Wausau Pilot & Review
The city’s home town baseball team will change its name back to the Wausau Woodchucks, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Formerly the Wisconsin Woodchucks, the Wausau Woodchucks will update the team’s logo, colors and character graphics this year.
When the Woodchucks franchise began in 1994, they were known as the Wausau Woodchucks. Team officials decided it was time to bring that name back and create a new Woodchucks brand with a more modern feel that showcases more of what our area has to offer, the organization said in an email. The team hired Studio Simon, a leader in sports brand identity development, to help them through the process.
There are many benefits to the brand update with a major benefit being the advertising of Wausau as a place to live, work and play by bringing our city name back to the brand, team officials said.
“The brand update will promote Wausau throughout the entire Midwest,” said team owner Mark Macdonald.
As the team travels across the Midwest, they will have the “Wausau” name proudly displayed on their uniforms. All the Woodchucks television, radio, print and social media advertisements, including the posting of scores on the Fox Sports Ticker, will have the city of Wausau prominently displayed. Fans from other teams will see that Wausau is one of the few Wisconsin cities that can claim a Northwoods League team.
When the team began working on their new identity there were a few things they wanted to be sure to highlight:
- The Wisconsin River, which runs through Wausau and is only two blocks from Athletic Park, is featured in the bottom of the logo
- The trees behind the Woodchuck
- The modern looking Woodchuck, who is forward facing, ready to take on whatever comes his way
- Pops of bright blue and green
- Keeping the beloved Woody Woodchuck, while updating him and creating new artwork surrounding him that matches the new brand.
“This has been something we have been contemplating for several years,” Macdonald said. “We hope our fans are as excited about this update and the new colors as we are.”
The Wausau Woodchucks 29th season begins May 30 on the road with the first home game set for Tuesday, May 31. Gates open at 5:35 p.m. with the firrst pitch at 6:35 p.m. Ticket packages and group ticket options are currently available for purchase. Single game tickets will go on sale in April.
