Global Fútbol

FC Cartagena have a new supporter on matchdays in the form of Suru, the club’s new elephant mascot. Designed by two fans of the Murcian team, Patricio and Antonio Antolinos, the mascot pays tribute to the bravest of the elephants with whom the Carthaginian general Hannibal crossed the Alps some 2,200 years ago.  

In the past, FC Cartagena had previously had a mascot in the shape of a submarine, but the LaLiga SmartBank club wanted to go in a different direction when choosing a new mascot as part of the overall modernisation process that is taking place at the Estadio Cartagonova. Those in charge of the institution were also keen to involve the fanbase in the selection of the new mascot. With the help of LaLiga, a competition was organised and several designs were accepted from fans before a poll was held to decide the winner, with Suru receiving more than double the votes of the second-placed option.

In Matchday 39 of the 2022/23 LaLiga SmartBank season, when FC Cartagena hosted Burgos CF, Suru made a first appearance at the Estadio Cartagonova, adding to the atmosphere and immediately developing a connection with the youngest fans, the next generation of Albinegros.

Discussing the desire to continue modernising the matchday experience, the club explained: “As we have become more established in this division, we have incorporated new features to improve the spectacle, such as lights shows, music, our social commitment stand, etc. This season we have also launched a new mascot. The presence of our mascot is a plus when it comes to encouraging and creating atmosphere in the stadium on matchdays and we felt it was something that the fans had wanted for a while.”

As well as making the experience at the Estadio Cartagonova even more attractive, Suru can also help the club grow in a business sense when it comes to other activations, marketing campaigns and collaborations with sponsors.

On this, the club added: “There is no doubt that Suru can be a marketing resource for the club. The mascot already appears in some sponsor events, such as the ‘Hyundai Penalty’ (a competition that takes place at half-time of matches), while there could be even more participation in sponsorship activities next season and this is another tool for the club’s communication and marketing department. The plan is that, little by little, Suru will appear in more events to promote a good atmosphere and to give visibility to the club. We are also open to other proposals, such as collaborations with the mascots of other teams or taking part in events organised by the fans or the Federation of FC Cartagena Supporters Clubs. Similarly, we are open to any initiatives proposed by LaLiga.”

Nowadays, there are many mascots across the stadiums of LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank, with Spanish clubs viewing mascots as an increasingly useful tool for enhancing the matchday experience for local fans, especially the younger generation, and for growing the brand at the international level. Other clubs have already seen how their mascots have become excellent ambassadors for spreading their club values, for promoting fair play and for building a more distinct brand. Suru will now be able to bring all these benefits to FC Cartagena.