Would You Change It?

Apparently the fans of the Utah Jazz are upset about their teams recent uniform change, so much so that the team is considering changing them again just as soon as they can. Another poll struck up in Utah also wants to finally get a name change and give us back the ?Jazz? brand once and for all.

So my question to you all is would you be in favor of possibly being the Jazz again? Considering the Pelicans brand is finally starting to sink into the city with our bit of success, at this point I wouldn?t want to. The Pels have grown on me. But IF that possibility were to come about, I would love to see us break out a New Orleans Jazz throwback.

What do y?all think?

Absolutely. The Jazz name and mardi gras colors are meant for NOLA.

I'd prefer to just keep the Pelicans as the name. I like it. Never really understood the hate, and this team hasn't been the Jazz since before half the fans were born - it's a phantom nostalgia for many that exists almost entirely out of stories heard from older people.

That said, I don't think Utah's going to change their name anyway.

a throwback jersey yes, but not a name change. Team has an identity now

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

a throwback jersey yes, but not a name change. Team has an identity now

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That's my thought.

The Jazz have not been in New Orleans for over 40 years.

Not a single member of this roster was even alive then. Neither was the coach. Griffin was only about 7. They're another team, from another era, who played another game. Be you, don't try to and be them.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I'd prefer to just keep the Pelicans as the name. I like it. Never really understood the hate, and this team hasn't been the Jazz since before half the fans were born - it's a phantom nostalgia for many that exists almost entirely out of stories heard from older people.

That said, I don't think Utah's going to change their name anyway.

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You'd have to be from here to get it. Those colors are a big part of the city every year regardless of when you were born.

Everybody wears purple, green, gold February/March whether there is a basketball team here or not.

It's a fish to water to return that name and colors here.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

You'd have to be from here to get it. Those colors are a big part of the city every year regardless of when you were born.

Everybody wears purple, green, gold February/March whether there is a basketball team here or not.

It's a fish to water to return that name and colors here.

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Can you remind me why that original Jazz team left New Orleans in the first place?

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Can you remind me why that original Jazz team left New Orleans in the first place?

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Owner got a better deal in Utah.

Team got gouged by bad contracts from the city of new orleans. Which the city refused to change. City made money but the team did not.

New Orleans Jazz had to share the giant Superdome full of echos with a football team.

New Orleans economy tied to oil, which was all moving to Houston after the late 70s oil downturn.

Other political/racial factors I won't mention here.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

Owner got a better deal in Utah.

Team got gouged by bad contracts from the city of new orleans. City made money but the team did not.

New Orleans Jazz had to share the giant Superdome full of echos with a football team.

New Orleans economy tied to oil, which was all moving to Houston after the late 70s oil downturn.

Other political/racial factors I won't mention here.

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That's fair, I remember it mostly for the money issues. In my mind, I'm thinking ''why are people so desperate to bring back a team that walked away for money issues when there's already a team here that stuck around through far more'' - though, in fairness, people might associate *that* with the Hornets more than the Pelicans.

I'm just under the age of 40 and not from Louisiana, so I admit my perspective is very different.

I don't want Utah or any other place to have anything that belongs to New Orleans whether we use it or not. But I will say the New Orleans Jazz sounds so right.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

Owner got a better deal in Utah.

Team got gouged by bad contracts from the city of new orleans. Which the city refused to change. City made money but the team did not.

New Orleans Jazz had to share the giant Superdome full of echos with a football team.

New Orleans economy tied to oil, which was all moving to Houston after the late 70s oil downturn.

Other political/racial factors I won't mention here.

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Restauranteur, Sam Battistone (Sambo's) was the first owner of the Jazz. It was his conversion to Mormonism that led to him relocating the team to Salt Lake City. I got this from the Barry Mendleson (team's GM) who I know.

ASIDE: Mendelson stayed behind and became a promoter in New Orleans and was part of the group that refurbished the Saenger Theatre.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I'd prefer to just keep the Pelicans as the name. I like it. Never really understood the hate, and this team hasn't been the Jazz since before half the fans were born - it's a phantom nostalgia for many that exists almost entirely out of stories heard from older people.

