The Golden Knights’ trademark request "was denied" yesterday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because of a "'likelihood of confusion' with the registered mark" of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., according to Ben Gotz of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Saint Rose also uses the NHL expansion team's moniker, and Golden Knights Senior VP Murray Craven said, "I hope people don’t overreact to this at all. We believe everyone will be satisfied. We are only going to enhance the name Golden Knights for everyone. That’s our goal. I won’t put words in [Owner] Bill Foley’s mouth, but we all believe this will be fine." Gotz notes the team will "continue to sell merchandise as it prepares its response" to the USPTO. Gotz notes the response "must be filed by June 7" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/8). TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli wrote this "latest blow comes just one week after the U.S. Army said it was 'reviewing' its options to potentially contest the name, since the Army’s elite parachute team has been dubbed the Golden Knights" since '62. Foley admitted that his franchise "received permission" from the Clarkson Univ. Golden Knights to use the name, but they "apparently forgot to seek the same" from Saint Rose and the Army. When asked about the Army potentially contesting the name, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on Nov. 29 said that the league was "very comfortable" in the legal preparation work prior to the announcement, and that the name will "neither cause confusion in the marketplace nor run into significant legal entanglements" (TSN.ca, 12/7).
HOUSE MONEY: SI's Alex Prewitt details the formation of the Golden Knights and writes, "Unlike the Strip's shows, which cater exclusively to tourists, NHL games must attract traveling fans and local diehards alike." For this reason Foley "built his business team" around both VP & CMO Nehme Abouzeid and team President Kerry Bubolz. Abouzeid: "Nobody knows how it will take shape. To me, this is just the next great headliner on the Strip." Prewitt notes aside from working on "some sponsorship deals, Foley's direct role will decrease" as next season approaches. However, he still is "imagining trips with [GM George] McPhee to pitch free agents next summer." He "recently installed an iPad app to watch shifts of potential targets from home." Foley: "I'm not a guy who can just go, 'Here are the keys to the car, take a spin'" (SI, 12/12 issue).
