Our Mascots, Our Community

As part of the new O-Bolt Blog, we'll take you behind the scenes with posts from front office employees about their experiences at Werner Park, in the Omaha Metro community, and more. The first blog post below is courtesy of Omaha Storm Chasers Mascot & Theme Night Manager Nick Sandberg.

I started with the Omaha Storm Chasers in January of 2017 as the Mascot and Community Relations Seasonal Associate. When I got to Omaha and learned more about what my position would entail, I realized that I was staring down the number 398. That was the impressive number of mascot appearances executed by my predecessor in the 2016 season. This number is used as a metric for our involvement in our community, something that, I learned very quickly, is held in high regard within this organization.
As I got my feet under me in the new job I learned that it wasn't solely about the number of appearances. That number represents our presence and potential impact on the Omaha Metro area. Stormy and our team of mascots ended up besting that number of 398, making 416 appearances in the community for the 2017 season. These appearances ranged from community parades, to local 5K races, classroom visits, ribbon cuttings, non-profit organization run/walks and homeowners association block parties. The variety of appearances became just as, if not more, important than the number.
I began to see the impact these furry guys can have at these events almost immediately. At events for non-profit organizations, having our mascot there not only could be used as a tool for promotion of their event by the organization, but also shows support on behalf of the Omaha Storm Chasers for the cause they fight for. From a business perspective, we use Stormy as a way to convey support to our business partners in their endeavors. Whether that comes as appearing at a ribbon cutting for their newest location, an afternoon of employee appreciation, or at an open to the community event they host on the weekend. Stormy's attendance at our partners' events helps us show our appreciation, as well as add to the atmosphere of their occasion.
To this point, all I have spoken about is simply having our mascot show up at these events and the benefits therein. But that doesn't even scratch the surface of the actual impact these characters have on the community. The level of individual interaction displayed by our team of mascots is what makes the true impact on the attendees of the events we appear at, and not just on children. People of all ages love Stormy. He will get just as much interaction from the community at a ribbon cutting full of business people as he does in an elementary school classroom.
All of this is to say that my goal as the Mascot and Theme Night Manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers in the 2018 season is to raise that impact by raising the number of appearances. The goal is now 500. This goal has been shared with my coworkers, and their support is evident by the gifted whiteboard and sign on my desk. This goal has become ours as an organization, not just a personal one of my own; to not only hit the number of 500 mascot appearances, but by doing so to raise our presence and our impact in our community.
If you are hosting an event you would like Stormy to attend, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. We believe in supporting local causes and businesses, and this is one of the best ways we can do so.
Nick Sandberg
Mascot and Theme Night Manager - Omaha Storm Chasers
Phone: 402-738-2182
Email: [email protected]