McDonald's Grimace Goes Viral as the Mets' New Mascot

McDonald's has always been known for its widely unpredictable antics, but this time, it's banking on one of its most iconic mascots to make waves on the internet. 

On June 12, the purple monster Grimace was spotted at Citi Field throwing the ceremonial pitch before the New York Mets faced off against the Miami Marlins.

Icon pic.twitter.com/2zXgCBcSVI

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 13, 2024

The beauty of the marketing stunt didn't rely solely on the guest appearance of the mascot — it also led fans to see him as a sort of "lucky charm."

"We’re undefeated with him, he needs to be at every game from now on," one fan wrote on X. 

Following the initial appearance, the Mets have achieved a seven-game win streak, with each game having Grimace on the pitch or by the sidelines.

However, the streak ended last June 18, when the team was defeated by the Texas Rangers.

The Aftermath

Despite the end of the Mets' winning streak, the recent string of events led fans to coin the term "Grimace era," positioning the Mets as a force to be reckoned with alongside the purple icon. 

But the Mets aren't the only ones benefiting from the unlikely situation. 

McDonald's has leaned into the stunt, which has caught the attention of several news outlets like Forbes, USA Today, and the New York Post, by changing its display picture to a photo of Grimace wearing a Mets hat. 

mee watching gamee 6 tonighttr @Metspic.twitter.com/0C62VPz02M

— McDonald's (@McDonalds) June 17, 2024

Mets' podcast producer and host Vito Calise shared his experiences of bringing life to the character on the pitch. 

Calise, who was proclaimed by Mets' Social Media Manager Janey Murray as a "life-long Grimace head," details that they were just really into the concept of the character, as well as how much fun the fast-food giant was having with it. 

“We were really trying to lean into the quirkiness of the character and how much fun you can have with that,” Calise added.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by New York Mets (@mets)

Mets Senior VP of Partnerships Brenden Mallette elaborated on the team's initiative to engage and have fun with its fan base, whether it's through promotions, in-game entertainment, or partnerships — in this case, McDonald's.

“We’re constantly exploring new and unexpected ways to collaborate with our partners and having Grimace throw out the first pitch is a perfect example of those efforts," Mallette said. 

"We’re thrilled to see the fan and media response, especially as it’s coincided with the team’s recent winning streak."

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Editing by Katherine 'Makkie' Maclang