New Lake Tahoe professional hockey team chooses name - and local monster as mascot
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sat, 12/02/2023 - 11:04am
The much-anticipated name for the new ECHL hockey team making its home at the Tahoe Blue Event Center was announced Thursday night in front of over 1,000 enthusiastic local fans. The Tahoe Knight Monsters will start playing at the new center in October 2024.
The team's colors are teal, gold, and black, and the event center was decorated in those colors and the Knight Monsters team name and logo are portrayed by a dragon-like creature that resides and rules Lake Tahoe.
"This is a big day," the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) President/CEO Carol Chaplin told the crowd.
The team is already becoming part of the community, finding homes, and being a connected partner. Chaplin said the team will be taking the "Awe and then Some" of Lake Tahoe around the league as they play, referring to the LTVA motto.
As the excitement was building, this film was displayed:
The inspiration for the name and logo originated from local input and nominations from over 1000 fans. The area has a long-standing folklore of a creature called “Tahoe Tessie,” a fictional creature that resides in Lake Tahoe. These logos also incorporate the amazing Lake Tahoe and the mountains that border it to pay homage to the area and its world-renowned natural beauty.
The Knight Monster is unique and iconic, blending the mystique and honor of a Knight with the ferocity of a lake monster creating a distinct visual identity for the team. This Knight Monster is majestic and fierce with a towering presence. The Knight Monster is a protector and fights for those who can’t fight for themselves. The logos were designed by Nick Matarese, president and creative director for The Barn Creative, and his team. The Barn Creative is a marketing and design company that takes branding to the next level.
The Knight Monsters are owned by 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, and former National Football League quarterback, Tim Tebow, along with David Hodges, CEO of Hodges Management Group, LLC and 925 Partners LLC. The team will be managed and operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.
“We are so incredibly excited to introduce our team’s name for our fans and for the region,” said Knight Monsters co-owner Tim Tebow, “We look forward to bringing people together for fun family entertainment, as well as making a positive impact in this community.”
“It is an honor and privilege to steward the Tahoe Knight Monsters for this community,” said co-owner David Hodges, “Tim and I have an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in this community.”
Hodges was impressed with the gathered fans.
"I can tell this is going to be a passionate fan base," he said.
The team will begin play for the ECHL’s 2024-2025 season. A 36-home game schedule will take place at the new Tahoe Blue Event Center, a 4,200-seat arena. The multi-purpose arena is located in Stateline, Nevada, and is managed by OVG360, a division of Oak View Group which owns and operates two National Hockey League properties (Seattle, WA, and Belmont Park, NY), and manages two additional NHL arenas (Pittsburgh, PA, and Phoenix, AZ), as well as multiple AHL, ECHL and college hockey Arenas across North America. The excitement is just beginning for the Tahoe Knight Monsters.
In the coming months, the team will introduce the mascot, the team jerseys, and introduce an NHL/AHL affiliate which is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2024. In the late spring and summer, the team will announce a head coach and the first player signings.
The team is currently accepting season ticket deposits to be placed on a priority list. Seating priority is based on when a deposit is placed. Visit the team’s website at KnightMonstersHockey.com for more information.
