Soccer team kicks around nicknames
Fans can name USL club in online voting
Brett Lashbrook received more than 1,000 team name suggestions that were submitted on his website.
Names such as the Vegas Dry Heat, the Silver Knights and Vegas Ronaldos were proposed for the United Soccer League expansion franchise that will play homes matches at Cashman Field starting in February.
“If we get Cristiano Ronaldo to play here,iwillnametheteamtheronaldos,” Lashbrook said jokingly.
Lashbrook, the owner of the USL club, couldn’t decide on a team name before the fan festival Friday at the Zappos Corporate Office.
He decided to narrow the field to six names and allow fans to pick their favorite on Vegasprosoccer.com. Viva Vegas, Las Vegas Silver, Las Vegas FC, Las Vegas Lights, Las Vegas Action and Club Vegas made the final list.
“It’s really hard to pick a name,” Lashbrook said. “It’s incredibly hard, so once again, we’ll let the fans decide for us. This is the team for the fans. We
SOCCER
want the fans to have their fingerprints on this.”
The winning name will be announced Aug. 29, with fan voting open through Aug. 28.
Lashbrook said more than 1,000 fans have left a deposit for season tickets.
The USL club owner requested to have his team open the 2018 season against Reno 1868 FC at Cashman Field.
“Done,” USL president Jake Edwards responded on stage.
The minor-league soccer club will share Cashman with the Las Vegas
51s. Lashbrook said the baseball field along with the mound will be removed before every soccer match.
“Fans will be closer to the field than at a baseball game,” he said. “We’re taking out the mound every single time. We’re bringing in natural grass to fill in the infield dirt. You will not know that it’s a baseball stadium when you walk in.
“Vegas fans will get the authentic soccer experience.”
The Las Vegas City Council last month gave Lashbrook’s team the OK to play its home matches at Cashman Field.
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gmanzano24 on Twitter.