Pensacola Young Pelican Finds Home at Bayfront
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The hardest part artist Diane Goeller had to figure out was how to make the Pensacola Blue Wahoos baseball hat on Pensacola Young Pelican's head waterproof and collapse-proof.
Once she did that, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds received the Pensacola Young Professional's public work of art. The pelican will stand at the main entrance's second level of the stairs that lead into Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. This is the 69th Pelican in Paradise which is a Pensacola News Journal program, which provides schools with newspapers and online access.
"The first one I flunked," said Goeller during a PYP dedication ceremony at the club entrance of her 11th pelican creation. "The first one was very messy."
The nearly 5-foot-high pelican looks very sophisticated but fun-loving in his Wahoos' blue blazer, a bow tie, brown penny loafers and his Wahoos' cap.
Blue Wahoos CEO Bruce Baldwin said he liked the pelican, especially his shoes. He pointed out the club has drawn more than 943,000 fans in each of its first three seasons in Pensacola and expects its one millionth fan in May.
"This is a great location and I'm glad he landed here," Baldwin said. "We thank PYP very much for all the hard work it does."
Taylor Simmons said the $5,500 pelican took three years to come to fruition and she's excited about the exposure the location gives the young professional organization. The 29-year-old, who works as a financial services coordinator with Rodney Rich & Co., spearheaded the PYP's pelican project and is the organization's incoming president-elect.
"Diane did a fabulous job," Simmons said. "He embodies exactly what we wanted him to. He's professional and fun at the same time. Everyone just loves him."
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos -
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Tickets for the 2014 season still remain and can be purchased by calling the box office at (850) 934-8444 or in person at the Hill Kelly Dodge Pickup Window. Follow the Blue Wahoos at bluewahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos, and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.