If you were scrolling Instagram or standing anywhere near the Hudson River on Tuesday, July 8th and spotted a 40-foot bird gliding by, don’t worry! Your eyes were not playing trips on you. That was the NYCFC Pigeon Inflatable, a five-story-tall, 700-pound bespoke inflatable.
Designed to be impossible to ignore and highly photogenic, this inflatable spent the day cruising around all five boroughs on a barge pulled by a tugboat as part of NYCFC’s “Five Borough Flight” activation. And yes, Inflatable Design Group helped make it happen.
In partnership with Brooklyn-based creative agency Tavern, we helped bring New York City Football Club’s wildly ambitious marketing idea to life. The goal was to launch a disruptive, delightfully weird campaign that would not only steal attention from the FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals being played nearby but also plant NYCFC firmly in the hearts and social media feeds of New Yorkers ahead of their future stadium oping in Queens’ Willets Point in 2027.
And nothing says “this is our city” quite like a massive inflatable version of the city’s most infamous, and underrated, creature: the pigeon.
Why a Pigeon Inflatable? Because Why Not.
The brief from New York City FC was clear: Create something disruptive enough to stop soccer fans in their tracks and make New Yorkers deeply proud of their club”
Said Mike Perry, Founder and CCO at Tavern [Adweek, July 8, 2025]
According to NYCFC and Tavern, the NYFC Pigeon inflatable was a statement not just a stunt. Loud, local, and unbothered by chaos, pigeons reflect New York City’s DNA better than almost anything else.
The inflatable pigeon launched from Staten and Island and floated up the Hudson River, around Battery park, past Brooklyn Bridge, and along the East River, eventually arriving at Willets Point in Queens.
Willets Point is the future stie of Etihad Park, NYCFC’s new stadium opening in 2027. The route was symbolic, hitting every borough and making it crystal clear that this club belongs to all of NYC.
This isn’t just a stunt – it’s a statement of intent and a signal that the future of soccer is here in NYC,”
said Lauren Scrima, VP of Marketing at NYCFC [Adweek]
A Viral Moment for NYCFC’s Pigeon Inflatable
The giant pigeon inflatable didn’t just make waves on the river, it also dominated social media. By the time it had completed its borough tour, images of the NYCFC Pigeon Inflatable were everywhere. Instagram feeds were full of it. TikTok’s popped up from every angle. The entire flight was even live-streamed from the Pigeon’s point of view on YouTube. Local influencers, soccer fans, and curious commuters posted photos with captions ranging from “Only in NYC” to “Peak Marketing.”
For NYCFC, the inflatable stunt hit every metric it was aiming for. It captured attention of out-of-town FIFA fans, reminded locals of the new stadium in process, and gave the city something to talk and post about.
And IDG’s Inflatables Didn’t Stop There
While the pigeon was floating around NYC, two more of our inflatables were standing tall inside the Oculus at the World Trade Center. Our 40-foot replicas of world champion boxers Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor are up all week as fighters prepare for their rematch on Netflix. These inflatables are detailed, dramatic, and built to spark fan excitement and engagement.
You can read about these inflatables and their Mike Tyson and Jake Paul counterparts on our website. All in all, it has been a massive month for Inflatable Design Group in NYC and the fun is only beginning.
IDG Brings Big Ideas to Life
Whether it is a giant pigeon sailing past the Statue of Liberty, or towering athletes guarding one of the busiest transit hubs in the world, our job is to make bold ideas even bigger. We specialize in custom, attention-grabbing inflatables that become the heartbeat of major campaigns and the NYCFC Pigeon Inflatable is the perfect example of how impactful and fun they can be.
Want ot make your brand float, stand tall, or go viral? We are ready when you are! Email us today at info@inflatabledesigngroup.com and let’s start designing your custom inflatable today.