.
The best shot to take away and apply for the next game? Remember a t-shirt isn't just a t-shirt if the colors don't match the team you want to support on the court.
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