Houston's new Major League Soccer team will be called HOUSTON 1836, commemorating the year that the City was founded. HOUSTON 1836 President Oliver Luck was joined at a press conference at Houston's Lanier Middle School by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke, (AEG is investor/operators of the Club), team captain Wade Barrett and goalkeeper Pat Onstad to 'reveal' the team's name, logo and colors. Several hundred youth soccer players cheered the announcement and received some of the first apparel available with the classy logo and sharp colors of HOUSTON 1836.
"While the name HOUSTON 1836 refers to the year that our City of Houston was founded by brothers Augustus C. and John K. Allen, we also incorporated the star and silhouette of General Sam Houston which clearly are iconic symbols of Houston which will remind fans that this team represents their City," said Luck. "From this day forward, the HOUSTON 1836 logo will be a symbol of a hard working team that reflects the pride, loyalty, heritage, bravery and most of all...winning spirit and 'wildcatter, go-get-em' attitude of Houstonians and all of Texas."
Designed by MLS Creative Services led by Richard Levy in conjunction with Cassdes Design, Inc. in New York City, the HOUSTON 1836 team identity can be reproduced on a variety of backgrounds using the team's primary colors of 'Raven Black,' 'Space City Blue' and 'Wildcatter Orange.'
"While our research indicated that Houston was not only one of the country's great sports towns with soccer, in particular, a fan favorite, we are still blown away by the tremendous local support, attitude and excitement that this team has already generated before even kicking one ball into the goal," said Leiweke. "We are so pleased to bring to Houston a club, in-tact, that has year-after-year established itself as one of MLS' most successful teams and one that will compete for the Cup in its very first season here. On behalf of AEG, Oliver Luck and the great staff he has begun to assemble, we thank the City and in particular Mayor White, the members of the City Council and the other officials who we have worked so closely with to make HOUSTON 1836 a reality."
Guided by Head Coach Dominic Kinnear, the 2005 MLS Coach of the Year, HOUSTON 1836 last week selected defender Patrick Ianni, (U.C.L.A., 8th overall pick) - a powerful marking back who played for the U.S. Under-20s in last summer's world championship in Holland - forward Andre Schmid, (St. John's, 32nd overall pick) and midfielder Mike Chabala, (University of Washington, 44th overall) in the MLS SuperDraft. Those young players look to join a team stocked with MLS All-Stars and international players including Barrett, Onstad, the 2005 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, U.S. National Team forward Brian Ching, Venezuelan forward Alejandro Moreno and Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, a finalist for 2005 MLS Honda MVP honors.
"Houston is a proud City with a diverse, enthusiastic soccer community," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "This name and these colors forge an identity inspired by the City's entrepreneurial founders and worthy of its rich soccer tradition. As the team seeks excellence on the field, MLS and AEG will apply equal vigor in collaborating with investors and local leaders to build a stadium specifically for HOUSTON 1836."
Immediately following the afternoon press conference, eight select Houston locations of Academy Sports and Outdoors stores will begin selling two specially designed, officially licensed HOUSTON 1836 t-shirts. The commemorative shirts are also available on-line at www.MLSgear.com.
Since the club's initial press conference less than six weeks ago, the team has received over 1,500 deposits for season seats and tremendous interest from the local corporate community with regards to sponsorship opportunities according to Luck. Additionally, over 11,000 fans cast votes as part of a "Name the Team" contest sponsored by the Houston Chronicle, with HOUSTON 1836 beating out 11 other choices.
Deposits of $50 for season tickets are currently being accepted online at www.Houston1836.com or by phone at (866) 502-6326. HOUSTON 1836 will play its complete 16-game home schedule at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston, a facility which has hosted several major soccer events in its history. The 2006 MLS season, the 11th in League history, will kick off on April 1.
