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Las Vegas (Something) Knights NHL concept


sparkychewbarky

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Guest darkpiranha

Now that we're in the nitpicky stage of things, I'm starting to agree with the arguments that the horse/chess motif is just slightly not appropriate for this identity. While it's a Knight in chess, the horse itself obviously isn't a knight. Showing a horse and calling the team "Knights" implies a stronger chess connection, which there isn't. I love both logos, and if anything, I like the horse best, but if you need something to use as a final decision point between the two, that would be where I drew the line. It's sad, because Vegas is known for games, and chess is a game, and it's a game that FEELS kind of like it's in that classic poker/blackjack wheelhouse because playing cards also have kings and queens in them, and Vegas has race gambling, and racing has horses in it. It all feels SO close to lining up as the perfect identity. But... in the end... Vegas doesn't have any sort of chess connection, so there's ultimately a slight disconnect, especially when you have a second great logo that doesn't carry any of that baggage.

If only long-ago playing card taste-makers opted to make the Jack a Knight instead, it would have been so much easier!

The uniforms... man, I love those alts. Like, a thousand times more than the standard ones. Those alts are SO evocative and cool looking. I was worried they'd feel like the Senators throwback barberpole alts, but these don't feel like that at all. Think about it...

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Now that we're in the nitpicky stage of things, I'm starting to agree with the arguments that the horse/chess motif is just slightly not appropriate for this identity. While it's a Knight in chess, the horse itself obviously isn't a knight. Showing a horse and calling the team "Knights" implies a stronger chess connection, which there isn't. I love both logos, and if anything, I like the horse best, but if you need something to use as a final decision point between the two, that would be where I drew the line. It's sad, because Vegas is known for games, and chess is a game, and it's a game that FEELS kind of like it's in that classic poker/blackjack wheelhouse because playing cards also have kings and queens in them, and Vegas has race gambling, and racing has horses in it. It all feels SO close to lining up as the perfect identity. But... in the end... Vegas doesn't have any sort of chess connection, so there's ultimately a slight disconnect, especially when you have a second great logo that doesn't carry any of that baggage.

If only long-ago playing card taste-makers opted to make the Jack a Knight instead, it would have been so much easier!

The uniforms... man, I love those alts. Like, a thousand times more than the standard ones. Those alts are SO evocative and cool looking. I was worried they'd feel like the Senators throwback barberpole alts, but these don't feel like that at all. Think about it...

Although you are technically right darkpiranha, I just like the chess logo too much. I still think sparky should use that as the primary.

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The shield logo with the chess piece as a sleeve logo looks great; and as odd as it may sound, the medieval jerseys are potentially the greatest hockey jerseys I've seen on this site. If they only went with those instead of making them the alternate jerseys, that would be frickin' awesome as well.

Really well done.

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While I really love the chess piece logo, I have to agree with darkpiranha that it doesn't quite fit with Las Vegas. I would go with the shield/sword logo as the primary, but still use the chess piece over the red and gold shield on the shoulders.

Also, on the shield/sword logo, the yellow/gold inlines on the spikes and sword handle are really bugging me. I would remove those and see if there's enough contrast all around.

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While darkpirahna and mbannon92 are technically right, I don't feel like a team's uniforms necessarily HAVE to fit in with their city. Most team names/uniforms in the nhl have no connection to their respective cities. But hey, it's not my series.

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Guest darkpiranha

No, a team doesn't HAVE to have an identity that fits coughUtahJAZZ?cough, but it's one of those "all things being equal" conundrums, where if you have to pick one (in this case, we don't, but just offering fodder for discussion) between two equals, the one that IS geographically/thematically appropriate moves the needle ever so slightly in that direction. Granted, there's not a lot of historical knights that called Vegas home, but a knight knight is one of those identities that can be made to work pretty much anywhere in the country, in any city without having to justify it.

If you just take it down Sparky's usual next steps, into merchandising, then the knight chess piece practically dictates that everything be chess-related, rather than knight-related. And the more you do that, you move into the awkward game-oriented mismatch that Vegas gives you. No other town except Atlantic City is so closely associated with games. Just not chess. But that's the game we're choosing rather than any of the other 1000% thematically appropriate team names that could have been chosen. The Las Vegas Black Jacks. The Las Vegas Aces. The Las Vegas Snake Eyes. Vegas is the one place where chess actually clashes with the theme.

