It’s safe to say the Portland Fire are pulling all the stops to create that memorable fan experience. And why wouldn’t they? The WNBA matches, or basketball games in general, are a unique product offering. And what is the single biggest selling point of this product? Create memories for your attending fans that will last them a lifetime.

In a recent post, the Portland Fire advertised a requirement for a mascot. Well, at least the person who puts on that costume. Supposedly, if there is a costume at all. The internet is rife with speculation as to what the new mascot will be. Some think it will be a mythical Phoenix, a dragon, or even a flaming ember.

The Fire are calling the position an entertainment specialist. But that is not why it is generating a buzz. The buzz is for the compensation it is offering, which is advertised as anywhere between $ 100 and $ 130 an hour. The reaction has been immediate and comical from the fans.

Some fans just want a pancake as the mascot. These Portland folks do have a good sense of humour.

Some fans just want a pancake as the mascot. These Portland folks do have a good sense of humor.

Some are willing to jump through fire for the role. Not symbolic, but literal fire. Some are willing to hop on a bike and move to Portland. Some are even willing to do some less-than-ideal acts in front of their grandma for the role. Needless to say, the Fire fans are excited about this development.

The Fire doesn’t have an official mascot as of now. The only thing that comes close is Megan Gustafson’s corgi who is ridiculously cute. The Fire fans adore that dog.

Still, as the popularity of the WNBA and its teams is rising, so is the business and it’s demands. The teams and their management are leaving no stone unturned for the stadium atmosphere, which once again takes us back to the mascot.

The Portland team mascot, during their stint in the WNBA back in 2000-02, was a fire station Dalmatian called ‘Spot’. It is not known whether Spot will be making a comeback or Portland will go for something new.

Mascots are an integral part of the experience

Mascots as a concept are nothing new. So the WNBA’s newest team is certainly moving in the obvious direction. The league already has so many popular mascots. ‘Ellie the elephant’ of the New York Liberty is quite popular. A popular fan obviously means more attraction towards the team. And fans come back for the stadium atmosphere.

When Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks, one of the first things that he did was improve the fan experience. The teams always want to create that mood and energy that would make the fans come back for it.

Some mascots have, over the years, taken a larger-than-life appeal in the basketball world. ‘Benny the Bull’ of the Chicago Bulls is quite famous on his own. Mainly due to his antics, both on and off the court.

The Portland listing also suggests that similar things can be expected here. The post says “Must possess an extraordinary level of creativity, energy, and spontaneity, and have the passion to constantly build and present new and creative ideas.” Yup, this will surely get the fans excited.

Some experts do point out the concerns when it comes to mascots. The people behind the costume spend hours in hot, stuffy dresses. They have to practice for hours with the staff to be ready for game nights. Medical coverage is often cited as the minimum.

But the mascots were, and will be, an integral part of the WNBA and basketball universe. The fans love them. The kids love them. They charge the crowds. They cheer the teams. They are adorable. Let’s see what the Portland Fire chooses.