Meet Franklin, the new Philadelphia 76ers mascot
The Philadelphia 76ers today introduced their new team mascot, Franklin, at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where more than 300 area children welcomed “Sixers fan’s best friend.” Franklin, a blue dog with perky ears and wagging tail, wears a Sixers uniform with his signature paw in place of a jersey number.
“Franklin’s debut has been long-awaited by Sixers fans, and we could not be more pleased with his reception from the children in attendance at today’s unveiling,” said Sixers Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer Tim McDermott. “Bringing to life our franchise’s new mascot has been a collaborative, kid-focused process from the start that involved more than 1,000 children, Sixers Season Ticket Members and 40-plus designs. We’re looking forward to showing him off to the city over the next 10 days as we lead up to his in-game debut on Friday, February 20.”
Franklin’s official backstory from the Sixers
When the Philadelphia 76ers decided they needed a new mascot, they knew it had to be ‘FOR KIDS, BY KIDS.’ And so they created a kids-only Chief Design Team to lead the way and find their new mascot.
The Chief Designers worked night and day to find a mascot that was Philadelphia through and through, who loved the game of basketball, and who could be their biggest friend and fan at every Sixers game.
As they dug through piles of books, watched movies and spoke with Philadelphians far and wide, along with more than 1,000 kids, they found a common thread…a special creature…whose ancestors had been a part of the city’s history from the start.
When George Washington crossed the Delaware, a blue tail was wagging in the boat.
When our nation’s forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, a blue paw was found on the scroll.
A blue mouth dragged Ben Franklin to safety after he was struck by lightning and discovered electricity.
A furry blue flash ran alongside Rocky Balboa, and put two paws in the air when he reached the top of the Art Museum steps.
But what made this creature even more interesting to the Chief Designers was that his ancestors loved basketball just as much as the city.
There were tiny teeth marks in the paper Wilt Chamberlain held for the cameras after his historic 100-point game.
Blue paws were seen pacing behind the Sixers bench in the days of Dr. J.
Perky blue ears were in the stands when Allen Iverson made Sixers fans roar.
The designers were convinced that this creature, if they could find it today, might be the mascot they’d been looking for all this time.
They took a break from their research to play some basketball at the arena…and found tiny blue scratch marks on the court….then bits of blue fur…and then, peeking around the corner of the Sixers’ locker room, the Chief Designers saw eyes looking up at them from a blue furry creature.
They’d found it! The descendant of these great blue creatures had come to live at the Center!
The Chief Designers showed the creature to the team, and everyone loved it. The Sixers decided to adopt it as their new mascot, and gave it a special jersey to wear with its new name: FRANKLIN.
And today, it’s time to introduce all of you to your new Sixers mascot, whose family has been a part of Philadelphia and Sixers history for generations, who loves the game of basketball and is so excited to meet its new best friends, little Sixers fans!
