The Las Vegas Aviators temporary name change no joke after 2-year review
Traffic cone-themed ‘Cone Jesters’ brand required serious planning despite playful concept
The Las Vegas Aviators’ temporary transformation into the “Cone Jesters” may seem like a lighthearted jab at the city’s notorious construction zones, but team officials reveal the traffic-themed rebrand required a rigorous two-year approval process with Minor League Baseball.
Edward Dorville, the Las Vegas Aviators’ creative director, explained that what appears to be a simple joke about Nevada’s “unofficial state flower” – the ubiquitous orange traffic cone – actually represents months of careful planning and trademark approvals.
“It is a huge undertaking,” Dorville said. “It takes a two-year process with Minor League Baseball to get that approved. From its conception to submission, it’s quite the undertaking.”
Fourth year of ‘What If’ nights
The Cone Jesters identity marks the fourth consecutive year of what the team calls “What If” nights – promotional games where the Aviators temporarily adopt alternative identities that explore other aspects of Las Vegas culture.
“We became the Las Vegas Gamblers, followed by the Las Vegas Whales,” Dorville explained, detailing the evolution of the concept. “And this year we became the Las Vegas Belly Busters, paying homage to the Las Vegas buffets.”
The Cone Jesters represents the second and final alternate identity for the 2025 season, with the team donning the cone-themed jerseys for their August 15 game against the Tacoma Rainiers at Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin.
Design pokes fun at perpetual construction
The playful brand centers around an anthropomorphic orange traffic cone wearing a court jester’s hat, waving a fist as if defending itself from frustrated commuters’ complaints. The jerseys feature a fluorescent green design reminiscent of construction workers’ safety vests, with “Cone Jesters” displayed across the chest on an orange construction sign.
“He’s wearing a jester’s hat, alluding to the comedic tone we’ve taken with this one,” Dorville explained. “Are we in on the joke? Are we part of an experiment?”
The team’s promotional materials lean into the construction theme with taglines like “CONE-GESTION AHEAD” and descriptions of traffic cones as flowers that bloom “year-round on highways, streets, and construction sites.”
Social media success indicates hit
Despite some initial pushback from commuters who may be too familiar with Las Vegas’s constant road construction, Dorville said the online response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m very proud,” he said. “Social media will tell you right away if you’ve done well or not.”
The concept has struck a chord with locals who recognize the humor in celebrating something that typically causes frustration. As the team noted in their announcement: “Just when you think you’ve cracked the code of the city’s ever-shifting roads, a new set of cones appears, sending you on a perplexing adventure.”
Serious business behind the humor
While the concept is tongue-in-cheek, Dorville emphasized that creating these alternate identities involves substantial research and planning.
“These alternate identities take about two years to implement,” he said. “It’s a huge undertaking, rooted in deep research and understanding of the region, while going through a trademark approval process.”
The team must submit multiple name options to Minor League Baseball for approval, navigate trademark searches, and ensure the concepts don’t conflict with existing brands or cause legal issues.
NDOT takes it in stride
When asked about the playful jab at Nevada’s road construction, the Nevada Department of Transportation responded with characteristic bureaucratic neutrality.
“The Nevada Department of Transportation has no comment regarding the Las Vegas Aviators’ temporary rebranding as the ‘Cone Jesters’ for their upcoming baseball game,” a NDOT spokesperson stated.
Dorville hopes transportation officials understand the spirit of the promotion: “We made him a joker, a jester, so is the joke on us?”
Educational opportunity amid entertainment
Beyond the laughs, Dorville sees the promotion as a chance to address a real issue – poor merging habits in construction zones.
“I do believe we need to get better at merging in traffic,” he said. “Once traffic has slowed down, we should merge like sand in an hourglass. If it hasn’t, we should be proactive and merge earlier.”
He added that the series is created “with a lot of love, for the city we love, for those who love it as much as we do.”
Part of larger trend
The Aviators’ “What If” nights reflect a growing trend in Minor League Baseball where teams create temporary alternate identities to engage fans and celebrate local culture. From the El Paso Chihuahuas becoming the “Margaritas” to the Fresno Grizzlies transforming into the “Tacos,” these promotions often become collector’s items and social media sensations.
Limited availability drives demand
Tickets remain available for the August 15 Cone Jesters game, and merchandise featuring the surly traffic cone mascot has been selling briskly. The limited nature of these one-night-only identities often creates high demand among collectors and fans who appreciate the humor.
As Las Vegas continues its perpetual cycle of construction and growth, the Cone Jesters serve as a reminder that sometimes the best way to deal with daily frustrations is to laugh at them – even if it takes two years of planning to pull off the joke.
Image Sources: https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/the-las-vegas-aviators-temporary-name-change-no-joke-after-2-year-review/
Category: Sports
Subcategory: Baseball & Entertainment
Date: 08/14/2025
