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New Fairfield University Mascot Prepares For Game Day Debut

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Lucas the Stag is going to have quite the birthday present.

The statue of Fairfield University's mascot Lucas the Stag stands against the sky Wednesday, waiting for students to return to campus.

The statue of Fairfield University's mascot Lucas the Stag stands against the sky Wednesday, waiting for students to return to campus.

Photo Credit: Jay Polansky

Next month, the Fairfield University mascot is going to throw the first pitch at the Sept. 16 Mets game — the night before his 14th birthday.

The game will follow weeks of events designed to slowly reveal the new Lucas, according to the the university's Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Communications Zach Dayton.

“You don’t do this every year,” Dayton said, marking the importance of the event in the university’s history. “People love Fairfield U, and we’re confident that they will love the new and improved Lucas the Stag.”

Dayton said the new mascot will appeal to both families and die-hard sports fans.

“We want to make sure the mascot is family friendly but it will still carry an aggressive look for game day,” Dayton said. 

Dayton said the university will slowly introduce the new mascot to the world, starting with short 15-second videos in the coming weeks.

The new mascot will also be revealed to freshman during orientation. Following that, the university will distribute new Lucas bobbleheads to members of the university community.

The full unveiling will culminate on Sept. 16 when Lucas will have a whirlwind tour of New York City. He will end his day by throwing out the first pitch at the Mets game at 7 p.m.

Many Fairfield U students are Mets fans, Dayton said. So is Lucas the Stag.

“He’s a big baseball fan,” he said, although he added that Lucas will receive some one-on-one coaching from the pitching coach for the university’s baseball team to prepare for the first pitch. 

In the days leading up to the pitch, the university will use the hashtag #lucasontheloose to promote the new mascot. 

The university has reserved a Twitter handle for him and is currently developing the personality that will be associated with the account.

On Snapchat, Lucas has his own geofilter on Snapchat that users of can add to their photos only when they are physically on the Fairfield U campus.

Asked whether the wild turkeys that roam Fairfield U are jealous of Lucas' redesign and pitch — they have a popular unofficial Twitter account run by students — Dayton said each will receive attention from the community. 

“There’s room in the spotlight for both the turkeys and Lucas,” Dayton said.

Tickets to the Mets game have been reserved for the Fairfield U community to purchase. Each ticket is $33 on the field level of the first base side, according to the university. 

For ticket information for the Mets game, click here

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