The High-A Asheville Tourists first adopted their alternate Hippies identity after losing (actually tying) a Twitter-fueled bet with the Greenville Drive in 2017. After the Drive repeatedly taunted Asheville with jokes on social media about their town being filled with hippies, the two teams made a bet that the loser of the season series would adopt a derogatory alternate identity—the Tourists would become the Hippies or the Drive would become the Rednecks. After finishing the season series 12-12, the Tourists went ahead with the promotion anyway.
The temporary brand, created by Ryan Foose of Fooser Sports Design, was a hit with fans, and this week, the Tourists, embracing the counterculture reputation of their hometown, doubled down. With the statement “It’s the identity you all know and love—with a brand new look,” the Tourists unveiled an update to their Hippies identity.
The new look features the Tourists’ moon-based mascot as a circa-1970s hippie flashing the peace sign. The name Hippies is set in a bubbly, drop-shadowed typeface that also has a decidedly 1970s vibe.
The Hippies will take the field July 11.
