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Internet Mascots From 2006

December 31st, 2006 by Jim Kukral

It’s the end of the year (literally like 7 hours now), things are sloooowwww, and well, I can think of no better time than for me to lighten up the mood here at ReveNews. I believe that the online marketing/technology industry needs mascots, don’t you? I’ve taken the liberty of putting a few ideas together below, based on big stories from 2006. Please let me know what you think.

Why have a mascot? According to Mascots.com, Mascots help you earn revenue by…

1. Mascots can attract new sponsors

For example, a department store sponsors the Tampa Bay Lightning mascots, Thunderbug and Ladybug. This sponsorship would not have been likely if the team did not have the mascots, and allows the department to leverage its relationship to the team by frequent store appearances by the popular characters.

2. Mascots allow you to build new promotions

You can build new promotions with your mascot on a single game or repeat basis. Promotions might include a mascot game at half time, or a pizza giveaway delivered by your mascot at each game.

3. Merchandise

You can create merchandise for your mascot Character that can be sold to generate significant revenue. Plush Dolls, T-shirts, key chains, etc. can all be developed around your character and represent another product in your retail merchandise offerings.

4. Appearances

Your character can charge for appearances. You should be able to create celebrity status with your character. We have heard to some teams charging up to $600.00 per hour for local corporate events.

5. Entertainment Experience

A great mascot can add to the entertainment experience for the fan. It is rare that a team can play its absolute best all game, every game. A mascot can make fans feel they were still entertained, even if it wasn’t the team’s best game.

6. Visibility

A mascot can give the team high visibility in the community. Players aren’t always available for public appearances, and your mascot may be more easily recognized. When Street Characters President Glenn Street spoke at the NHL League meetings this summer, one team representative said “When we take our franchise player and our mascot and send them down the street, more people will recognize the Mascot than the player”. To the average person a mascot can be easily associated with its team.