Viva Vaqueros!

Vaqueros now roam Fort Worth, not on horseback, but on the soccer field after more than 1,000 supporters voted online or in-person for the name of Fort Worth’s new NPSL soccer club.

The Fort Worth Soccer Group unveiled the name Vaqueros on Thursday in a special ceremony in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The event featured supporters, team officials, coaches and city leaders such as Fort Worth City Council member and director of the Fort Worth Sports Authority, Dennis Shingleton.

“Fort Worth is excited to now have a soccer team to call its own,” Shingleton said. “The expectations are high for this challenging initiative, but the rewards are great for our citizens and devoted soccer fans. This is the beginning step for professional soccer in Fort Worth and we could not be more enthusiastic. Let’s get started.”

Fort Worth City Council member Sal Espino represents the Fort Worth district that includes LaGrave Field, the Vaqueros home field beginning May 9.

“We are excited to have the world’s most popular sport in Fort Worth at historic LaGrave Field,” Espino said.

The name Vaqueros appropriately fits a Fort Worth soccer club considering the city’s rich history including the Stockyards, the Stock Show, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the overall cowboy culture.

“We had complete faith in the Fort Worth soccer supporters to choose a meaningful name,” Director of Business Operations Tobias Xavier Lopez said. “Intelligent fans want a name that is indicative of their city and culture. The name Vaqueros features completely unique imagery that speaks to the city’s history and the Hispanic community. It’s original, relevant, and provides the Fort Worth Soccer Group and our supporters the opportunity to build a powerful brand that can become a point of pride for Fort Worth.”

The next stage of fan involvement now begins as the supporters will be encouraged to design and then vote on the Vaqueros logo.

Fans are encouraged to submit their unique logo design to [email protected] beginning today, February 14.

Submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. central time on Friday, February 28, 2014.

The Top-2 fan created logos will join a professionally commissioned design to make up the final three logos to be unveiled on Monday, March 3.

Just as fans selected the name Vaqueros, supporters will then vote; both via social media and in person community events and meetings from March 3-16 for their favorite of the final three designs.

“The reason soccer players kiss their shirt after scoring a goal is because they want to show respect for the badge or shield.  The logo means so much in the soccer culture,” Director of Business Operations Tobias Xavier Lopez said. “The Vaqueros logo will carry a powerful weight because it will represent the voice and vision of the Fort Worth community.”

The fan submissions selected as finalists will receive a Vaqueros prize package, which will include an Authentic PUMA Vaqueros jersey and a season seat.

Logo Contest Schedule

February 14-28: Fans and designers submit logos

March 3: Final 3 designs revealed, voting begins at www.fortworthvaqueros.com and in person

March 16: Deadline for fans to vote

March 20: VIP Cocktail party to unveil the logo and official team PUMA gear