Hugo the Hornet is back.

PHOTO/CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Hugo the Hornet returned to Charlotte as the NBA team's mascot.

The Charlotte Hornets mascot made its return today with a series of appearances and the first Hornets “Tweet-Up” at Charlotte’s Independence Square at the corner of Trade and Tryon streets.

Hugo has been modernized with a teal head with black antennae and eyes with white accents.  The body is teal and purple fur with “Hugo” across the chest; the arms and legs are teal Spandex with a cell pattern.  For the first time, Hugo has double wings like a real hornet with white with teal accents.  The mascot wears purple kneepads and custom-built Air Jordan 11 Concord shoes. The costume, designed by the Hornets’ creative department, is the latest step in the franchise’s rebranding. The official name change replaced Bobcats, the franchise’s name since the NBA returned to Charlotte in 2004.  

“Hugo is a key part of the team’s identity and we are excited to re-introduce him to our fans,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield.  “It was important to us that he resemble the inviting and entertaining Hugo that people remember, which is why we chose to refresh and modernize his look rather than recreating it.”

To mark Hugo’s return, the Hornets Fan Shop at Time Warner Cable Arena launched new merchandise featuring the Hugo logo.

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