Goodbye, Snappers: Beloit Rebrands As The Sky Carp

Even though baseball is seasonal, minor league teams work hard to create year-round fans. When the last out is made, the stadium does not shut down until the following spring. The team’s employees do not hibernate for the winter. Instead, they go to work creating activities and staying active on social media.

The team now formerly known as the Beloit Snappers kept that thought in mind when dreaming up their rebrand, which went into place on Monday. Goodbye, Snappers. Hello, Sky Carp.

First, the obvious question: What, exactly, is a Sky Carp?

From the introductory letter from team owner Quint Studer: “A Sky Carp is a goose that does not migrate in the winter. It’s a goose that loves its hometown so much that it never leaves, not even when it starts to get cold and snowy. I love that idea. That’s what we’re all trying to create here, a city so great that no one wants to leave!”

 

With the concept defined, the next, most pressing question is: What will happen to the team mascot, Snappy the Turtle? The answer is: nothing. Snappy will stick around, but he will be joined by a new, goose mascot whose look and name is yet to be determined. 

“As I shared from day one, this is not the end of Snappy. He has put lots of time and energy into Beloit for many years solo and he’s excited for the arrival of a friend when the Sky Carp mascot arrives in 2022,” Studer said in his letter. “He likes the fact it is not a one-mascot show anymore, and like many workers today, he’s looking forward to a more flexible schedule and work-life balance. He is very excited to wear his Sky Carp jersey and remain a fixture in the community and at the stadium.”

The re-branding process began in Sept. 2020, when the team announced five finalists for the new moniker. Beyond the Sky Carp, the other finalist were:  

Beloit Cheeseballs: Residing in the nation’s cheese capital, dive into the cheese life with the Beloit Cheeseballs. Producing over three billion pounds in 2019, Wisconsin has been America’s largest cheese-producing state for over 100 straight years. The New York Times once wrote about Wisconsin that “Cheese is the state’s history, its pride, its self-deprecating, sometimes goofy, cheesehead approach to life” and the Beloit Cheeseballs will add a fun new slice to Wisconsin’s cheesy pride. 



Beloit Moo: With its affectionate “America’s Dairyland” nickname, over 1.2 million dairy cows call Wisconsin home, living on more than 7,000 dairy farms across the state. Cows help power a bovine-based economy in the region, assisting Wisconsin in holding a leading spot in the production of cheese, milk, and agricultural products across the nation. Pay homage to the farmers whose fields surround Beloit and the cows that help feed families across America with this catchy team name.



Beloit Polka Pike: Wisconsin residents have been tapping their toes to polka, the state’s official dance, as long as they’ve been pulling fearsome pike from the Rock River. Grab your accordion and your fishing pole and head to the ballpark, where every night will be a music-filled festival as the Polka Pike pay tribute to the river that neighbors the stadium and the state’s history.



Beloit Supper Clubbers: From relish trays to Old Fashioneds, supper clubs represent an iconic and traditional part of our region’s culinary character. Just like our new ballpark will, supper clubs serve as a popular gathering spot for families young and old, offering great food, great music, and great times night after night. Join the club and place your order for extra fun in 2021. 

In 2021, Beloit became a Marlins affiliate. In the middle of the season, the club moved into brand-new ABC Supply Stadium. Now, ahead of the 2022 season, the team is moving from Snappers to Sky Carp. It’s a whole new ballgame.