Why are you so worked up about Buoy?: Today So Far

The Seattle Kraken has a new mascot, a sea troll named Buoy. Not everyone is happy about it. But so what. Not everything is for you and that is OK.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 3, 2022.

Let's get something out of the way, right at the start this week: The Kraken's new mascot, Buoy, is not a kraken. But so what?

As soon as new mascot for Seattle's hockey team was announced on Friday, folks began airing their grievances, mostly over social media (anybody else see the irony of online trolls criticizing a troll?). The fact that most criticism people can cite is located on Twitter, that's the first sign you shouldn't take any of this too seriously.

But hey, I get it. The team is called the "Seattle Kraken." Logically, the mascot should be a kraken. The Seahawks have Blitz (a sea hawk). UW has Harry/Hendrix the Husky as well as a live Husky named Dubs (because they're the huskies). The Sounders have Sammy the Sounder, which is a stretch, but you have to give them some credit for creativity for that one. As do the Storm for the whole concept around Doppler. But when you have something that is plain and straightforward, like "kraken," I understand why folks would be scratching their heads, wondering where the kraken is. Now, I know what you're going to say: "But the Mariners have a moose!" You know what, the Mariners' mascot should be an old, cranky sailor — someone who throws salmon at the audience while spouting offensive sea slang. There, I said it. Am I going to campaign against the moose? No. I have better things to do. Also, I've met the moose and they seem alright.

But here's the thing folks — Buoy is for you ... but it's also not for you. Sports mascots serve a variety of purposes, much of which is promotion at corporate and public events (an online form to request Buoy appearances is already up and running). They're also meant to craft an endearing fandom among youngsters. It's for kids (and to encourage those kids to pester their parents to take them to a game and buy merch). A kraken probably wouldn't have conveyed the fun-loving, cuddly persona kids want. As Lamont Buford, Kraken's vice president of entertainment experience, said in a statement, Buoy is the result of months of branding development to be "kid friendly and approachable."

While Buoy may look like the love child of an orc and a Smurf, it's more likely the product of test marketing that took place in the bowels of office cubicles and meeting rooms. It's designed to go beyond the game that fans are already at, to efficiently increase visibility, and capture future fans.

Just because something is not for you, that doesn't make it bad. Meanwhile, young, up-and-coming fans are going to be just fine with Buoy. And just in case any critics forgot, there is a whole hockey game happening while you're busy complaining. Attracting new fans, and their dollars, will ultimately help keep that game going. To folks disappointed about the absence of a kraken, I encourage you to do it yourself. Seattle has always been very DIY, and the cosplay scene is strong locally, so we have the skills. If you want a kraken at the games — dress up and show up.

Over the weekend, Buoy did not let any online criticisms go unanswered. In response to one online comment, "This is up there as worst mascot design ever," Buoy responded "so what’s the excuse for your design work?" When another person simply tweeted "No" to Buoy's debut, the mascot wrote back, sarcastically, "you’re fun at parties." See more here.

All that said, as a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, I do appreciate Buoy elevating the profile of sea trolls. And if the legend is true, that Buoy once jammed with Mudhoney, that demands some local respect. Read more here.

Also on KUOW.org today:

• Mayor Harrell names LA parks executive to lead Seattle's Parks and Recreation Department
• King County begins work on 'Stop Hate Hotline'
• Why is a convicted sex offender with false credentials running a King County-funded youth program?

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Viet-Wah Asian Supermarket in Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood closed its doors for good Friday, Sept. 30 after four decades of service in the neighborhood. (Jason Pagano / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

Some may complain about sports teams' mascots, but Seattle has come a long way in this regard.

The Mariners have been a Seattle team since 1977, but their mascot, the Moose, didn't debut until 1990. The moose is the result of a competition aimed at children. Kids 14 and under submitted their ideas. A fifth grader from Bellingham came up with the idea for the moose, and won. The moose initially received mixed reviews. Some fans booed, but it grew on audiences over time.

Before the Mariners Moose, the team's mascot was Spacey the Needle which came onto the scene in the late 1970s. Spacey the Needle was the result of a mascot competition. Second place went to a dude in a diaper ... yep. Spacey was a tall mascot and was achieved by having a person on stilts. That meant the mascot was pretty limited in what it could do. No dancing or running through the stands for Spacey. The Mariners also attempted to have a sort of mascot to transport players to and from the mound in 1982 — a golf cart dressed up like a tugboat. Payers weren't into it. Reportedly, some hid the keys to the cart so it couldn't be used. Others just ignored it and walked off the field themselves. And some used it as baseball target practice.

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