Hugo the Hornet
Hugo The Hornet
Who is Hugo the Hornet?
Hugo the Hornet is the mascot for the NBA’s Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets.
Hugo the Hornet was designed by Cheryl Henson, daughter of Jim Henson, who was the creator of The Muppets.
When did Hugo the Hornet Debut?
Hugo was created and debuted for the Charlotte Hornets in 1988. He was picked from a pool of over 6,000 fan suggestions. Ironically, the next season, a damaging hurricane named Hugo caused havoc, prompting the team to debate on changing Hugo’s name.
He was retired as a mascot in Charlotte in 2002, and became the mascot of the newly relocated New Orleans Hornets, until 2013, when New Orleans changed their name to the Pelicans.
However, the Charlotte Bobcats decided to rebrand back to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2014-2015 season, where Hugo was reintroduced as the current mascot for the franchise.
Who’s Behind Hugo the Hornet?
For 17 seasons, Michael Zerrillo was the man behind Hugo the Hornet. He decided to retire in the 2007 season, when the Hornets were playing in Oklahoma City. The Hornets honored his great career.
How Much Does Hugo the Hornet Make?
It is currently unknown on how much Hugo the Hornet makes, although estimates online say that it could be over $100,000.
Mascot History of the Charlotte Hornets
Is Hugo the Hornet The Only Charlotte Hornets’ Mascot?
According to the Hornets, there are a few other mascots to consider in the history of the franchise:
Super Hugo
Super Hugo is the athletic version of Hugo the Hornet. The character is in a full body suit instead of hornet costume in order to perform athletic dunks and stunts.
Rufus (Charlotte Bobcats)
Rufus is recognized as an official mascot in Charlotte’s history as the mascot for when the franchise was known as the Charlotte Bobcats.
Hugo the Hornet Fun Facts
Hugo is a 4-time winner of the NBA Mascot Slam Dunk Championship.
Hugo is a 2-time winner of the NBA Best Mascot Award by NBA Inside Stuff Magazine