UTEP Paydirt Pete New Mascot Bobblehead Unveiled

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead of newly unveiled UTEP Miners mascot Paydirt Pete. The redesigned Paydirt Pete bobblehead is being released to celebrate UTEP joining the Mountain West Conference, which became official on Wednesday, July 1st. The bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Texas at El Paso.

• The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in December, are now available at this link.
• Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to only 2,026.
• The bobbleheads are $35 each plus an $8 flat-rate shipping charge per order.
• In a running position on an orange circular base with “UTEP Miners” across the front, the modernized Paydirt Pete bobblehead is wearing his signature wide-brimmed miner hat and overalls adorned with UTEP across the chest. Sporting a beard and mustache, he is also holding his trusty pickaxe.
• Paydirt Pete originated from a 1974 contest to give a name to the mascot. It was selected from over 500 entries. The first Paydirt Pete mascot started as a lovable “little ol’ Miner” dubbed “Sweet Pete” in 1980. Since then, Paydirt Pete has undergone changes to become the tougher, meaner-looking mascot of today.
• On Wednesday, July 1st, the University of Texas at El Paso revealed mascot Paydirt Pete’s new design. The makeover coincided with UTEP officially joining the Mountain West Conference. While the longtime mascot has seen several changes over the years, UTEP said the latest design is modern with a popular “retro” logo the Miners used in the 1980s. “We wanted to give Paydirt Pete a fresh look while not straying too far from the vintage mark that our fans love,” UTEP Athletics Director Jim Senter said. UTEP partnered with Torch Creative, which designs sports logos for professional teams and universities, to give Pete the long-awaited refresh. A costumed version of the new Pete will be unveiled at a UTEP football game in September.
• “We’re excited to unveil this bobblehead of the redesigned Paydirt Pete, the popular mascot of the UTEP Miners,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Since debuting in 1980, Paydirt Pete has undergone several incarnations to become the mascot he is today. He now looks better than ever and this bobblehead will be a must-have for fans of the UTEP Miners everywhere!”
• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.