Long Island arena football team brings back New York Dragons name
Dragons GM Peter Schwartz holding flag with Dragons logo, which was unveiled Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, as new Arena Football team name and logo. Credit: Howard Simmons
The Long Island arena football team to begin play at Nassau Coliseum in June is bringing back the New York Dragons name.
The newly formed Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA) announced the team’s name, colors and logo at a news conference Friday in Hicksville.
The original New York Dragons franchise played in the Arena Football League from 2001-08 and also had Nassau Coliseum as its home.
The New York Dragons, Long Island's arena football team, unveiled their logo and colors on Friday. Credit: New York Dragons
“The name reflects the community’s love for the previous arena football team that played in the Coliseum for many years,” said the league’s commissioner, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Bills receiver Andre Reed.
The name was the most popular nomination from more than 200 online submissions on the ENTFLA website since the team was introduced on Jan. 15, according to general manager Peter Schwartz. The logo incorporates the original Dragons colors with a more modern image.
The original Dragons, formerly the Iowa Barnstormers, relocated to Long Island in 2001. During the team’s eight-season stint, the Dragons reached the league playoffs five times and claimed Eastern Division titles from 2003-05.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Schwartz, who served as the play-by-play voice for the original Dragons franchise. “Based on the rich history of the sport here on Long Island, the best choice for us was to call this team the New York Dragons.”
Schwartz, who was named GM in January, said his first task is hiring a head coach.
“It’s Long Island’s team. I’m closing in on hiring a Long Island-based coach,” Schwartz said. “We have an 18-person roster, and I want most, if not all, players to be former Long Island high school or college players. All the candidates agree with me on this as well.”
The Dragons will play their home opener against the New Jersey Ciphers on June 14. In their nine-game schedule, they also will face teams from Danbury, Connecticut, and Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
“When the fans see the team we’re putting together, they’re going to have a lot of pride,” Schwartz said. “It has been a long time since we hung a championship banner in the Coliseum, and I’m hoping this team is the one to do it.”
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