If you were in New York City on July 8th, gazing out onto the Hudson River, you might have seen a giant inflatable pigeon floating on by. While most New Yorkers are desensitized to pigeon commotion, even the most seasoned city-dwellers were likely intrigued by this five-story-high, 700-pound inflatable pigeon careening down the New York Harbor.
One might ask: why? And that’s a valid question.
No, this wasn’t a Trojan Horse-style attempt at pigeon domination, it was a brand activation from New York City FC (the city’s MLS team) in an effort to grab attention for the FIFA Club World Cup taking place in New Jersey. Dubbed “The Five Borough Flight,” the giant pigeon concept was created by the creative studio Tavern. The pigeon started its maiden voyage in Staten Island, sailing past all five boroughs and then dropping anchor at Etihad Park, the future home of NYCFC slated for 2027.
The whole thing feels a bit overwrought and contrived if you ask me, almost a parody of the ridiculousness brand’s are seeking these days in desperate attempts to stand out and go there. And there’s a reason why the New York Liberty went with Ellie the Elephant for their mascot over a pigeon… Pigeons kinda suck. So do we really need a giant one floating down the Hudson River simply for shock factor? I don’t think so.
All that being said, in the grand scheme of what’s terrible in our country and in the world right now, I don’t think harping on the giant inflatable pigeon in New York on July 8th is really the battle that’s worth fighting. So I guess I can just appreciate the silliness and effort a lot of people put into developing this big guy. We’re all just doing our best these days, and sometimes that means making a giant pigeon.
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