That said, I don't think Utah's going to change their name anyway.

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To those of us who live in New Orleans, you're focusing on the wrong thing. It is not "phantom nostalgia."

New Orleans is synonomous with Jazz. If the team name used to be the Wizards or Tigers or something with no connection to the city, I wouldn't care about taking it back either. We're proud of the fact that jazz was created here. Its crazy that the team in Utah has our team's name!

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Restauranteur, Sam Battistone (Sambo's) was the first owner of the Jazz. It was his conversion to Mormonism that led to him relocating the team to Salt Lake City. I got this from the Barry Mendleson (team's GM) who I know.

ASIDE: Mendelson stayed behind and became a promoter in New Orleans and was part of the group that refurbished the Saenger Theatre.

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The taxes that the state and city refused to reduce were the main reason. Battistone was not a "wealthy" owner which is why he took the easy way out of keeping the name and logo. He did not want to invest in a name chance as he already had a lot of Jazz merchandise.

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

To those of us who live in New Orleans, you're focusing on the wrong thing. It is not "phantom nostalgia."

New Orleans is synonomous with Jazz. If the team name used to be the Wizards or Tigers or something with no connection to the city, I wouldn't care about taking it back either. We're proud of the fact that jazz was created here. Its crazy that the team in Utah has our team's name!

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I'm well aware that jazz is synonymous with New Orleans - at least certain kinds of jazz . Which is why it makes complete sense in theory for the team called the Jazz to be in New Orleans. The problem is that it already was in New Orleans, and then it left - largely voluntarily - to Utah. Over 40 years ago.

So when people who are, I don't know, 20 or 30 years old talk about wanting the name back, they're doing so because they feel an attachment to the name - not the team - which is fair, but not really a reason I personally see as compelling, or because they associate the Jazz team from the 70s as belonging to them in some way. Except it doesn't. They've never seen that team, attended that team's games, bought that team's merch, etc; all the nostalgia they feel for the Pistol Pete era does not belong to them. It's not their nostalgia. It's the nostalgia of guys who were around then, watching those games at the time, that they're putting on like an ill-fitting suit.

I'm not trying to judge anyone who does want that name back: like I said, I get that the name, at least on paper, fits New Orleans far far better than Utah. Nor am I judging anyone who is actually old enough to remember that original Jazz team. But I just find it a little odd if you're - say - 20, 25 years old and New Orleans has had a basketball team basically your entire life (Hornets/Pels) and that's the team you grew up with and formed memories with, to decide that actually your true team is a team isn't the one you've actually supported for years but instead a different team that left you before you were even born.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

The taxes that the state and city refused to reduce were the main reason. Battistone was not a "wealthy" owner which is why he took the easy way out of keeping the name and logo. He did not want to invest in a name chance as he already had a lot of Jazz merchandise.

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"Within six seasons he'd moved the franchise to Salt Lake City, a place that appealed to him because he was a recent convert to the Mormon Church, and because it was a lot closer to Sambo's on the beach.".....Dessert News (Utah)

https://www.deseret.com/1994/12/11/1...d-jazz-s-roots

I used to want the name back as I grew up in NOLA watching those teams. A couple of things though: the Pelicans name is now branded and identified with New Orleans. It's the State bird and on the flag.

Also, they're named Pelicans in honor of Tom Benson's love for the defunct minor league baseball team he grew up watching as a kid in New Orleans.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_...ans_(baseball)

The name isn't going to change no matter what Utah does.

I am cool with throwbacks though if the Pelicans could reaquire the rights.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I'm well aware that jazz is synonymous with New Orleans - at least certain kinds of jazz . Which is why it makes complete sense in theory for the team called the Jazz to be in New Orleans. The problem is that it already was in New Orleans, and then it left - largely voluntarily - to Utah. Over 40 years ago.

