Let’s Talk Brand & Reputation

[ciudad_del_norte]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

^ reality sucks.

Meh. I'm not sure it's actually that dire when approached from a space that isn't just driven by envy and and an inferiority complex. Edmonton's problem isn't that we don't have a Stampede, it's that instead of engaging and promoting what it does have to offer too many spend their time complaining and then acting surprised that they, or others are feeling negative. Or that we spend so much time trying to compete with Calgary in being Calgary and then get surprised that we come up short. K-days included. I don't think K-days eventually fizzled because it wasn't promoted enough. It was always an attempted answer to stampede but one with a tenuous relationship at best to local history, cumbersome and inaccessible dress up theme, and little cultural relevance to our region or connection to a broader global culture.

I maintain that the best thing for brand and reputation is actually just engaging, participating in, and sharing the positives of what the city has to offer. Some criticism is fair, looking to learn from others (while appreciating context) is smart, getting frustrated with unrealized potential is natural. But for whatever reason, I am occasionally compelled to comment in on the wallowing here which is another thing entirely.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

Chiming in with meme's and complaining that we complain too much about Edmonton's short-comings? If the topic isn't of interest, then don't comment

Imagine if council had the same desire for things to change like Cold does? This thread wouldn't exist

[s211]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

When does this happen in Edmonton?

Surely the left could pull something together like Occupy Wall Street or some such grievance de jour, and the streets of Edmonton would be so packed as to make Calgary jealous.

[Xelebes]

K-Days was doomed to fail because we tried to make a town fair into a rodeo without the rodeo. The Stampede became a thing because it had the backing of Burns Packing, which had the unique feature of being a large packer with less competition locally. Edmonton's first major packer was Burns but quickly grew to become a competitive space. Speaking of packers, there was one packer that gave us an institution and and that institution was the Edmonton Oilers.

[Coldrsx]

Point being, their city rallies around Stampede and it becomes an amazing celebration of their city, attracts a ridiculous amount of visitors/hotel nights/spend and creates a ton of opportunities for their corporate sector to celebrate, network and connect.

It's insane how many Edmontonians and Edmonton companies/entities go there to take it in, does that have any sort or reciprocal counterpart here?

Edmonton has really lost its corporate mojo and needs to find more ways to bring it back.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

When does this happen in Edmonton?

Post a picture of the Canada Day pancake breakfast at the Leg.

[TimB09]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Point being, their city rallies around Stampede and it becomes an amazing celebration of their city, attracts a ridiculous amount of visitors/hotel nights/spend and creates a ton of opportunities for their corporate sector to celebrate, network and connect.

It's insane how many Edmontonians and Edmonton companies/entities go there to take it in, does that have any sort or reciprocal counterpart here?

Edmonton has really lost its corporate mojo and needs to find more ways to bring it back.

I remember when I worked at ATCO. Klondike Days was a big thing and our office was closed for the morning for the breakfast and parade.

It's things like that which made it a special and cool experience. Now, no one does that anymore.

Kind of sad how a cool tradition like that has gone to the wayside.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

Post a picture of the Canada Day pancake breakfast at the Leg.

Huh?

I'm talking about corporate events and celebrations.

Not even comparable.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Point being, their city rallies around Stampede and it becomes an amazing celebration of their city, attracts a ridiculous amount of visitors/hotel nights/spend and creates a ton of opportunities for their corporate sector to celebrate, network and connect.

It's insane how many Edmontonians and Edmonton companies/entities go there to take it in, does that have any sort or reciprocal counterpart here?

Edmonton has really lost its corporate mojo and needs to find more ways to bring it back.

Point being is that it is a pretty unique experience. There is a lot of parts that made the Stampede the Stampede, and make it different from the Ponoka Stampede and K-Days. K-Days aspirations would have maxed out as being like the CNE in Toronto.

Going back to the history bit, if K-Days was more accurately connected the Alaska Highway, maybe. However the gold rush was long gone by the time the Alaska Highway was started. The connection to World War II is stronger and more built into the city's fabric.

[ExcaliburKid]

If the objective here is to get the corporate community more involved, the KDays pancake breakfast is at Klondike Park, maybe it should be downtown?

