As you can tell by the title of this post, this is not social media related. But since I also cover advertising and marketing on occasion and since I'm trying to fit in more Detroit-centric topics, I figured this would be okay...

So I am a huge Red Wings fan. Actually, I'm a huge hockey fan in general--college, youth, pond. I watch but never play since I wasn't born with a coordinated gene in my body. On top of loving the game of hockey, I've developed an obsession with the Winter Classic games. And when they announced the 2013 Winter Classic would be in Detroit, I all about died. I started early and my family and I acquired early tickets from a season ticket holder.

Part of the fun about the Winter Classic (at least from the perspective of an advertising/marketing professional) is the big unveiling of the vintage-inspired jerseys and other official merchandise specifically for the game. The NHL and teams build up the releases of the merchandise, which are then just produced for a limited amount of time (which I believe may just be through the end of the season). People go crazy and buy them all up. The last Wings Winter Classic jersey is still really popular.

Without getting into the drama of this season's lockout, the 2013 Winter Classic ended up being canceled before we ever got a glimpse of the special jerseys.

Earlier this year the lockout ended and we went back to playing hockey. Last week during the Red Wings Maple Leafs game, the NHL unveiled the 2014 Winter Classic designs for the jerseys and for the additional merchandise like hats, tshirts, and other fun stuff.

The official merchandise includes this hat:


Notice anything interesting about the hat?

NHL Winter Ass

Yes, here is the NHL's Ass Hat.

My questions is: How the hell did this design make it all the way to production?

I always assumed that dozens of people would be reviewing and signing off on all the official designs to ensure spelling, continuity, brand consistency, etc. But apparently not. Or did really no one ever notice this?!

I'd expect this from some of the non-licenced products that you see sold outside the arenas and at convenience stores but this is the official design sold at Joe Louis (and I'm assuming at the Maple Leafs' arena) for $30. This could be the hat we see players wearing.

I picked this hat up earlier this month at the Joe as a laugh but it really has me thinking...

Anyone else see this hat or have any thoughts on the topic? Am I just blowing this way out of proportion or is this a huge marketing and branding blunder?

Yesterday I had the opportunity, with a few other Detroit bloggers, to sit down and interview Kirk Maltby, Red Wing alumni, at the Official Red Wings Viewing Party at MotorCity Casino.

Maltby talks about how retirement life is treating him and his family as well as how he feels about the currently injured Wings team and what it's like to watch the games at home.  He also shares with us a lot of his favorite memories being with the Red Wings.

I could say more but I'll let Kirk tell you the rest...

I'm in the process of editing all the footage I got at tonight's Official Red Wing Viewing Party at MotorCity Casino... especially the interview of Kirk Maltby.

In the meantime, enjoy this!

During the game I was able to sit hang out and talk with Kirk Maltby before our interview.  We talked about social media and blogging and everyone kind of just gave him and overview of what we're doing up here in the Social Media Command Center at the DRWparty.

Telling Maltby about vlogging and showing him my new Sony Bloggie camera.

I have been invited by the MotorCity Casino social media and marketing department to come down to their Official Red Wing Viewing Party tonight and get my vlog on.  They're hooking me up, along with a few other bloggers, with access to a private box where we can have access to our computers, internet and chargers.  We also get to interview Kirk Maltby, a Red Wing alumni.

I'm really excited!  I can't wait to share my footage!