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The Brief
• Yakima-born artist Esmeralda Vasquez designed a special logo that will replace the normal Kraken logo for Hispanic Heritage Night on October 28th
• The logo features intentional cultural details including archways from Mexican architecture and Talavera tiles representing growth and new opportunities
• While NHL rules prevent wearing specialty jerseys in-game, autographed jerseys will be auctioned with proceeds benefiting Latino community charities
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Kraken will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night on Tuesday, October 28th, against the Montreal Canadiens with a specially designed logo created by Yakima-born artist Esmeralda Vasquez.
As part of the Kraken’s Common Thread initiative, Vasquez’s artwork will replace the team’s normal logo for one home game. The artist, who was born and raised in Yakima and now lives in Seattle, was selected through the team’s artist collaboration program.
“That was unreal, I just remember getting the email from Sam, and I’m pretty sure I just ran around my house, I ran to my partner, just so excited,” Vasquez said. “It was insane, because I’ve seen the previous years artist collaborations and I knew that it was a thing, and so I guess I never imagined that I would get chosen.”
Vasquez incorporated several meaningful cultural elements into her design. The archway featured in the logo draws from Mexican architecture and symbolizes both an exit and entrance for new opportunities. The design also includes Talavera tiles and greenery that weave throughout the composition.
“The greenery, and the Talavera tiles, I also really admire symmetry in my work so the greenery and vines weave through there but they also represent growth,” Vasquez explained. “And so I feel like for our culture, we’re really beautiful and hard-working and we put a lot of passion and love into everything that we do.”
The Kraken Common Thread program aims to highlight different artists and cultures represented within the Kraken fanbase. Hispanic Heritage Night was added to the roster last year as the organization recognized the significant Latino presence in Seattle.
“We have noticed in many different ways that the Hispanic community is here in Seattle, a lot of people might not think it is, it very much is so, and it’s represented in so many beautiful ways,” said Samantha Jabara, marketing specialist in fan development for the Seattle Kraken.
For Vasquez, a self-taught visual artist and muralist, this collaboration represents a major career milestone. She hopes her selection will inspire other creatives pursuing their artistic goals and demonstrate that success in the creative field is achievable.
The artist’s journey from Yakima to this prominent platform with a major professional sports team showcases the diverse talent emerging from Washington state communities. Her work combines traditional Hispanic cultural symbols with contemporary design elements, creating a bridge between heritage and modern artistic expression.
While NHL regulations prohibit teams from wearing specialty jerseys during official games, the Kraken players will autograph the Hispanic Heritage Night jerseys. These signed jerseys will be auctioned, with proceeds supporting two charities, One Roof Foundation, and El Centra De La Raza, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Latino community of Washington state.
The October 28th game against Montreal represents more than just a hockey match—it serves as a celebration of the Hispanic community’s contributions to Seattle’s cultural landscape. Through Vasquez’s artistic vision, the Kraken organization continues its commitment to recognizing and honoring the diverse communities that make up its fanbase.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
