Inter Miami getting new mascot. He's made of recycled team gear
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A rendering of the new Inter Miami heron mascot. Photo: (re)boot
Move over, Sebastian the Ibis. A new bird mascot is coming to town.
- Inter Miami is finalizing details to debut its first-ever mascot, a heron made of upcycled sports gear collected from the team.
Why it matters: Heron — expected to debut later this season — will be the world's first upcycled mascot, says Gabriella Mas, whose sports recycling company (re)boot is involved in the project.
Details: The mascot — designed by artist Gary Lockwood, known as Freehand Profit — will have a pink 3D-printed beak and feathers made of cleats, jerseys and goalie gloves.
- Inter Miami's logo features great white herons, and the team is sometimes referred to as the Herons.
How it works: Mas, whose father is Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas, tells Axios (re)boot had already been collecting discarded team equipment for a clothing line but had excess material — like shin guards, cleats and balls — that couldn't go into clothing.
- "We really didn't know what to do with it, but we knew it couldn't be thrown away, as each piece holds value and is part of the story of Inter Miami CF," she tells Axios.
- (Re)boot tapped AKQA Bloom for help, and the firm discovered Lockwood's work turning sneakers into masks. The idea for an upcycled mascot was born.
What they're saying: The mascot will serve as a symbol of environmental stewardship and "bring awareness to the waste crisis in the sports industry," Mas says.
The other side: Some Inter Miami fans voiced their displeasure with the design on social media.
- One X user said it "looks like a cross between Sebastian and a Power Ranger."
The intrigue: The club hasn't officially announced the new mascot, but snippets of the new design were teased this week by Lockwood, (re)boot and AKQA Bloom.
- Mas said the design is "almost" finalized, but confirmed Heron will be the team's official mascot. She hopes he will appear at every game.
- An exact unveiling date hasn't been determined, but she says the club aims to introduce him later this season.