The Wichita Wind Surge played their final game under that name Sept. 13, falling 10-8 to the Frisco RoughRiders at Equity Bank Park and closing the 2026 season at 55-81.
The franchise, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, will become the Wichita Turbo Tubs for 2027. The rebrand brings new uniforms, logos, merchandise and a redesigned mascot experience, according to KWCH. The switch replaces the name the franchise has used since arriving in Wichita in 2021.
Fans at Sunday's finale said goodbye to mascot Windy, who was given a "retirement" ceremony at the ballpark. The Turbo Tubs name is not entirely new to Equity Bank Park. The brand has appeared on select game nights since 2022, but next season will be the first time it serves as the team's full-time identity.
The final homestand also featured the organization's first-ever drone light shows on three consecutive nights. The shows followed games against Frisco on Sept. 10, Sept. 11 and Sept. 12. The Sept. 10 show carried a theme described as a look back on Minor League Baseball (MiLB) in Wichita and the end of the Wind Surge era.
General Manager Matt Hamilton promoted the drone shows in an Aug. 19 press release, calling them a first for the ballpark. "We can't wait to see the sky light up with drones and fireworks and give our fans another reason to stick around after the final out and put a cap on our 2026 season," Hamilton said in the release.
Hamilton said the shows were "definitely something they've never seen at our ballpark before." The drone displays capped a six-season run for the Wind Surge name in Wichita.
The Wichita Turbo Tubs open the 2027 season at home April 2, 2027 against the Frisco RoughRiders.