So when people who are, I don't know, 20 or 30 years old talk about wanting the name back, they're doing so because they feel an attachment to the name - not the team - which is fair, but not really a reason I personally see as compelling, or because they associate the Jazz team from the 70s as belonging to them in some way. Except it doesn't. They've never seen that team, attended that team's games, bought that team's merch, etc; all the nostalgia they feel for the Pistol Pete era does not belong to them. It's not their nostalgia. It's the nostalgia of guys who were around then, watching those games at the time, that they're putting on like an ill-fitting suit.

I'm not trying to judge anyone who does want that name back: like I said, I get that the name, at least on paper, fits New Orleans far far better than Utah. Nor am I judging anyone who is actually old enough to remember that original Jazz team. But I just find it a little odd if you're - say - 20, 25 years old and New Orleans has had a basketball team basically your entire life (Hornets/Pels) and that's the team you grew up with and formed memories with, to decide that actually your true team is a team isn't the one you've actually supported for years but instead a different team that left you before you were even born.

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You're missing the point, but ok.

I'm 46 years old. I moved to New Orleans when I was 18. I want the name Jazz cause it fits the city. Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, phantom or otherwise. Jazz is a cooler name. Fits the city perfectly.

And your comment "certain kinds of jazz" makes me laugh. You can't help yourself.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

The taxes that the state and city refused to reduce were the main reason. Battistone was not a "wealthy" owner which is why he took the easy way out of keeping the name and logo. He did not want to invest in a name chance as he already had a lot of Jazz merchandise.

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I’m sure Sambo gave lots of financial reasons for moving the team, but him being a racist Morman was the driving force

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

You're missing the point, but ok.

I'm 46 years old. I moved to New Orleans when I was 18. I want the name Jazz cause it fits the city. Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, phantom or otherwise. Jazz is a cooler name. Fits the city perfectly.

And your comment "certain kinds of jazz" makes me laugh. You can't help yourself.

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Like I said, not judging. Just not a move I personally would like. The good news (or bad, I guess) is that they're not actually going to ask either of us so there's no need for us to try and make it personal, is there?

The Jazz were a team in New Orleans for only 5 years, over 40 years ago. Hell no we should not change the team name to jazz. Jazz is not even cool anymore. We had the chance to call it New Orleans Bounce which would have been awesome but its Pelicans now and that should not change, at this point the Pelicans have been a thing twice as long as the Jazz were in New Orleans.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Like I said, not judging. Just not a move I personally would like. The good news (or bad, I guess) is that they're not actually going to ask either of us so there's no need for us to try and make it personal, is there?

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No, they're not going to ask for our input. But you seem pretty judgey, despite your denials. You're dismissing the desire for a name change as fake nostalgia. That's definitely a judgment.

But its okay. We both love Alvarado.

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

No, they're not going to ask for our input. But you seem pretty judgey, despite your denials. You're dismissing the desire for a name change as fake nostalgia. That's definitely a judgment.

But its okay. We both love Alvarado.

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Very Judgey, indeed. If someone else's ideals don't stack up to his own, Euro-Man passes judgement. He's always been that way.

As someone who saw the Jazz play back in the day, I'll cop to some nostalgia. But objectively, it's among the best pairings of a franchise name and a city in the history of sports. As someone said above, if the name was some random flora or fauna, no big deal. But Jazz is central to our culture and remains vibrant here, despite other genres rising up. They should have left the name here when the franchise relocated, like they did with the Supersonics in Seattle.

I'd compromise. It's clear that the Jazz are not at all interested in using the Mardi Gras colors anymore. If we can't have our name back, at least give us our colors. We can reincorporate them with the Pelicans.

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

No, they're not going to ask for our input. But you seem pretty judgey, despite your denials. You're dismissing the desire for a name change as fake nostalgia. That's definitely a judgment.

But its okay. We both love Alvarado.

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It's not fake nostalgia. Nostalgia is an emotion, if you feel it you feel it. I'm not judging that. I'm just saying that I personally find it strange to have nostalgia for (if you weren't there at the time) something that you never actually experienced.

