David Raymond, the first inhabitor of the Phillie Phanatic and the founder of West Grove-based Raymond Entertainment, helped create Gritty, the Flyers’ new mascot that has quickly proved to be a marketing success, writes Ellie Silverman for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The original reactions to the furry monster were not exactly positive. However, Gritty has since visited a number of late-night shows, had a beer named after it, and become the star of a number of memes, all of which has provided the Flyers with a huge boost in visibility.

People have also warmed up to him, as Gritty’s twitter account now has more than 136,000 followers.

Raymond worked as a consultant in the creation of the mascot.

Raymond ensured his usual rules of mascot creation were followed. These include having a story behind the character, a unique and easily identifiable design, and the right performer inside the costume.

He knew that people’s reactions to the orange “lovable monster” would be crucial. However, he never anticipated just how much attention it would bring to the Flyers.

Read more about Gritty, the Flyers’ new mascot, in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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