The Silver State’s first major league professional sports franchise is “golden.”
In front of thousands of eager sports fans outside T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights moniker and logo were revealed Tuesday night as Las Vegas’ identity in the NHL.
Las Vegas team owner Bill Foley explained his thinking in naming his club the Golden Knights.
“We want our team to be known for dedication, honor, strength, courage and a commitment to never give up – both on the ice and off,” said Foley. “We want our team to be committed to teamwork, service to this great city and integrity in all things – and we wanted a name and logo that represented all of this and was unique to Las Vegas and our community. Vegas Golden Knights is that name.”
Foley further explained the moniker stemming from knights being “the defenders of the realm and protect those who cannot defend themselves.”
“They are the elite warrior class,” Foley said.
According to the franchise, the team’s colors of steel grey, gold, red and black reflect the community in the focus of the team:
Steel grey represents strength and durability;
Nevada is the largest producer of gold in the United States, it is a highly-valued precious metal and is a color seen in the Las Vegas terrain;
Red is from the Vegas skyline, the desert and the beauty of the Red Rock canyons; red is also a color associated with the readiness to serve;
Black represents power and intensity.
“The Vegas Golden Knights team name and logo embody this great city and the mission of our team. When people see it, we want them to say ‘These guys never give up. These guys are going to win’,” said Foley.
Team gear can can be purchased online here and here.
In the months between Las Vegas was awarded the franchise and the unveiling, suggestions for the name have been drawn from pretty much everyone in Las Vegas (check our Facebook feed).
“I think it’s going to be the Las Vegas Knights or the Silver Knights, because it’s the Silver State,” said 10-year-old Las Vegan Jayden Beery.
Las Vegas team owner Bill Foley promised the name would either be the Silver Knights, the Desert Knights or the Golden Nights. He also doesn’t have to stick to his word.
In the past, after Las Vegas was awarded NHL’s 31st franchise, Foley admitted to putting out some fake names.
League commissioner, Gary Bettman, was on hand for the unveiling
So, what’s next for the Vegas Golden Knights? With a front office staffed already, the franchise heads to the expansion draft on June 18-20, 2017.
The team will begin taking the ice in October next year.