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Point being, their city rallies around Stampede and it becomes an amazing celebration of their city, attracts a ridiculous amount of visitors/hotel nights/spend and creates a ton of opportunities for their corporate sector to celebrate, network and connect.

It's insane how many Edmontonians and Edmonton companies/entities go there to take it in, does that have any sort or reciprocal counterpart here?

Edmonton has really lost its corporate mojo and needs to find more ways to bring it back.

Well then tell your corporate buddies to get going on that, the City of Calgary doesn't fund Stampede alone or is even the majority partner in it.

When Northlands became defunct, that was it for K-Days ever reaching Stampede's level as you need that non-profit foundation to be the main organizer and funder for events of that scale.

Calgary has Stampede, that's their thing. They enjoy being cowboys even though the vast majority have never been on a horse. Edmonton is not cowboy, never will be, nor are we 'Klondike' - that is Dawson, Yukon's identity.

Here, we have a bunch of festivals for various things that people seem to enjoy and appreciate. We have no singular identity like Calgary does, other than 'Alberta's Capital', which I am fine with.

[Rocket252]

So if Edmonton is too have an exhibition to replace K days what should it be? Historically Edmonton is an oil and agricultural center so something related to those themes? Or with all the new Canadians here have a multicultural festival and Incorporate Heritage Days into the rides midway etc.
Or just have an exhibition with no theme just the rides and midway.
Whatever it is it has to reinforce the brand Edmonton is trying to achieve.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Harrison

Well then tell your corporate buddies to get going on that, the City of Calgary doesn't fund Stampede alone or is even the majority partner in it.

When Northlands became defunct, that was it for K-Days ever reaching Stampede's level as you need that non-profit foundation to be the main organizer and funder for events of that scale.

Calgary has Stampede, that's their thing. They enjoy being cowboys even though the vast majority have never been on a horse. Edmonton is not cowboy, never will be, nor are we 'Klondike' - that is Dawson, Yukon's identity.

Here, we have a bunch of festivals for various things that people seem to enjoy and appreciate. We have no singular identity like Calgary does, other than 'Alberta's Capital', which I am fine with.

It's WELL beyond 'being a cowboy', it's a city-wide celebration and we simply are missing that bravado and reason to celebrate, specifically our corporate sector.

[Rocket252]

^ Your correct it should be something that brings the City together in celebration.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

So if Edmonton is too have an exhibition to replace K days what should it be? Historically Edmonton is an oil and agricultural center so something related to those themes? Or with all the new Canadians here have a multicultural festival and Incorporate Heritage Days into the rides midway etc.
Or just have an exhibition with no theme just the rides and midway.
Whatever it is it has to reinforce the brand Edmonton is trying to achieve.

K-Days should be transformed into the equivalent of the CNE in Toronto or the PNE in Vancouver.
NWNE (Northwest National Exhibition)
NNE (Northern National Exposition)
PRNE (Prairies National Exhibition)

[Rocket252]

^ I agree.

[Coldrsx]

'Capital Ex'

[feepa]

How about we pick anything sensible, and stick with it, and actually get behind it. At this point it seems like just a rebranding exercise every few years followed by a lack of follow through on the rest of it. Ahhh ... such is Edmonton.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Huh?

I'm talking about corporate events and celebrations.

Not even comparable.

Stampede isn't a corporate event but definition, it's a rodeo and fair. It is highly attended by corporations who over the years have bought into the branding and the social aspect of it (plus the week of white collar people not really working, unless drinking is working) adding a whole bunch of party tents and events.

Edmonton has tons of well attended events, none that are highly attended by corporations, because the corporate head office community (white collar people who could get paid for a week to drink as work) here is pretty small and has been for decades. It just is what it is and reflects the different corporate trajectories of the two cities since the 1980s.

[Rocket252]

Originally Posted by feepa

How about we pick anything sensible, and stick with it, and actually get behind it. At this point it seems like just a rebranding exercise every few years followed by a lack of follow through on the rest of it. Ahhh ... such is Edmonton.

I agree. We need to stick with something and promote the heck out of it.

My suggestion is Edmonton Northern Exposition or Great Northern Exposition- GNE.

We are the largest Northern City in Canada. Why not sell it all we can.