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Those in charge of branding Nebraska’s newest pro soccer team passed on the state’s official bird for something more fierce.

The team’s name — Union Omaha — and crest, which features a great horned owl, were announced Thursday at a block party in Benson.

Officials considered more than 100 names the past several months as they created an identity for the USL League One team. Their goal: Stay true to the city and state roots while uniting a fan base.

Union Omaha Soccer Club (the team’s full name) is partly a nod to Union Pacific and the role the railroad company played in Omaha’s development, said team owner Gary Green. But the name also is meant to connect Omaha’s past with its future.

“The thing about Omaha is, it respects its history, but it’s also got a strong view of moving forward,” Green said. “We still kept coming back to ‘unity’ and ‘unified’ ... it just felt natural.”

The crest features the owl atop a football from the sport’s early days. To the left of the owl are three stars meant to represent Nebraska’s people, place and purpose. Those features are set against a shield similar to the U.S. Soccer crest.