N/P Charlotte starts process to rebrand to Hornets

[504s Deek]

I agree. It's just unfortunate that cities such as ourselves, Minneapolis, etc. didn't have the luxury of what the NBA is today and the media that surrounds it in order to keep that from possibly happening. I mean like it or not, the people in Seattle were the last to get shafted by the league but at least they could have become the Supersonics again had they gotten the Kings.

Shinn wasn't going to let go of the Hornets even though Ray Wooldridge pushed him to do so once moving here. I can feel that as well seeing that it's (was) his brand/baby. Clay Bennett had no such allegiance to Seattle to keep or leave the Supersonics and although he took their team, he at least left them their brand option.

I would imagine that Vancouver fans felt slighted by the Grizzlies leaving although you don't hear much of an uproar from either them or the NBA to ever put a team back there. Now with Seattle being passed up by league owners, some rumors are surfacing that the league may expand by 2 teams thus likely putting a franchise back in their city.

The question is where else would you put another team? Virginia Beach? Las Vegas? Who knows!

Las Vegas please!

[bigdub81]

Las Vegas please!

That's cool. But I wonder how much of a fan base they could draw to support a team? It seems like Vegas would be a sexy option but it's a tourist mecca for everything other than sports. I would assume that's why no other pro franchise has tried to put down roots there. Either they know they wouldn't draw at best a loyal/local fan base to go along with the constant visitors or that Vegas officials and politicians would not want any type of team taking away from their main attraction, gambling!

[kclaboy504]

I agree. It's just unfortunate that cities such as ourselves, Minneapolis, etc. didn't have the luxury of what the NBA is today and the media that surrounds it in order to keep that from possibly happening. I mean like it or not, the people in Seattle were the last to get shafted by the league but at least they could have become the Supersonics again had they gotten the Kings.

Shinn wasn't going to let go of the Hornets even though Ray Wooldridge pushed him to do so once moving here. I can feel that as well seeing that it's (was) his brand/baby. Clay Bennett had no such allegiance to Seattle to keep or leave the Supersonics and although he took their team, he at least left them their brand option.

I would imagine that Vancouver fans felt slighted by the Grizzlies leaving although you don't hear much of an uproar from either them or the NBA to ever put a team back there. Now with Seattle being passed up by league owners, some rumors are surfacing that the league may expand by 2 teams thus likely putting a franchise back in their city.

The question is where else would you put another team? Virginia Beach? Las Vegas? Who knows!

North Dakota or Montana probably

[Vinny6420]

:/

[all2neat]

North Dakota or Montana probably

Being born in ND I'm ecstatic to know that someone knows it exists but it just doesn't have a city with enough population to support a pro team. Bismarck did a nice job for a while with the d-league wizards and I could see it as a good market for that. The same goes for Montana.

me a new expansion would be possible in Louisville or Omaha. Most forget about Omaha but it has a good corporate presence and size wise is similar to NOLA.

[Eman5805]

But Ron Silver and David Stern said that they were ok with it and it was up to Charlotte/Jordan which is why the apparent green light came in right before the draft.



Thanks but I've updated them and made them better!



Made this tonight

If they get Wiggins next draft, they could very well post a record that nice.

[iNolaNightmare]

If they were to expand 2 teams, it'd be Seattle and Kansas City.

[luckyman]

The only people who would get confused by this are those not around during the original Charlotte Hornet days. Might be a few unenlightened confused but not "mass" confusion at all. Hornets is a pretty generic name.

[PowerPel]

ESPN was still calling the Hornets, Charlotte Hornets. Maybe this will put an end to this once and for all. Thank you Benson for re-branding us.

[takezor]

It's going to be weird to me too if that happens. I have always been a fan of the Hornets brand first (not from the city of Charlotte or New Orleans, it was secondary) so it would be cool for me.
And what is better out of it is, I would have a favorite team from each Conference, so they will not fight each other till a possible Finals.

I would be excited for 'em to draft Noel or Mclemore this year, and next draft year to pick Wiggins. They could be a force in the future.

Walker - Mclemore/Noel - Wiggins - MKG

That's a very nice core.

[Pelicans_fan_504]

It's going to be weird to me too if that happens. I have always been a fan of the Hornets brand first (not from the city of Charlotte or New Orleans, it was secondary) so it would be cool for me.
And what is better out of it is, I would have a favorite team from each Conference, so they will not fight each other till a possible Finals.

I would be excited for 'em to draft Noel or Mclemore this year, and next draft year to pick Wiggins. They could be a force in the future.

Walker - Mclemore/Noel - Wiggins - MKG

That's a very nice core.

Wiggins would make the MKG pick worthless

[Stealth Matrix]

very happy for them

i think the only real brand confusion is going to be some folks from NOLA

although that first game against the Charlotte Hornets in the Arena is going to feel odd

[Eman5805]

Wiggins would make the MKG pick worthless

MKG is quick enough to slide over and play 2 guard. Making MKG worthless (though he wouldn't be at all) is a willing price to pay if you can snag Wiggins.

[Jgib23]

It's the NBA's decision. A ton of rebrand, especially confusing ones, is not in the best interest of the NBA.

I spoke personally with Adam Silver at the season ticket holder event at the season finale in Charlotte.

The NBA is on board with it and will support the move, its all MJ's decision. The future commish of the NBA told me that.
I also have a picture of him with me and the creator of We Bee-lieve with Adam Silver holding a "We Bee-lieve" sticker.

