In This Article
- San Antonio Spurs Inflatable Character Makes Fan Appreciation Night Unforgettable
- University of Chicago Inflatable Character Ignites Campus Pride
- Planning Center Inflatable Character Brings Pico to Life
- Caresify Inflatable Character Welcomes Families with a Smile
- Strength and Spirit: South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture Inflatable Mascot
What do NBA teams, universities, tech companies, and healthcare brands all have in common? They have all turned to inflatable characters to bring their mascots and icons to life.
Giant inflatable characters instantly change the energy of a space. They stand tall, draw people in, and often become the spot where everyone stops for a photo. You’ll see them at sports arenas, on college quads, outside company headquarters, and at community events.
Let's take at real inflatable mascot examples from the San Antonio Spurs, the University of Chicago, Planning Center, Caresify, and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture to see how different organizations bring their mascots and icons to life.
San Antonio Spurs Inflatable Character Makes Fan Appreciation Night Unforgettable
When the San Antonio Spurs closed their 2024–25 regular season, the spotlight was on the fans. Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Alienware, featured giveaways, interactive promotions, and activations that celebrated the Spurs community.
To create something unforgettable, the team wanted a centerpiece that went beyond T-shirts and prize drops. They partnered with MVP Visuals to bring their mascot to life as a giant inflatable character.
From Design to Debut
We worked with the Spurs to transform the Coyote into a custom inflatable character that captured his playful personality while meeting the demands of arena use.
- Built with durable polyester denier fabric
- Designed for portability and quick setup in the concourse
- Printed with Pantone accurate colors to match team branding
Our team inspected the inflatable from every angle to ensure the jersey details, proportions, and seams were flawless before its debut.
An Instant Fan Favorite
On April 13, fans entering the Frost Bank Center were greeted by a towering inflatable Coyote. Positioned in a high traffic area, it quickly became a photo hotspot.
Families posed for keepsakes, kids ran up to meet the oversized mascot, and groups of friends snapped selfies. Every photo shared online extended the reach of Fan Appreciation Night and carried Spurs pride beyond the arena.
Takeaways from Fan Appreciation Night
- An inflatable character can anchor an event and guide foot traffic to the right places
- Photo ready moments translate into organic social reach without extra media spend
- Durable, portable construction turns one activation into a season long asset
- Attention to brand details such as Pantone matching and jersey accuracy builds trust with fans
University of Chicago Inflatable Character Ignites Campus Pride
The Phoenix is a core symbol of the University of Chicago, chosen as the mascot to represent resilience and renewal when the university was re-established in 1890 after its original charter ended.
To bring that tradition to life at scale, the school introduced a giant inflatable character on the main quad, giving students a new landmark and a reason to stop, smile, and share.
A Campus Centerpiece
Set in a high visibility area, the inflatable character drew steady lines for photos and created a natural pairing with the costumed mascot. It worked as a backdrop for student groups, campus tours, and alumni visitors while reinforcing school identity in every shot.
Takeaways for Universities
- Use an inflatable character as a campus landmark to drive wayfinding and foot traffic
- Pair with the costumed mascot to double the impact and create photo ready interactions
- Reuse across orientations, homecoming, athletics, and alumni weekends for stronger ROI
- Keep branding precise with color matching and mascot specific details to build pride
Planning Center Inflatable Character Brings Pico to Life
Planning Center is a church management software company that helps ministries stay organized and connected. Their mascot, Pico, is a friendly robot created to make the brand feel helpful and approachable. To make Pico memorable at in-person events, Planning Center worked with MVP Visuals to create a custom inflatable character.
Standing at nearly 8 feet tall, Pico is scaled to feel approachable in photos while still large enough to stand out on a crowded event floor.
A quiet, efficient blower is positioned discreetly at the back, keeping the character upright for long activations without distracting from the experience.
Reinforced seams and stitching support repeated setups across conferences, user summits, and community events.
Humanizing Technology
Software can feel abstract at in-person events. The inflatable Pico gives Planning Center a tangible, photo friendly presence that invites conversation. With Pantone accurate colors and a lightweight, portable build, the character is easy to deploy and easy to remember.
Takeaway for Tech Brands
- Turn a digital mascot into a real world touchpoint that feels warm and approachable
- Create instant photo opportunities that extend reach through attendee sharing
- Use a portable, reusable asset for conferences, user summits, and community events
Caresify Inflatable Character Welcomes Families with a Smile
Caresify, a home care provider, uses Ella, a cheerful blue cat, as a core part of its brand identity. Ella was created to embody warmth, trust, and care. MVP Visuals brought Ella to life as a custom inflatable character so the brand could greet families and community members in person.
Standing Tall for Brand Recognition
Placed outside Caresify’s building, the inflatable Ella became a beacon for visibility. At more than 12 feet tall, the bright blue cat in an orange Caresify uniform made the brand hard to miss. Staff and visitors stopped to take photos, creating organic visibility and reinforcing an approachable identity.
Takeaway for Healthcare Brands
- Inflatable characters make healthcare brands feel approachable and friendly
- Large scale mascots increase visibility for local offices and community events
- Transforming brand icons into inflatables builds recognition and trust
Strength and Spirit: South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture Inflatable Mascot
The South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe wanted more than a mascot on paper. The longhorn bull represents strength, determination, and the roots of agriculture. The school partnered with MVP Visuals to turn that symbol into a custom inflatable character that brings the mission to life wherever it appears.
Built for Branding Precision
From the horns to the belt buckle, every detail was engineered to match the school's artwork. Pantone accurate printing locked in color, and logo placements on the chest and waist kept the brand visible in every photo. The production process focused on proportions, seam alignment, and clean blower placement.
A Recruitment Tool with Staying Power
The inflatable longhorn is a mobile landmark that travels to where prospective students are. It welcomes families at open houses, draws attention at career fairs, and represents the school at agriculture events across the state. Built with durable polyester denier fabric, it is made for repeated use and easy transport.
Takeaway for Educational Institutions
- Align the mascot with the program mission to strengthen identity
- Use a portable inflatable character as a recruitment and community outreach asset
- Invest in branding precision and durability to maximize long term value
