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Steve Silver
The upstart United Football League unveiled Las Vegas’ team name, the Locomotives, and uniforms at a press conference inside the Palms on Monday morning.
Published Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 | 10:13 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009 | 9:02 a.m.
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Break out those history books football fans, because the United Football League is dropping some knowledge on its Las Vegas franchise.
As an ode to the founding of Las Vegas more than 100 years ago, the UFL has decided to call this city's franchise the Locomotives.
"While we recognize that the history of Las Vegas certainly involves the gaming industry, we didn't just want to be naturally drawn to that as a moniker for the team name," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said. "So because the railroad industry was established here in 1905 and had a significant role in the foundation of this great city, we decided to coin the name, the Las Vegas Locomotives."
Huyghue and Locomotives head coach Jim Fassel unveiled the team name as well as its GameWear-designed silver and blue uniforms at a press conference inside the Palms Monday morning.
The New York City-based Charley Inc. marketing firm helped the UFL create the railroad-inspired moniker despite more than 30,000 Internet fan suggestions relating to the gaming industry or the mafia.
"We wanted to swim upstream a little bit," Huyghue said. "We thought that the education of the city of the railroad industry was an important and perhaps overlooked aspect of it. In a lot of discussion we thought it was the best way to go."
"Of the 35,000 names submitted, 30,000 did have some aspect of gaming or the mafia. And it is the natural way people think of the city, but I think this city is a lot more than that. And that is one of the things we wanted to recognize. The football team is part of the fabric of the community and not just the gaming industry. The gaming industry will always stand alone in Las Vegas. Nobody is ever going to be confused with what happens in Las Vegas."
Ironically, the first person puzzled with the selection of "Locomotives" was coach Fassel.
Yet, he now admits that the name is fitting after brushing up on his Las Vegas history.
"When they first called me with the name Locomotives I went, 'What? Locomotives? You gotta be kidding me,'" Fassel said. "Then you see the history of Las Vegas and I learned something. It was a big part of Las Vegas coming around."
Despite settling on the lengthy 'Locomotives' name, Huyghue said he expects most fans to refer to the team as the 'Locos.'
"The double entendre that is recognized by the Spanish name 'Locos,' meaning crazy, was not lost on us," Huyghue said. "…We always thought it was important to get one name with a nickname that had a Hispanic flare to it. That ultimately swayed us."
The UFL has yet to unveil the design of the Locomotives' logo, but said it will do so next month. The league has press conference scheduled in each of the four franchise's cities to reveal each team's name this week.
In addition to naming Las Vegas' squad Monday, Huyghue also announced that the UFL partnered with the Mayo Clinic for its medical needs and launched GetUFL.com to sell league merchandise. Coach Fassel will also return to Las Vegas each week during the season to tape a television show on a yet-to-be named network.
The Locomotives open the inaugural UFL season against San Francisco on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium. VERSUS will broadcast that game.
Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com. Steve is a regular guest on the Heatwave Sports show on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM, which airs every Saturday and Sunday from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Um, wow that is dumb
Really!? That's the best they can do?
Who associates Locomotives with Las Vegas?
Man, that is STU PID.
I didn't have much hope for this league with the total lack of martketing, almost like they are purposely trying to keep it a secret. Now with the name that lacks any imagination whatsoever, I give them even less odds of making it.
The right team name and apparel can lead to great self-marketing opportunities. However, I for one won't be sporting any Locomotives gear.
For a town where there is no real train yard or an Amtrak stop? Why? Its like they want the UFL to fail...
Everyone knows the team names are what keep professional leagues afloat.
1. If (and when) this league fails it will have little to do with the names of the teams.
2. The locomotives is still not the worst team name in this city. Ex., The 51's, my alma mater Cheyenne Desert Shields, or the Trailblazers.
3. I think the name locomotives is so they can call them the "Locos". If that's the reason, then why not call them the Locos. I can't stand parents who name their kid one thing knowing they are going to call the kid a shortened version. I.e., We are going to name our dayghter Dakota so we can call ber Kody. That drives me nutzz.
The Deadbeats would be more appropriate, which is what this league will become. Maybe the league is preparing for the inevitable move to another city, like Lima (Ohio) or Schenectady (NY), where locomotives were once made.
Personally I don't care for the name.
But for the history majors who posted about Locomotives or trains not having ties to Las Vegas, they must not know that LV was founded due to the availability of water to use in steam locomotives and that the railroad stop is what started Las Vegas, and that CLARK county is named for the guy who was an owner of the railroad that sold the lots to the townsite that became Las Vegas........so no trains don't have anything to do with LV.
But as much as there IS historical precedence, I still don't care for the name.
@ Bertsos
I agree. People don't understand that Las Vegas would not have been here had it not been for the railroad. The main station was supposed to be built in Searchlight. Had that been done, we would all be citizens of Searchlight, NV and Dingy Reid would talk about growing up in small town Las Vegas, NV.
University of Nevada - Searchlight doesn't have the same glorious ring to it, does it.
Actually, the name is probably a good choice since the league may end up as a train wreck.
So...with only 4 teams, how many times does everyone play each other? I'm pretty sure that the kids who play football at the end of the street dream of a day when they'll become pros and and won't have to see the same kids again and again, every day when throwing around the ol' pigskin. Should name this new team the UHauls since everyone is leaving Las Vegas...
Hey History Teachers:
I'm sure everyone knows that Las Vegas GREW and was incorporated because of the railroad, (Fremont put it on the map some 60 years before the railroad when his party made camp by the springs - yes it was used as an oasis before that)
BUT, ask 1000 people to say the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Las Vegas and I'll bet you don't get one railroad answer. Ask another 1000 people what they think of the birth of Las Vegas and I'll bet again that you get no more than ten that say railroad.
Either way, there wasn't much thought into the name. All four teams have stupid names in this league. UFL Marketing has been a Joke! Ask those 1000 people what the UFL is and your are going to get a lot of confused looks.
Orlando Tuskers
San Francisco Rockfish
Las Vegas Locomotives
New York Sentinels
I can't decide if I'll only go to a couple of games or go all out and buy season tickets!
Maybe I'll just support the team at home games for one week.
If you don't get the above, you don't know their schedule...
Man, I was really looking forward to this too. Seriously, I thought it'd be a fun minor league team, like the Wranglers. I just can't see people that into it when there is only two home games, (not counting the 'home' game played in LA). It's even worse that the two home games are within a seven day period!
I hope to see a lot more for next year, if they make it that far.
Maybe they should be called the MEGLEVS!
I like that the team names are unique but I HATE that we're going to be calling our team the "Locos."