3 Reasons Why Town Mascots Are Underrated

Japan has them. US cities have them via their sports teams. And there should be more of them!

Art

In Athens, Georgia, you’ll notice the bulldogs. The state university is located in Athens, and their mascot is a bulldog.

But the city decided to embrace it as well by encouraging local businesses to place large, stone, decorated bulldogs in front of their businesses. The project took on a life of its own. Artists reimagined the statues and brought a playfulness and joy to random streets. That spirit needs to be in every city – a balance between a unity and diversity. It’s great.

Identity

So many cities in the US and around the world are Anywhere, US. They have the same mix of national brands. The same building codes that drive the same architecture. The same planning principles that yield the same public works and housing and the same “look” – that’s no fun!

Every place is unique in some way…but it can be hard to communicate it quickly. Mascots do that. For all the ridiculousness of the Philadelphia Flyer’s Gritty, apparently he taps into Philadelphia’s spirit somehow. I’m glad that minor league baseball teams are adopting locally inspired names. But there’s no reason every city council can’t just adopt a mascot to communicate what the city is about.

Japan Already Does This – and It’s Hilarious

Just look at Japan for what to do (and what not to do!). Many Americans already identify with their school systems (go Jaguars!) but there’s room for creativity and sharing. Less boring and more whimsy at city council meetings.

Go down to city council and pitch them!