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A second unique Las Vegas Lights Football Club jersey required nothing short of a unique unveiling.
And with it painted onto Lights FC defender Miguel Angel Garduño and forward Juan Carlos Garcia, it won’t be forgotten any time soon.
The unveiling of the 2018 away kit – designed by Zappos and produced by BLK – was accompanied by the announcement of the club’s 2018 roster at Wednesday’s Season Kickoff Party at Plaza Hotel & Casino.
The party came three days before Lights FC’s first United Soccer League regular season match in club history – Saturday at 7 p.m. at Fresno FC. And as is the case with the signature home kit, the most unique highlight of the jersey will double as the most unique celebration jersey element in soccer history. Featuring a “smiley face” on the interior, players can smile for the cameras in an all new way by pulling the jerseys over their heads after goals are scored.
“Only in Vegas can you have pink in your logo, only in Vegas can you have a shorts-only reveal with the Mayor of the city, only in Vegas can you get away with having body paint to reveal a jersey,” Lights FC Owner and CEO Brett Lashbrook said. “You can’t do this in Reno. We have the glitz and the glamour. Las Vegas is a different city, we are a special class, we are the top of the mountain. We have a responsibility of being the Entertainment Capital of the World. Our team, our jerseys, our sponsors, our fans, our community has a responsibility to carry this torch of making soccer the next great American sport.”
The jerseys are available beginning Thursday at the Z’Boutique located on the Zappos campus (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; 400 Stewart Ave., Las Vegas, NV, 89101), and will also be available at all 2018 Lights FC home matches. Online purchasing will be available soon through Zappos.com. In the interim, fans may go to LightsFC.com/Merchandise to register for a Zappos representative to contact them directly later this month for online purchase when it is available.
Lights FC also introduced 23 members of the club’s current roster to help model off the jersey – either in the body paint or in the jersey itself.
Those introduced included …
- All six players with Las Vegas roots who were originally signed to the club’s preseason roster – Goalkeeper Angel Alvarez, Midfielder Adolfo Guzman, midfielder Sebastian Hernandez, defender Marco Cesar Jaime Jr., midfielder Julian Portugal and midfielder Matt Thomas.
- Veteran players with National Team experience for three different countries – Midfielder Freddy Adu (United States), defender Joel Huiqui (Mexico) and midfielder Daigo Kobayashi (Japan).
- Talented veterans with first division professional experience in both the United States and Mexico, including midfiedler Carlos Alvarez (MLS) and defender/team captain Marcelo Alatorre (LigaMX).
“The whole team has in their heads that there is a responsibility that comes with the opportunity the owner and the city has given to them,” Lights FC Technical Director Chelís said. “First, I have six players from Las Vegas – In the beginning, just having at least one was my promise to the fans. Second, I have two players per position on the field, and for me, it means good competition.”
The home portion of Lights FC’s 34-match USL regular season schedule begins next Saturday, March 24, at Cashman Field, with the first of three meetings against in-state rival Reno 1868 FC. The official name of the annual in-state series, along with the series trophy and presenting sponsor, will be announced next week.