More straightforward knights allow you to have all the other stuff, like swords, shields, armor, horses(!), banners, lances, archers, chalices, slaying, helmets, metal, magic, castles, maidens, etc.

(Yes, I know I'm nitpicking about something that doesn't need nitpicking, I just think this is a fascinating nuance between the two types of identities)

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Guest darkpiranha

Just to be clear, I'm not speaking for Sparky! I'm just speaking in reference to the suggestions I made. Sparky's the master. I'm just honored whenever he incorporates a suggestion I make.

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I love all of the work thats been shown so far and since LV is my actual initials I find the chess piece particularly endearing on a personal level.

That said, I agree that the chess motif might not be the best way to go.

A knight's helmet would work very well, of course. A club would also be interesting, and go well with a "medieval weaponry" theme, while tying in cards.

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What we really need is... the official Black Knights Hockey Cod!

You just know that there's one on the way, Dan!

The shield logo with the chess piece as a sleeve logo looks great; and as odd as it may sound, the medieval jerseys are potentially the greatest hockey jerseys I've seen on this site. If they only went with those instead of making them the alternate jerseys, that would be frickin' awesome as well.

Really well done.

Thank you Y.

While I really love the chess piece logo, I have to agree with darkpiranha that it doesn't quite fit with Las Vegas. I would go with the shield/sword logo as the primary, but still use the chess piece over the red and gold shield on the shoulders.

Also, on the shield/sword logo, the yellow/gold inlines on the spikes and sword handle are really bugging me. I would remove those and see if there's enough contrast all around.

First of all, mb...congrats on the Creamer...well deserved!

I think you're all right on the chess thing.

The shape looks good but the concept is a little off.

The "Vegas Star" is simple, and so far is the most efficient way to connect a Knights' theme with Las Vegas.

It will be the primary.

I took your advice mb and toned back the inlines.

I kept them however to subtly suggest the neon sign.

bk-044.jpg

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No, a team doesn't HAVE to have an identity that fits coughUtahJAZZ?cough, but it's one of those "all things being equal" conundrums, where if you have to pick one (in this case, we don't, but just offering fodder for discussion) between two equals, the one that IS geographically/thematically appropriate moves the needle ever so slightly in that direction. Granted, there's not a lot of historical knights that called Vegas home, but a knight knight is one of those identities that can be made to work pretty much anywhere in the country, in any city without having to justify it.

If you just take it down Sparky's usual next steps, into merchandising, then the knight chess piece practically dictates that everything be chess-related, rather than knight-related. And the more you do that, you move into the awkward game-oriented mismatch that Vegas gives you. No other town except Atlantic City is so closely associated with games. Just not chess. But that's the game we're choosing rather than any of the other 1000% thematically appropriate team names that could have been chosen. The Las Vegas Black Jacks. The Las Vegas Aces. The Las Vegas Snake Eyes. Vegas is the one place where chess actually clashes with the theme.

More straightforward knights allow you to have all the other stuff, like swords, shields, armor, horses(!), banners, lances, archers, chalices, slaying, helmets, metal, magic, castles, maidens, etc.

(Yes, I know I'm nitpicking about something that doesn't need nitpicking, I just think this is a fascinating nuance between the two types of identities)

Excellent response darkp...Great advice. Thank you.

Now that we're in the nitpicky stage of things, I'm starting to agree with the arguments that the horse/chess motif is just slightly not appropriate for this identity. While it's a Knight in chess, the horse itself obviously isn't a knight. Showing a horse and calling the team "Knights" implies a stronger chess connection, which there isn't. I love both logos, and if anything, I like the horse best, but if you need something to use as a final decision point between the two, that would be where I drew the line. It's sad, because Vegas is known for games, and chess is a game, and it's a game that FEELS kind of like it's in that classic poker/blackjack wheelhouse because playing cards also have kings and queens in them, and Vegas has race gambling, and racing has horses in it. It all feels SO close to lining up as the perfect identity. But... in the end... Vegas doesn't have any sort of chess connection, so there's ultimately a slight disconnect, especially when you have a second great logo that doesn't carry any of that baggage.

