SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Introducing Guilford the Grasshopper

January 11, 2005 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


(GREENSBORO, NC) The Greensboro Grasshoppers are pleased to announce the newest addition to the Grasshopper family, Guilford the Grasshopper! Guilford County is the home of the city of Greensboro.

After receiving over 300 entries for the Grasshoppers' "Name the Mascot" contest, the Grasshopper front office has named their mascot Guilford the Grasshopper. The naming contest was announced by the News and Record and held December 14, 2004 through January 8, 2005.

"I believe that adults and children alike will find Guilford to be a great part of the fun and entertainment we offer at First Horizon Park," said Grasshopper President Donald Moore.

Guilford the Grasshopper struck instant popularity with the people of Guilford County after an appearance in the Downtown Greensboro Christmas parade in December 2004. When asked about the Grasshopper mascot costume, Greensboro's Mayor, Keith Holliday said, "It's really eye-catching! When I first saw the Grasshopper it really gave me a feeling of fun and excitement which is what you want when stepping into a baseball park."

Guilford the Grasshopper is sponsored by Pest Management Systems, Inc. PMI is a locally owned and operated pest management company that has served homeowners and businesses throughout the Greensboro area for 20 years.

"We can't wait for baseball season to start!" said PMI Founder and President Billy Tesh. "There is so much excitement in the community surrounding the new mascot and the new stadium. As a local company, we're proud to be a part of it!"

Although Pest Management is the primary sponsor, the company is not new to Greensboro Baseball. Last season, PMI sponsored the Greensboro Bats' mascot Missy the Mosquito as well as a popular promotion, "Tropical Jersey Night". These tropical jerseys were autographed by Bats players and sold after the game to benefit Raising Roofs: Builders for Habitat.

The Grasshoppers' mascot costume was designed and produced by Sugar Mascots Inc. out of Toronto, ON, Canada. They have designed mascots for Fortune 500 companies, many Major and Minor League Baseball teams, and colleges throughout the United States. As the season nears, the Grasshoppers will continue to work with Sugar Mascots Inc. in the design of an additional two mascot costumes for the 2005 season.

Guilford County, after which the Grasshoppers' mascot is named, is the third largest county in North Carolina and home to the major cities of Greensboro and High Point. Major cultural and recreational events held in Guilford County include the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro PGA Tour Event and the men's and women's basketball tournaments for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Guilford County is the home of six colleges and universities and continues to be one of the most desirable places to live in the southeast. Information courtesy of www.co.guilford.nc.us/.

The Grasshoppers open First Horizon Park with an exhibition game against the Florida Marlins on April 3, 2005 at 2:00PM. The official home opener will be Saturday, April 9 versus the Hickory Crawdads.

For ticket information, call the Grasshopper office at (336)-333-2287. Season tickets are available now and individual game tickets will go on sale in mid-February. For the latest information visit the new Grasshoppers' official web site at www.gsohoppers.com.

Check out the Greensboro Grasshoppers Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from January 11, 2005


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