By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
It might just be the Vegas Golden Knights’ answer to the Cheesehead — the novelty sports head gear worn by Green Bay Packers fans.
Retired Las Vegas police sergeant Tom Wagner is working on a novelty foam Golden Knights hat that is being made in China and he hopes to have the first batch in 20-30 days with the goal of selling them in a few months. A smiling foam character face inside a knight’s helmet is in the front of the headgear, with the mini-character holding a hockey stick and a puck. It’s all mounted on a ball cap with an adjustable band in the back.
Wagner, who has worn the headgear with two other VGK buddies during the preseason and the start of the new 2018-19 season, is working with the Golden Knights on this project because he wants to sell it as an officially licensed product with the Golden Knights’ blessing.
Wagner is working with VGK Chief Marketing Officer Brian Killingsworth to make it happen. Wagner said is investing about $20,000 into the hat venture. He also carries the distinction of being “knighted” last season by giving up his Phoenix Coyotes jersey and donning the Golden Knights jersey that he wears to every VGK game.
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LVSportsBiz.com interviewed Wagner before Saturday night’s Golden Knights-Ducks game at T-Mobile Arena. You can check out the interview here.
Wagner said he checked with the creator of the Packers’ Cheesehead item and he agreed to make a few — but gave permission to Wagner to mass produce the Golden Knights head gear, which consists of the mold shell over a ball cap.
Wagner is also creating a generic hockey hat that can be customized with a NHL team’s logo and colors.
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