Orem Lands an Wl

ATY0805p010-021 6/24/05 12:16 PM Page 11 [ Logo/Mascot Profile ] GGIVINGIVING AA HHOOTO>>> OT OREM LANDS AN WL IN THE MOVIES, all dogs go and pair of glaring, angry yellow and “We liked the double ‘O’ in Orem to heaven. In baseball, owls can only blue owl eyes. Owlz. A lot of teams in Utah have hope to become angels… While this intimidating design is names that ended in a double-Z. It’s a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, embroidered on all of the Owlz red Utah thing. We did not want to neces- that is. game caps, it has also taken on a life sarily carry on the double-Z tradition, The Orem Owlz, took flight on of its own on the team’s official web- but from a marketing standpoint it is their inaugural season in June. After site. When visitors access the team’s a better draw with the Z,” says Sarah four seasons as the Angels in nearby homepage, an animated version of the Hansen, the Owlz assistant general Provo, Utah, the Orem franchise ‘Owlz eyes’ appears at the top of the manager. enters the 2005 season with an screen. The eyes open up and scan In addition to the most obvious entirely new image—one of the the surroundings, before intently gaz- allusion, the NBA’s Utah Jazz, the fiercest and coolest new logos in the ing back at the website visitor. Owlz join the Utah Blitzz minor leagues. The Owlz are donning two addi- (Professional Soccer League), Utah Like various other ball clubs in tional on-field hats this season. Their Starzz (WNBA), and Utah Freezz search of an identity this season— alternate cap is red with a giant white (World Indoor Soccer League) in state such as the Corpus Christi Hooks and ‘O’ grasped in sharp talons. Batting teams with nicknames ending with a Modesto Nuts—the Owlz turned to practice cap boasts a more elaborate ‘Z’. Prior to becoming the Stingers, the Studio Simon in Louisville, Kentucky design: a red-plumed owl in flight, Triple-A Salt Lake City Buzz also fol- to design an image that would stand with the head of a baseball, the same lowed this unique tradition. out. Analogous to the enormously intense eyes, and talons clutching two Surprisingly, the 2005 season will popular fashion set by the Lake baseball bats crossed over its back. mark the first year in the team’s line- Elsinore Storm, Simon created a pri- While other minor league teams age where their nickname differs mary on-field delve deep into their regional heritage from the parent team’s nickname The logo consist- or have a fan contest to name a new original Orem Owlz trace their history ing solely of team, the new club management took back to Helena, Montana. After play- an owl’s beak complete charge in naming its team. ing as the Phillies from 1978-1983 and AT THE YARD | August 2005 11 ATY0805p010-021 6/24/05 12:16 PM Page 12 [ Logo/Mascot Profile ] the Brewers from 1985-2000 in the Big Needless to say, the emergence Sky State, the team moved south and of a six-foot tall owl with a wingspan became the Provo Angels in 2001. greater in size than most Owlz fans The first four seasons the Provo was quite a sight. Essentially identical Angels used Brigham Young Univer- in appearance to the gallant red owl sity’s Larry Miller Field on a year-to- on the team’s batting practice cap, the year basis; as it became apparent that appropriately named Hootz was born a permanent home was needed. looking like a true baseball fan; his “[The new stadium] was going head was an enormous baseball and to be built in Provo, but that whole he already sported an Owlz jersey deal fell through,” Hansen said of (with the number 05) and team’s alter- the move. “Utah Valley State College nate hat. was looking to build a new stadium Residing in the Home of the themselves, but they did not have the Owlz, Hootz enjoys a luxurious funding to do it. The funding from mascot life. Not only does he have our stadium in Provo was shifted over a beautiful scenic view of Mount to Orem.” Timpanogos and the entire Wasatch Although the newly constructed Mountain range, he gets to help Owlz stadium—the Home of the Owlz—is fans cheer on his favorite team at all intended to host baseball fans strictly their home games. Yet there is one for home games, there is one Owlz fan perk that stands out from the rest. that will be nesting in the stadium Instead of snacking on stadium burg- throughout the season. His name: ers and fries, the predatory owl will Hootz the owl. His favorite thing to joyfully feast on Raptors, Mustangs BIRTH OF AN OWL: The Orem Owlz mascot Hootz was hatched do: hooting and rooting for his and Osprey from Montana, and in April and was an instant hit with the kids. Below, Hootz favorite baseball team—the Owlz— Chukars from Idaho all season long. shakes hands with youngsters at his “coming out party.” no matter what time of day they play. [] Eric Karlan As the story goes, Hootz was res- cued from the forest by the Owlz’ five owners before ever hatching. After HATS OFF! receiving a ransom note from Oggie the Raptor (mascot of the Ogden Raptors, the Owlz in-state rival) say- ing he had kidnapped the Provo Angel’s mascot Charlie the St. Bernard dog, Orem’s owners found themselves in a dire situation. << home Desperate to save their abducted mascot, they ventured into the dense Utah forests in search of an animal fierce, courageous, wise, and swift enough to rescue Charlie. After exten- sive searching, the owners stumbled across a giant owl egg—obviously alternate fallen out of a nearby tree and aban- >> doned by its mother. Realizing this nocturnal predator was the perfect animal to fight a raptor and rescue Charlie, Orem’s management cared for the egg until it hatched this past << batting April at a local Ben & Jerry’s ice practice cream store. 12 AT THE YARD | The Game Starts Here.

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