The NHL’s newest franchise finally has a name – the Vegas Golden Knights.
After it was announced on June 22nd of this year that Las Vegas, Nevada had been awarded an NHL expansion team, announcements regarding the franchise have been few and far between. The organization named former Capitals’ general manager George McPhee the first GM in team history in July, but since then, little information about the franchise has been released to the public. This all changed on Tuesday night when the team announced their name and revealed their logo, officially becoming the Vegas Golden Knights.
The logo, which features a black and gold knight’s helmet on a black shield, forms a “V” with its negative space. Per the team’s official website, the team’s official colors are steel grey, black, gold, and red, representing “strength and durability… readiness to serve… (and) power and intensity.”
Golden Knights’ majority owner Bill Foley, a graduate of the United States Military Academy and a former Black Knight, was adamant on including the term knight in the team’s branding. “The night never gives up, never gives in, always advances, never retreats,” said Foley. “They are the elite warrior class.”
The Golden Knights’ identity is the first NHL brand to be designed by Adidas, who will be taking over as the league’s primary uniform manufacturer next season.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the first professional sports team to call Las Vegas home, and have developed a strong identity that lends them instant credibility. Fans will be able to see the team in action next fall, when the NHL’s newest team takes the ice for the first time.
The Golden Knights will open play during the NHL’s 2017-18 season as the league’s first expansion team since 2000. They’ll join the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and will select players during an expansion draft next summer.
As the @NHL enters its 100th year, the Golden Knights are here. #BoldInGold pic.twitter.com/oDgLR1BWRl
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 23, 2016