If you did experience it then obviously that doesn't apply.

And we do love Alvarado.

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Originally Posted by new city champ

As someone who saw the Jazz play back in the day, I'll cop to some nostalgia. But objectively, it's among the best pairings of a franchise name and a city in the history of sports. As someone said above, if the name was some random flora or fauna, no big deal. But Jazz is central to our culture and remains vibrant here, despite other genres rising up. They should have left the name here when the franchise relocated, like they did with the Supersonics in Seattle.

I'd compromise. It's clear that the Jazz are not at all interested in using the Mardi Gras colors anymore. If we can't have our name back, at least give us our colors. We can reincorporate them with the Pelicans.

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the pels have a mardi gras jersey
https://www.fox8live.com/2022/11/10/...tion-uniforms/

Jazzy Pelicans.

New logo has a pelican smoking a blunt and playing the piano.

No player in the league wants to play for the ”Pelicans”. That disappears completely if we get the Jazz back. It sounds stupid. It is. But it’s reality. Ugly colors and ugly name. Zion’s camp wouldn?t have been as dismayed when we got the #1 pick if we weren’t saddled with a such an easy fix negative. The mardi gras colors are a worthy aesthetic/platform for such a great player like Zion.

If you can get Jazz back, you do. “Bobcats” was an established name, but they took Hornets back.

I don’t dislike Pelicans, although I’m not particularly attached to the logo or colors. That said, Jazz is better.

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Originally Posted by akhan786

No player in the league wants to play for the ?Pelicans?. That disappears completely if we get the Jazz back. It sounds stupid. It is. But it?s reality. Ugly colors and ugly name. Zion?s camp wouldn?t have been as dismayed when we got the #1 pick if we weren?t saddled with a such an easy fix negative. The mardi gras colors are a worthy aesthetic/platform for such a great player like Zion.

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Right because if there is one thing we know about kids these days, they sure do love jazz

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Right because if there is one thing we know about kids these days, they sure do love jazz

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It’s a lot better than Pelicans and our current ugly vomit color scheme

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Originally Posted by akhan786

No player in the league wants to play for the ?Pelicans?. That disappears completely if we get the Jazz back. It sounds stupid. It is. But it?s reality. Ugly colors and ugly name. Zion?s camp wouldn?t have been as dismayed when we got the #1 pick if we weren?t saddled with a such an easy fix negative. The mardi gras colors are a worthy aesthetic/platform for such a great player like Zion.

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Surely if it were true that the Mardi Gras colour scheme and Jazz name were all it took to get rid of negative stigma surrounding the team, people would want to play in Utah? But they don't.

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Originally Posted by akhan786

It?s a lot better than Pelicans and our current ugly vomit color scheme

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If your vomit is Pelicans color scheme I encourage you to see a doctor immediately

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Originally Posted by akhan786

No player in the league wants to play for the ”Pelicans”. That disappears completely if we get the Jazz back. It sounds stupid. It is. But it’s reality. Ugly colors and ugly name. Zion’s camp wouldn?t have been as dismayed when we got the #1 pick if we weren’t saddled with a such an easy fix negative. The mardi gras colors are a worthy aesthetic/platform for such a great player like Zion.

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That's just ridiculous SMH

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Surely if it were true that the Mardi Gras colour scheme and Jazz name were all it took to get rid of negative stigma surrounding the team, people would want to play in Utah? But they don't.

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Your reading comprehension isn’t great or you’re being deliberately obtuse. Pelicans is a terrible name and is not a positive in making a player want to come to play for us. At best, it doesn’t register positive or negative. At worst, it’s another aspect about a historically unsuccessful franchise that makes it disappointing to get drafted by them when you’re a #1 pick like Zion. Zion when imagining himself flying through the air in the NBA wasn’t doing it with a vomit-yellow and blue uniform with Pelicans across his chest.