It's in the best interest of the NBA because it gets rid of the absolute worst performing brand in the NBA in terms of merchandise sales and replaces it with a great brand that once lead the NBA in merchandise sales.

Follow the $

[rt0307]

I spoke personally with Adam Silver at the season ticket holder event at the season finale in Charlotte.

The NBA is on board with it and will support the move, its all MJ's decision. The future commish of the NBA told me that.
I also have a picture of him with me and the creator of We Bee-lieve with Adam Silver holding a "We Bee-lieve" sticker.

It's in the best interest of the NBA because it gets rid of the absolute worst performing brand in the NBA in terms of merchandise sales and replaces it with a great brand that once lead the NBA in merchandise sales.

Follow the $

the article I linked said exactly that

[PowerPel]

Deadspin has an article on this, (Warning there is language in the middle of article)

http://deadspin.com/the-charlotte-nb...agai-508504355

During its short 25 years in the NBA, the Hornets moniker has proven to be the league's Johnny Cash — it's been everywhere, man. Born in Charlotte, transplanted to New Orleans in 2001, bivouacked in Oklahoma City for two post-Katrina seasons, back to New Orleans for the past six seasons, then banished to the Island of Discontinued Mascots in lieu of the Pelicans.

Now news comes that the owners of the de facto D-league team that has taken up residence in Charlotte since the nee Hornets' departure want the rights to "Hornets." Such a name change would be a brilliant development on at least three levels. One, we could go back to saying "Charlotte Hornets" instead of "New Orleans Hornets," which always sounded peculiar. Two, we could go back to saying "Charlotte Hornets" instead of "Charlotte Bobcats," which in fact no one has ever bothered to say. And three: Muggsy, Grandmama, Starter jackets, Hersey Hawkins, young Eddie Jones, young 'Zo, young Baron Davis, Kobe-for-Vlade, Anthony Mason on the blocks, Glen Rice for three and Steph Curry's dad off the bench. What's up, the nineties.

[bigdub81]

I spoke personally with Adam Silver at the season ticket holder event at the season finale in Charlotte.

The NBA is on board with it and will support the move, its all MJ's decision. The future commish of the NBA told me that.
I also have a picture of him with me and the creator of We Bee-lieve with Adam Silver holding a "We Bee-lieve" sticker.

It's in the best interest of the NBA because it gets rid of the absolute worst performing brand in the NBA in terms of merchandise sales and replaces it with a great brand that once lead the NBA in merchandise sales.

Follow the $

That's my friend John Morgan who is a fellow poster on this site. He told me the same thing which is why I posted it as you did. His grass roots campaign, "We Bee-lieve" and my other friend Scotty and his brother Evan's "Bring Back The Buzz", literally spearheaded the movement to get the brand back to Charlotte.

It says something to make enough noise that would even get you into the offices of your hometown team much less the incoming commissioner of the league. I'm glad that they are getting their identity back and that Silver made the right decision by leaving it up to Jordan to have the final say.

The bottom line is that Jordan's identity is $$$$$$ and more $$$$$$. His people putting out a "feeler" poll the day after we released our new identity was no by chance coincidence. He, his advisers or both cannot simply let that much money die off in a brand that has always sold since it's inception. Then take into account the release of a line of teal and purple Jordan brand gear that he specifically released the day of the last game for the Cats.

This was a move bound to happen. And for it to come out just in time for the draft will only help the push for merchandise which I'm willing to bet even on good word from the guys that I mentioned, is still steadily rising.

[Eric For Real]

Vegas is laker territory I went to high school out there ,there was talks in the mid 2000 to bring a team there but I don't think it went very far

[Eman5805]

I gotta admit, when I think of the H-word, I think nineties basketball. All the years playing NBA Live 1996, NBA Jam with tiny lil' Mugsy and the like.

Ah, those were the days.

[bigdub81]

I gotta admit, when I think of the H-word, I think nineties basketball. All the years playing NBA Live 1996, NBA Jam with tiny lil' Mugsy and the like.

Ah, those were the days.

That and NBA Jam. I think Mugsy, Detlef Scrempf, B.J. Armstrong and Scott Skiles were the shortest players on that game IIRC?

[Psalm 102.6]

First, I am glad for Charlotte to get the name Hornets back. That moniker has a ton of history in Charlotte, well before the NBA expansion franchise decided upon dubbing themselves it in 1988. It fits them, much better than Bobcats ever will.

For the possible locale of expansion; I'd have to believe Kansas City would be a plum target for expansion team #2 (along with the obvious Seattle inclusion). They have an NBA ready arena waiting and a virtually untapped territory (the closest NBA franchise to them is over 350 miles away). I have to believe they'd LIKE to put a team in Vegas and think the All Star Game held there was a testing of the waters; however there seems to be way too much paperwork to cut through in order to make that work.

[Ceedee M]

Oh this is def going to take some getting used to. At first look I thought, "Why are we playing ourselves?" Darn those Charlotte fans and their nostalgia.

[BallSoHard]

But Ron Silver and David Stern said that they were ok with it and it was up to Charlotte/Jordan which is why the apparent green light came in right before the draft.



Thanks but I've updated them and made them better!



Made this tonight

I thought it was Adam silver

[all2neat]

KC is a market with enough teams. Giving them a team would be a mistake.

[Bayou Pelican]

you know each and every one of us would jump at a chance to get the name and brand of the "Jazz" back to the city of New Orleans. I dont fault Carolina for this at all.