By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
There was so much excitement in 2017 when the Las Vegas Lights soccer team was launched. But these days, the United Soccer League club based in downtown Las Vegas is coping with not having its big downtown sponsor — Zappos.
When the Lights were created, there was a lot of publicity around Zappos and the Las Vegas Lights having a three-year sponsor arrangement.
Not only was “Zappos” displayed on the home and away jerseys, the online shoe and apparel retailer based in the old Las Vegas City Hall building also helped design the Lights’ uniform kit.
Plus, under the sponsorship, Zappos hosted tailgate parties, have a big presence at the Lights’ home field — Cashman Field — and be present on the team’s marketing platforms.
But things have changed.
There was a recent media report that said there were discussions that the Lights would be an affiliate of LAFC.
LVSportsBiz.com contacted Zappos about that because the downtown-based online retailer had signed a major sponsorship deal with the Lights more than three years earlier.
Here’s the Zappos response received Monday morning: “We’re actually no longer a sponsor of the Lights, so do not believe a response from our end makes sense.”
A follow-up email also addressed the fact that Zappos is no longer a sponsor of the Lights, which have downsized bigtime in terms of front office business workers. Here’s the Zappos spokesperson’s company statement:
Our former sponsorship with the Las Vegas Lights was centered around in-person, community focused events such as tailgates and live games. Due to COVID-19, sponsorships have understandably gone towards more digital deliverables resulting in the Lights and Zappos mutually deciding to part ways on amicable terms. We were humbled to be able to support the team for their first three years, and look forward to another community sponsor having the opportunity for the presenting title. — Zappos statement
LVSportsBiz.com contacted Lights owner/founder Brett Lashbrook about the Zappos sponsorship issue and the item about the Lights being an LAFC affiliate in 2021. We hope to hear from Lashbrook to discuss the team’s future.
Here was the Tweet from last week about talks that the Lights would be an LAFC affiliate.
In addition, there has been no public discussion at Las Vegas City Hall regarding a 2019 proposal to rebuild the Cashman Center area into a new soccer stadium and to have the Lights sold to an investment group if there was a city-investor agreement.
Talk behind the scenes is that the investor, hedge fund manager Seth Klarman, might be more interested in the city of Las Vegas Cashman land deal for development more than the soccer stadium/team part.
Keep in mind. Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has expressed interest in looking at the possibility of pursuing an MLS team for the Las Vegas market. Foley has said he’s getting a National Lacrosse League team for a new $84 million Henderson Event Center arena in Henderson that will share the 6,000-seat venue at the Henderson Pavilion site with Foley’s Henderson Silver Knights. The Silver Knights made their regular season debut Saturday.