The “Jazz” by itself doesn’t have any special ability other than being neutral while Pelicans is a negative. Any other name that is better than Pelicans would help too. You can still win the championship obviously but why not do everything in our power to make this organization an attractive product. Especially since now everything under the hood is world class talent/culture/etc. It deserves the platform of good looking uniforms and court and if you think they look good I’m sorry but I don’t think you understand the taste of modern youth bball culture. And if you don’t think that’s an important market to cater to then I’m glad you’re not in our marketing department.

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Originally Posted by akhan786

Your reading comprehension isn’t great or you’re being deliberately obtuse. Pelicans is a terrible name and is not a positive in making a player want to come to play for us. At best, it doesn’t register positive or negative. At worst, it’s another aspect about a historically unsuccessful franchise that makes it disappointing to get drafted by them when you’re a #1 pick like Zion. Zion when imagining himself flying through the air in the NBA wasn’t doing it with a vomit-yellow and blue uniform with Pelicans across his chest.

The “Jazz” by itself doesn’t have any special ability other than being neutral while Pelicans is a negative. Any other name that is better than Pelicans would help too. You can still win the championship obviously but why not do everything in our power to make this organization an attractive product. Especially since now everything under the hood is world class talent/culture/etc. It deserves the platform of good looking uniforms and court and if you think they look good I’m sorry but I don’t think you understand the taste of modern youth bball culture. And if you don’t think that’s an important market to cater to then I’m glad you’re not in our marketing department.

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I understand if people prefer other uniforms - personally I'm not massively concerned but I do get why others are.

But I just do not think people put the team name into even their top 100 considerations when deciding whether or not a team is an ''attractive product''.

The KNICKS are a massive marketing operation and they are named after PANTS.

Pels should be here to stay jazz kinda sound lame now

We birds that fly high now

Pelican has been the state bird all my life so it has just as much ties to me in the n.o

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Originally Posted by akhan786

Your reading comprehension isn’t great or you’re being deliberately obtuse. Pelicans is a terrible name and is not a positive in making a player want to come to play for us. At best, it doesn’t register positive or negative. At worst, it’s another aspect about a historically unsuccessful franchise that makes it disappointing to get drafted by them when you’re a #1 pick like Zion. Zion when imagining himself flying through the air in the NBA wasn’t doing it with a vomit-yellow and blue uniform with Pelicans across his chest.

The “Jazz” by itself doesn’t have any special ability other than being neutral while Pelicans is a negative. Any other name that is better than Pelicans would help too. You can still win the championship obviously but why not do everything in our power to make this organization an attractive product. Especially since now everything under the hood is world class talent/culture/etc. It deserves the platform of good looking uniforms and court and if you think they look good I’m sorry but I don’t think you understand the taste of modern youth bball culture. And if you don’t think that’s an important market to cater to then I’m glad you’re not in our marketing department.

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Professional basketball players don't care about the name of the team. They want to get paid. They want to live in a town with a good nightlife. They want to win. The team's mascot is irrelevant. You think players like being called "Nuggets"? Or a large body of water in Minnesota? Or a little leprechaun? Or pants? Or a flaming basketball? Or a piece of metal in an engine? I could go on and on and on.

Your posts in this thread are ridiculous and unserious.

Perhaps because I was just a kid when the Jazz played in NO, I have very little memory of their time there. From what I understand, however, they really weren’t that big of a draw in the city at the time. I’m not sure if they ever made the playoffs. The one year, they generated a little buzz, was soon snuffed out when Maravich blew out his knee.

I think people are more jazzed (pun intended) about getting a better, more appropriate, name and jersey for the team.

If anything I think we’re overdue for an update with the uniforms. It’s going on a decade since the rebrand already.

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Originally Posted by akhan786

Your reading comprehension isn’t great or you’re being deliberately obtuse. Pelicans is a terrible name and is not a positive in making a player want to come to play for us. At best, it doesn’t register positive or negative. At worst, it’s another aspect about a historically unsuccessful franchise that makes it disappointing to get drafted by them when you’re a #1 pick like Zion. Zion when imagining himself flying through the air in the NBA wasn’t doing it with a vomit-yellow and blue uniform with Pelicans across his chest.

