Fireflies changing name, logo for 3 games

Listen to this article

The Fireflies will have a new name and logo for three games this season.

In partnership with Minor League Baseball, the Fireflies will be one of 72 teams participating in the second year of the league’s Copa de la Diversion program to connect with the Latino community, according to a news release from the team.

For three home games at Segra Park, the Fireflies will become the Chicharrones de Columbia, featuring new uniforms, food and music.

The games are scheduled for April 18-20 and new merchandise is now available with the new team logo and colors.

“We look forward to introducing the Chicharrones to the Midlands, and to serving our guests our own version of Chicharrones at the ballpark each and every night,” Fireflies president John Katz said in the release.

Columbia has a growing Hispanic/Latin American community, representing about 6% of the total population, according to U.S. census data.

“Consisting of people from over 18 countries across North, Central and South America, Columbia is a true melting pot of Latino culture,” the team’s release said. “While more than 50% of the Spanish speaking residents in our community are from Mexico, there are large population bases from Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

“As the team was searching for an identity for Columbia’s Copa team, a constant culinary theme across all nations was found that is represented in our community: chicharrones.”

Chicharrones typically feature pork belly or pork rinds. They are served as a main course with a sauce, according to the release, or as a snack.

“Sharing meals together brings a sense of community, family and togetherness across all cultures, which is truly a metaphor for what we do at Segra Park every day: bringing people from all walks of life together as a community,” the release said.