Major League Soccer’s Newest Club Unveils a Crest that pays Homage to the Rich History of Los Angeles. Announces Will Ferrell as newest addition to club ownership group
LAFC is already winning the hearts of sports fans and standing tall as the best launch of a new sports team in the USA. Surrounded by stars… LAFC kicks off new look.
Today, scores of energized fans of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) gathered at Union Station and joined Will Ferrell, Mia Hamm Garciaparra, Nomar Garciaparra, sports and entertainment legend Peter Guber, businessman Henry Nguyen, and other key club owners, elected officials and city leaders for the official unveiling of the new team’s crest and colors.
“Today is a historic day for LAFC,” said soccer legend and LAFC owner Mia Hamm Garciaparra. “Unveiling our crest is a significant milestone event that brings us one step closer to playing on our home turf in 2018. We are thrilled to unveil an iconic and timeless symbol that reinforces the link between LAFC and our community.”
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is the newest MLS soccer club serving the greater Los Angeles area
Ferrell, a passionate sports fan and native Southern Californian, is the latest addition to an ownership group that contains leaders in sports, entertainment and business. He has been a strong supporter of U.S. Soccer, and even made a surprise appearance in Brazil to pump up fans cheer on the US Men’s National Team in the 2014 World Cup.
“This is not a joke,” Ferrell told hundreds of cheering LAFC supporters at the crest unveiling in Union Station on Thursday.
“I grew up playing soccer on the mean streets of Irvine, California starting when I was eight years old,” Ferrell said. “I continue to play club soccer, our three boys all play soccer, my wife played soccer at Pomona. To say that soccer is a big part of our lives is an understatement, and I’m proud to be a member of this wonderful ownership group.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Will to our diverse and dedicated team. Will’s passion for sports and his authentic connection to Los Angeles make him a perfect co-owner of LAFC, ” said Club Managing Partner and Owner, Henry Nguyen.
Hundreds of LAFC supporters filled Union Station to rally behind LA’s newest professional sports team. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other elected officials joined the team’s ownership to unveil the new Club crest and colors which culminated with the debut of a new video explaining the origin of the LAFC crest and colors.
The design of the official crest and colors reflects the rich history and vitality of Los Angeles. Through extensive planning, collaboration, and dialogue with LAFC supporters, the result is a black and gold crest incorporating the iconic “LA”, the universally celebrated abbreviation for Los Angeles, the Wing which represents the City of Angels and symbolizes power and mobility, and four blades on the wing that represent the pillars of the Club and the city’s founding on September 4th.
The outline of the crest is derived from the Seal of the City of Los Angeles. The typeface used in the logo design is Art Deco inspired. Elegant and versatile, it is a nod to the rich history of iconic architecture found throughout Downtown Los Angeles dating back to city expansion in the 1920’s.
The Club colors, black and gold, were chosen to represent the success, urban texture and glamour of Los Angeles, with a “flash” of red to represent the Club is in the heart of Los Angeles.
“Today is a milestone for our city and for soccer fans throughout Los Angeles,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The rich L.A. history woven into this team’s crest and colors demonstrates the Los Angeles Football Club’s commitment to representing our great city with pride. I can’t wait to see them out on the field.”
“It is important that we have in this ownership group a deep commitment to our city. This team wants to grow with Los Angeles and takes its civic responsibility very seriously,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Second District, County of Los Angeles and President of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. “LAFC has shown that commitment with its desire to build a new home in the heart of Los Angeles – the heart of my District where I have championed the redevelopment and revitalization of Exposition Park for many years.”
“It is important for us to pay homage to our city’s history and to the beautiful game, while we embrace the creativity and constant evolution that Los Angeles is known for globally,” added Nguyen.
“We made a commitment to Los Angeles to build a winning Club, to increase a growing enthusiasm for the world’s game, and to deliver an exceptional experience to our supporters. We look forward to sharing this journey with the people of our city.”
“We were influenced by the city’s energy and creativity when we worked to design the crest,” said Executive Chairman and Owner, Peter Guber. “It was a thoughtful process and I am passionate about our design and deep connection it has to Los Angeles and its people.”
“The new LAFC brand perfectly represents the energy and passion of ownership’s grand vision for their new club,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “I look forward to LAFC debuting in 2018 and beginning their rivalry with the LA Galaxy.”
“As a born and raised Angeleno, it brings me much pride and joy to see that LAFC has found a way to connect our past to our future,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr. who represents the 9th Council District that includes the site of the future stadium. “Soccer is a universal language and there is no doubt in my mind that the excitement we are seeing, hearing, and feeling today is only the beginning of what’s to come. Soccer fever has hit Los Angeles and it is here to stay!”
Later this evening over a thousand fans, original ticket holders, professional sports figures, city officials and celebrities will attend a fanfare showcasing the Club’s new identity. Attendees will be the first to have the opportunity to live the LAFC experience with Limited Edition Club merchandise, immersive entertainment and music, as well as culinary selections from LA’s diverse dining scene.
Earlier this year, LAFC announced its intent to build a new stadium in Downtown Los Angeles, at the site of the current Los Angeles Sports Arena. The new development, which will be funded by $250 million in private investment, will be anchored by a new 22,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium.
LAFC’s 25-member ownership group includes businessman and Club Managing Partner Henry Nguyen, international soccer club owners Vincent Tan and Ruben Gnanalingam, U.S. World Cup superstar Mia Hamm Garciaparra, NBA and Los Angeles legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Actor Will Ferrell, MLB All-Star Nomar Garciaparra, sports and entertainment mogul Peter Guber, and Club President Tom Penn.