The “Jazz” by itself doesn’t have any special ability other than being neutral while Pelicans is a negative. Any other name that is better than Pelicans would help too. You can still win the championship obviously but why not do everything in our power to make this organization an attractive product. Especially since now everything under the hood is world class talent/culture/etc. It deserves the platform of good looking uniforms and court and if you think they look good I’m sorry but I don’t think you understand the taste of modern youth bball culture. And if you don’t think that’s an important market to cater to then I’m glad you’re not in our marketing department.

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Obviously you've never had to go one on one with a Pelican. They're not called the Cardinals or the Sparrows. Pelican is a bad azz bird. Can't be worse than being named after a defunct dinosaur (Raptors).

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

Perhaps because I was just a kid when the Jazz played in NO, I have very little memory of their time there. From what I understand, however, they really weren’t that big of a draw in the city at the time. I’m not sure if they ever made the playoffs. The one year, they generated a little buzz, was soon snuffed out when Maravich blew out his knee.

I think people are more jazzed (pun intended) about getting a better, more appropriate, name and jersey for the team.

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During their time in New Orleans, they set the NBA record for single game attendance. When they left, I think they held 5 of the top ten crowds. They drew almost 27K for a mid November game on a day the city had 8" of rain and street flooding. If I remember correctly, Pete Maravich had to get to the Superdome by boat.

https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/07/a...asketball.html

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Originally Posted by RobertM320

During their time in New Orleans, they set the NBA record for single game attendance. When they left, I think they held 5 of the top ten crowds. They drew almost 35K for a mid November game on a day the city had 8" of rain and street flooding. If I remember correctly, Pete Maravich had to get to the Superdome by boat.

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I was a STH back then (five rows behind Jazz Bench) and you are right, even though it was caverness, the Dome was always rocking, partially due to the Shoe Town, $1.50 General Admission, Nose-Bleed, Terrace Seats. Once the games started, the Nose Bleeders would come down to the Plaza and Loge and fill out the bottom levels of the Dome. Fun times. The night Maravich scored 68 against the Knicks, he sent Phil Jackson (yes, that Phil Jackson) to therapy as he was so frazzled.

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Originally Posted by As I See It

I was a STH back then (five rows behind Jazz Bench) and you are right, even though it was caverness, the Dome was always rocking, partially due to the Shoe Town, $1.50 General Admission, Nose-Bleed, Terrace Seats. Once the games started, the Nose Bleeders would come down to the Plaza and Loge and fill out the bottom levels of the Dome. Fun times. The night Maravich scored 68 against the Knicks, he sent Phil Jackson (yes, that Phil Jackson) to therapy as he was so frazzled.

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Great memories. My brother worked for Shoe Town, so I was able to get some of those tickets for many games. We would make our way closer as the game progressed.

If the Jazz were to give up the name there should be a simultaneous announcement that the Pelicans are taking the name.

I pray they dont take back the mardi gras colors. I cringe every time they wear them during mardi gras season. While the rest of the league has a plethora of different color jerseys, The pels are stuck with ugly mardi gras colors. It's so cliche. Like when a movie is filmed here they can't help but throw in gumbo and poboy to let you know they are cool and in new orleans.

Utah having that name has been the source of a million jokes, eye rolls, and shoulder shrugs... it just really makes no sense historically or contextually. No one's naming a team the St Louis Blue Whales or the Toronto Tropics. Though I imagine there are like 30 musicians in Salt Lake City that love it.

Why not a New Orleans Buccaneer retro Jersey? I was just a kid, but remember going to Loyola Fieldhouse to see them play. In fact in the league's first year of existence they went to the finals before losing to Connie Hawkins and the Pittsburgh Pipers (Hawkins was "Dr. J." before there was a Dr. J.). The starting lineup featured some familiar names: Larry Brown, Doug Moe, Jackie Moreland, Jimmy Jones and Austin 'Red' Robbins.

Hell, while we are at it, some local business can give out replica Red, White, and Blue basketballs.