A group pushing for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas just unveiled their bid for the "Las Vegas Jacks" last week, but these guys have been secretly working on this for over a year! Trademark filings show this whole operation has been brewing in the background way longer than anyone knew. And yeah, that Jacks name? It got ripped online the minute it dropped, with people hating on the gambling term and pointing out the WNBA already has the Las Vegas Aces. Even Barstool Sports flat out said the name "stinks." Oof.
This Ain't No Last-Minute Name Drop, Believe It
Turns out, all that online chatter about the name is kinda moot because Jerry Colangelo's group, which includes David Levy, Jay Williams, and Vinny Del Negro, didn't just pull "Jacks" out of a hat. A corporate entity, LV NBA Newco LLC, filed *two* trademark applications way back in 2025: one in May for "LV Jacks" and another in June for "Las Vegas Jacks." These filings, which link back to Scott Colangelo (no relation to Jerry, apparently), cover everything from t-shirts to "professional basketball exhibitions." Talk about planning ahead! The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office initially denied both, but they've since gotten approval. All they need now is to prove commercial use, like selling some gear, and they can officially register those names. And get this: the group shelled out a grand total of $2,200 for those applications. Attorney Josh Gerben called that "very inexpensive" for a business of this scale.A "Very Good Strategy" In A Tough Game
So, while the name might be taking a beating, Gerben says what the Jacks' group did is "actually very good trademark strategy." He points out how hard it is to name a pro sports team these days, citing the Commanders and Cleveland Guardians as examples of teams running into trademark issues. By filing so early, they've staked their claim and prevented any "squatters" from trying to snatch the names. It's smart, even if it hasn't won over the social media crowd yet. Colangelo's group claims they've already raised a mind-blowing $8 billion for their bid. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Jacks aren't a done deal. The NBA Board of Governors only voted in March to explore expansion in *both* Las Vegas and Seattle. That's right, the Emerald City is still firmly in the mix! The Vegas bid also faces serious competition from heavy hitters like Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, former Disney CEO Bob Iger with Josh Kushner, ex-Bucks owner Marc Lasry, and NBA legend Magic Johnson. This whole expansion thing is far from settled for either city. While Vegas has a group with deep pockets and a savvy trademark strategy, there are plenty of rivals, and the NBA still has to decide if and when these teams even get launched. It's a waiting game for us in Seattle, but every move these Vegas hopefuls make gives us a glimpse into the high stakes involved.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.