The Arkansas Travelers recently “re-branded.” Their new colors are Travs red, majestic maroon, stone gray and swamp black. They’re also now the first minor league team to have their own variety of camouflage. It’s called “Swamp Camo” and includes cypress trees, sage grass and the new logo hidden amidst the camouflage. But the organization isn’t quite ready to debut Swamp Camo to the public, according to General Manager Paul Allen. Also yet to be revealed is the new mascot. Shelly, the team’s buck-toothed, floppy-eared mascot that you might be surprised to learn was a horse (moose and donkey were our best guess) retired after the end of last season after 17 years. Allen said the new mascot, described by the Travs as “a legendary creature, an omen known to bringing good luck,” will be announced closer to the beginning of next season.
Considering that the new logo prominently features a horse and the old mascot was a horse, the smart money on the new mascot is that it too is a horse. Allen’s response? “Quite possible.” Then again, Brandiose, the San Diego design firm that led the Travs’ rebranding effort did come up with the logos for the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, so maybe the firm will convince the Travs to get wacky. Below, some Arkan-centric suggestions.