If only long-ago playing card taste-makers opted to make the Jack a Knight instead, it would have been so much easier!

The uniforms... man, I love those alts. Like, a thousand times more than the standard ones. Those alts are SO evocative and cool looking. I was worried they'd feel like the Senators throwback barberpole alts, but these don't feel like that at all. Think about it...

The light bulb went on when you suggested the card concept, dp...

I'm gonna put up several potential secondary options.

Here's a playing card version complete with playoff beard...

bk-046.jpg

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I love all of the work thats been shown so far and since LV is my actual initials I find the chess piece particularly endearing on a personal level.

That said, I agree that the chess motif might not be the best way to go.

A knight's helmet would work very well, of course. A club would also be interesting, and go well with a "medieval weaponry" theme, while tying in cards.

Thanks SG. Here's another "LV" monogram.

I've always liked the medieval "feel" to fellow member "sportsherald"'s avatar, and so I took some inspiration from his design.

I wanted to do something with a gothic feel to it.

If this design isn't a contender for the secondary logo, it will at least look pretty good on an "LV KNIGHTS" t-shirt...

bk-048.jpg

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LOVE everything you've come up with in this thread...of course, given where the "Black Knights" name idea came from, could the actual team end up being the Las Vegas Cadets?

We will see...

bYhYmxh.png

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I like the imagery of the horse, just not as a chess piece. When i hear Black Knights i want something more menacing. Maybe add a bit of motion to horses head.

Vegas is a daring place, take some chances with it.

I agree w...Perhaps the horse as- not a chess-piece- but as a warhorse.

When I put some motion to the steed, it started to look a little "Denver Bronco-ish", so I kept him in the more static "noble" pose.

I also wanted a logo to actually spell out "Las Vegas", so I combined the 2 ideas...

I think all of this is an upgrade! I'm loving the horse in the wordmark. Did you consider making that a standalone logo?

I tried it suplauren and it didn't look too bad.

However, the comments on the chess theme not really jiving were spot-on.

If the horse doesn't make the secondary logo "cut", it will definitely be there as a mascot.

Thanks s.

bk-047.jpg

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LOVE everything you've come up with in this thread...of course, given where the "Black Knights" name idea came from, could the actual team end up being the Las Vegas Cadets?

We will see...

Thanks MB...Actually, "Cadets" is a pretty cool name.

Both your aces and black knights concepts SCREAM vegas. May I ask if "King Elvis" is making an apperance

Elvis will definitely be entering the building later, b.

The actual arena being built for the yet to be named "Black Knights" Las Vegas NHL expansion team is literally right across the street from the Excalibur hotel/casino. The Excalibur has a dinner show called the Tournament of Kings with knights competing in medieval events.

Love the designs, but I'm still not sold on a chess piece logo for a NHL team. Shields are great and I'd like to see your attempt at an armored knight also.

Thanks Whitefoot. (There's a good discussion over at HF Boards from some of your fellow Las Vegans re: the NHL bid that I think you'd enjoy. Here's the link...L.V. Discussion)

I tried a couple of armoured knight concepts.

A "cartoony" one...

bk-045.jpg

...and a more serious (although more generic) attempt...

bk-049.jpg

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... the prospect of Las Vegas' NHL team being named the Black Knights is the silver lining I can find should this terrible idea come to pass.

I'm not so sure that it's such a "terrible idea"...

- a city of 2 million, with a relatively decent "average house-hold income"

- 40 million visitors a year staying an average of 2.8 nights...

- the NHL will be the only pro-game in town...

- a passionate, billionaire owner in Bill Foley...

- a beautiful, state-of-the-art-arena...

Plaza-Night3-1.jpg

- and a populace that seems to have a desire for community identities other than "the Strip"

Imagine the corporate support potential and cross-promotion possibilities.

Also about a couple of miles down the road you have a perfect stadium series location

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2768/4399582112_87fc2281f4.jpg

28ahpn4.jpg

NbyQSAg.pngODa02WA.pngChTDCVV.png

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