NYCFC fans finally get a pigeon mascot after over a decade in MLS | OneFootball

For years, New York City FC supporters waited for the team to announce a mascot. There have been different opinions about what the mascot should be, but the one that made the most sense was a pigeon. After all, the club does go by the Pigeons, and it always appeared that it had the most support. So, that is why it is fantastic news that the Bronx side finally has a mascot.

On Monday, NYCFC introduced Sky Scraper, a pigeon from the Bronx, as the team's official mascot. The announcement comes after the club had fans enter their input on what the mascot should be. In addition, they did have the big pigeon float around the Big Apple last summer.

NYCFC has a new mascot: Sky Scraper

There was the expectation that the announcement would have come last year, but alas, Sky has finally arrived. It is unknown whether Sky is a girl or a boy, but there is no question that the pigeon is absolutely adorable. It is mostly light and dark gray with a little bit of purple, and it is wearing an NYCFC hat and jersey. It also has work boots, so technically, Sky could kick a soccer ball with the rest of the roster.

The purple is actually the "color of the 7 train—the route to the Club’s future home at Etihad Park." Moreover, the pigeon has "a star-shaped birthmark near their belly button which Sky first noticed shortly after the Club’s 2021 MLS Cup victory." Hence, the club has put a lot of thought into the design of the mascot. Of course, by reading the announcement, the mascot was not designed, but rather, Sky has been around for a long time.

Lauren Scrima, New York City FC Vice President of Marketing, told newyorkcityfc.com that "For years, Sky and their fellow pigeons have shown up wherever our fans are—on matchdays, in the city, and in the culture around this Club. Sky has been with us since the beginning, cheering us on from the inaugural season through unforgettable moments like our MLS Cup win in 2021. Making Sky our official mascot is both a celebration of that history and a tribute to the incredible fan culture that has grown alongside this Club.”

More importantly, Sky is from the Bronx near Yankee Stadium. This little bit of information highlights that NYCFC will continue to honor the baseball stadium, even when they move to Queens.

Honestly, this is a dream come true for many fans. Not everyone likes the pigeon, but plenty of the supporters do. And there is nothing more iconic than a pigeon from New York City. Therefore, this is the best news that NYCFC could release that does not include a player signing.