By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
Las Vegas Lights FC Technical Director Chelis was sporting a big smile.
And that’s all you need to know about the power of a mascot.
Las Vegas’ new pro soccer team, the Lights FC, rolled out its mascot Friday afternoon when the colorful Chelis hopped on a Harley motorcycle at a local Southern Nevada Harley-Davidson dealership with the new team mascot, “Cash the Soccer Rocker,” on board.
Chelis, the experienced soccer coach from Mexico who now has a new title, Lights FC technical director, had been rather glum at press conferences following three pre-season losses in February. But Friday, he motored with a happy face through the Southern Nevada Harley-Davidson dealership with mascot Cash to also highlight the soccer team’s corporate partnership with Southern Nevada Harley-Davidson Dealers.
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The mascot will be in action Saturday, when the Lights of the United Soccer League make their regular season home debut at Cashman Field for a Nevada rivalry game with Reno 1868 FC. The game starts 8 p.m. The Lights FC and 1868 FC will vie for the Silver State Cup.
“We love Las Vegas, we love Cashman Field and we love embracing all that it represents,” Lights owner Brett Lashbrook said. “Naming the mascot ‘Cash’ after the Cashman Family is the perfect tribute to what they’ve done for the community over the generations and what they’ve done for our new home. We can’t wait for Cash to enter Cashman Field with his cape flying on a Harley-Davidson in front of capacity crowds throughout the season.”
The Lights won their first USL game last Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Fresno.
Saturday’s game will be not televised by Cox Communications because the cable company will now allow a for-profit soccer team to be broadcast on the city’s KCLV Channel 2 public access channel. So, you can watch the Lights on YouTube, Lashbrook said.
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