Here we go again: this is almost September and the world's favorite French rugby team is publishing its calendar.
The 33-page Dieux du Stade calendar is this time in color. The ruggers were shot by American photographer Steven Klein, who is famous for his provocative pictures of Madonna, Brad Pitt, and David Beckham. As usual, the men will show their best assets. Unlike American professional sports players, Europeans are relaxed about nudity, even frontal.
The 2007 edition of the calendar sold more than 200,000 copies worldwide. Even though it was more successful than ever, it drew a lot of criticism as it was deemed pornographic. The 2008 edition should be less risqué but still very sexy. The official launch date is on September 6. It is expected that the calendar hits new records, as the Rugby World Cup starts in Paris on September 5 and will be bringing lots of rugby fans to the French souvenir shops.
The players are mostly part of the Paris Rugby Team (aka Le Stade Français). The team won once again the French championship in 2007. Quite a few of the guys on the calendar are part of the national team and will be playing in the Rugby World Cup.
The calendar even has its own blog: Dieux du Stade 2008.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Colorful Rugby Calendars
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a line of colorful and provocative calendars featuring athletes from different sports to cater to a more diverse market.
- Relaxed Attitudes Towards Nudity
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a brand that embraces natural beauty and promotes body positivity by featuring diverse body types and challenging societal norms around nudity.
- Sports Merchandise for Events
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design and produce limited-edition merchandise for major sporting events to capitalize on the influx of fans and enhance their experience.
Sectors Adopting This
- Photography
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new techniques and styles in photography to capture the essence of athletes and create captivating visual content.
- Fashion
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with sports teams to create unique and trendy apparel that blurs the line between sports and fashion.
- Sports Marketing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize digital platforms and social media to create engaging and interactive campaigns that connect sports fans with their favorite teams and athletes.
