Tulsa Shock Unveil Mascot, Volt the Red Fox

Originally Published: May 8, 2010 10:44 PM CDT

Curt Hill
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – The Tulsa Shock added the final member to their team on Saturday, Volt the red fox.

The Shock’s mascot was unveiled in front of a crowd at Hunter Park. Volt donned a gold uniform, a gold and white headband, sunglasses, black sleeves, black gloves, gold and white wristbands, black shoes, and black socks. The process of designing the new mascot was almost as complicated as putting the roster together.

“We actually started this process in January of this year,” Shock president Steve Swetoha said. “With the help of our event game manager, the NBA, and our ownership group, we really took a hard look at this costume character and how we would make an impact in this market.”

Volt seemed to make an immediate impact on Tulsans based on the reaction from those in attendance.

“We've had a lot of smiling faces today from the youngsters and their parents, so we think we've hit the mark on Volt,” Swetoha said.

Swetoha said the team chose a red fox because it is an important of the state’s habitat and because it is a unique mascot in professional basketball.

“The Silver Fox is in San Antonio, but there was no other fox in the NBA and WNBA, so it worked out,” Swetoah said.

The mascot’s appearance is much different from Zap, the team’s mascot in Detroit. The name is also different, but that is a trait the team was not looking to change completely.

“The name Volt shares the brand of our name Shock and obviously that’s an important part of our branding,” Swetoha said.

Volt will make its first game appearance on May 15 when the Shock host Minnesota.