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El Paso USL Reveals Team Name Finalists; Public Voting on Name Underway

Staff Report July 10, 2018 El Paso Sports, Sports 1

El Paso USL revealed the top five finalist nicknames for the team to be voted on by the public beginning today. In April of this year, the community was invited to submit team name ideas.

El Paso USL fans submitted more than 1400 name ideas for the team.

The finalist names include:

Estrellas
Lagartos
Locomotive
Stars
Tejanos

“We had a lot of fun reviewing the list of names submitted by El Paso USL fans,” said Alan Ledford, President of MountainStar Sports Group. “There was certainly a great deal of thought put into the submissions, and the region’s passion for soccer was definitely evident. Based on the feedback we received, we know our local fans are quite creative, but that tradition is equally important to them.”

The public is invited to vote on the finalist names online beginning Tuesday through midnight on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. The final team name selected will dictate the team’s colors, crest, uniforms, and mascot.

The team name announcement later this year will include the team’s colors and crest. Uniforms and mascot reveals will be scheduled subsequently.

“This is definitely an exciting time to be an El Paso soccer fan. It’s been thrilling to follow the unpredictable World Cup matches with local soccer supporter groups and fans. It is really rewarding to witness the enthusiasm for El Paso USL,” said Andrew Forrest, General Manager for El Paso USL. “We look forward to announcing the official team name, along with all the other design elements.”

Each of the finalist names was submitted by multiple individuals during the name entry period. As part of the Name the Team contest, those who submitted the winning name will be entered in a drawing. The person selected as the winner will win the grand prize, which includes 2 season seats for the 2019 season, 2 official jerseys, and the winner’s picture taken with the team during the 2019 season.

The criteria for selecting a team name includes name popularity based on public entries and voting, creativity, how well the name represents El Paso, and family-friendliness.

While the public input is an important element of the decision-making process, MountainStar Sports Group will make the ultimate name selection based on the aforementioned criteria and USL approval.

El Paso USL soccer will debut in March of 2019. Those interested in placing a Season Seat Deposit to be among the first to select their Season Tickets can do so with a $50 per seat deposit online or may call 915-235-GOAL. Ticket prices and packages will be announced in the coming months.

Video+Gallery+Story: City’s Own Omar Salgado Signed by El Paso USL

Staff Report June 13, 2018 El Paso Sports, Sports Comments Off on Video+Gallery+Story: City’s Own Omar Salgado Signed by El Paso USL

At a Wednesday news conference, Officials with El Paso USL announced that Omar Salgado has signed as the first player of the newly launched club, owned by MountainStar Sports Group (MSSG).

Salgado will be part of the inaugural 2019 squad with El Paso USL, which is one of four teams to join USL for the 2019 season.

“We are thrilled for Omar to join the team and be the first ever El Paso USL player. He is a terrific young man who I believe will be a tremendous asset both on the field and in the community — the community he grew up in — and he is excited to return to as a professional soccer player,” said Andrew Forrest, General Manager of El Paso USL.

Salgado was raised in El Paso and holds dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico. The striker was active in youth soccer in the Sun City, playing for the Texas Fire Soccer Club. Salgado attended St. Joseph School and Cathedral High School.

The terms of Salgado’s contract with El Paso USL include his being loaned to Las Vegas Lights FC for the remainder of the 2018 season. The signing and loan are pending league and federation approval.

Salgado, who plays as a Forward, comes to El Paso USL with an impressive background, having played for both the United States U20 and U23 National Teams, and in both Major League Soccer and Liga MX. Previously the No. 1 selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Salgado has also spent time training with multiple English Premier League clubs.

“We are proud to welcome Omar home as the very first player of the very first El Paso USL team. This is El Paso’s team and nothing symbolizes that more than bringing a true El Pasoan on board as our first signing,” said Josh Hunt, Chairman and CEO of MountainStar Sports Group.

“This was a remarkable opportunity for us to sign a world-class player with international experience whose roots are firmly planted in El Paso. Omar is a wonderful person who will represent El Paso well both on and off the pitch,” said Alan Ledford, President of MountainStar Sports Group. “We are happy to welcome him home.”

A former Cathedral High School student, Salgado left El Paso at the age of 15 to further his career with soccer giants Club Deportivo Guadalajara, better known as Chivas.

With Chivas, he scored seven goals in 10 appearances and was named Player of the Tournament in South America’s U-17 Copa Liberatores competition. Salgado left Chivas when he accepted a call-up for the United States U-20 team, and also has represented the United States at the U-17, U-18, and U-23 levels.

Salgado, now 24, was selected first overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC after training with current English Premier League sides Everton FC and Fulham FC. He started in four of his first 14 appearances as a rookie, scoring Vancouver’s lone goal in his first start against the Columbus Crew.

The striker suffered two fractured foot injuries in 2012 and 2013, the second of which sidelined Salgado for the entire 2013 MLS season. After a successful loan to USL club Charleston Battery in 2014, the striker was recalled by the Whitecaps first team before being traded to New York City FC and purchased by Tigres UANL of Liga MX three weeks later at the end of that year.

Gallery by Alicia Renteria, Multi-Media Photographer, El Paso Herald-Post