New Orleans Hornets Will Rebrand as Pelicans in Time for 2013-2014 NBA Season

[Brian in Boston 2,540]

Going further back, as BlueSky noted (and I remember it well, too) the "fait acccompli" of naming the AAA team the Maskers was killed by public condemnation.

My neighbor is originally from New Orleans and he remembers the Maskers-to-Pelicans switch, as well. In fact, he recalls the circumstances surrounding the team's rebranding as being even more colorful.

According to him, the franchise relocated from Tulsa and announced that it would be dubbed the Maskers after conducting a "Name-The-Team" contest. Local sentiment was that said contest was fixed, as most area residents were pretty vocal in voicing their disdain for the Maskers name. In fact, a local physician let team management know that he so despised the Maskers name that he would buy 70 season tickets, at a total cost of $14,000, if the ballclub would become the Pelicans. That was enough to cinch the deal.

In any event, the Pelicans relocated to Springfield, Illinois after the 1977 American Association season, as the cost of operating out of the Superdome proved prohibitive.

[rams80 4,221]

In any event, the Pelicans relocated to Springfield, Missouri after the 1977 American Association season, as the cost of operating out of the Superdome proved prohibitive.

Minor correction. They moved to Springfield, Illinois.

[tigerslionspistonshabs 1,623]

don't know if rumors are true but I do hope the hornets are going to change their nickname to something more likable to city of New Orleans

Ps: here are some nicknames that New Orleans Hornets could use

New Orleans Jazz

New Orleans Brass

New Orleans Buccaneers

[Brian in Boston 2,540]

Minor correction. They moved to Springfield, Illinois.

Could have sworn that I typed "Springfield, Illinois". Thanks for catching that.

[Mitch B 680]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

[rams80 4,221]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

OMGWTF IS THIS?!

[NatsFan2004 20]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

But the reality is that the Jazz have been in Utah for 30 years and have had some top-shelf teams associated with the name in that time. There's no rolling that back, realistically.

So what I think is going on here is some shrewd (and cheap) marketing analysis.. "leak" a possibility for a new name and colors, see how the public reacts, then move forward accordingly while never acknowledging anything.

Agreed. Hopefully the negative reaction will convince ownership to reverse course. Why not do a name-the-team contest promotion where the team will take the most popular name suggestion(s) and offer them up for a fan vote against 2-3 team-selected choices? Seems like that would encourage more engagement of the fanbase with the team and give them the new start they seem to be looking for.

[Ark 2,750]

Utah Jazz sounds really nice, even if the location doesn't make sense.

[mattharveysc 37]

I don't mind the name change all that much. I'll agree it does sound pretty "minor-league". Quick question, anyone know what the font is that the Hornets are currently doing? I'd love to do a concept with that font.

[Gothamite 23,661]

That would be smart, Nats, if the Internet were in any way a reliable gauge of public opinion.

[Mitch B 680]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

But the reality is that the Jazz have been in Utah for 30 years and have had some top-shelf teams associated with the name in that time. There's no rolling that back, realistically.

I understand where you are coming from. I think your argument applies to the L.A. Lakers, but I'm not sure it applies to the Utah Jazz who I believe have won two conference championships in their history.

I think Utah should change their name to the "Buzz" ... a similar short name with the same ending consonants ... the name connects with the Mormons and their triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees.

[Mingjai 1,027]

I think Utah should change their name to the "Buzz" ... a similar short name with the same ending consonants ... the name connects with the Mormons and their triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees.

Why would the organization currently known as the Jazz want to change their nickname to one that was rejected by the city's Triple-A baseball team after a few years of use? Allow SLC residents to recycle their old Buzz merchandise?

[LMU 7,543]

Exhibit A of why this move is fantastic and makes all the sense in the world:

[TalktoChuck 500]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

I never got this argument. People act as though Jazz music is only written/performed/recorded in New Orleans. While I understand Jazz music has a special connection to New Orleans, the city doesn't have an exclusive monopoly on everything Jazz related.

[rams80 4,221]

The NBA screwed it self up, by making so many teams keep their name upon relocation.

I agree. The "Utah Jazz" has always stuck in my craw. Utah and Jazz just don't go together.

But the reality is that the Jazz have been in Utah for 30 years and have had some top-shelf teams associated with the name in that time. There's no rolling that back, realistically.

I understand where you are coming from. I think your argument applies to the L.A. Lakers, but I'm not sure it applies to the Utah Jazz who I believe have won two conference championships in their history.

I think Utah should change their name to the "Buzz" ... a similar short name with the same ending consonants ... the name connects with the Mormons and their triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees.

GTFO.

[CubsFanBudMan 399]

I think Utah should change their name to the "Buzz" ... a similar short name with the same ending consonants ... the name connects with the Mormons and their triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees.

Why would the organization currently known as the Jazz want to change their nickname to one that was rejected by the city's Triple-A baseball team after a few years of use? Allow SLC residents to recycle their old Buzz merchandise?

...one that is also associated with Major League 3: Back to the Minors and ultimately was changed because of a lawsuit by Georgia Tech, if I recall correctly. Carry on. I like Pelicans. And turtles.

[Digby 6,107]

I LOOOOOVE the Pelicans name. Great local connection, and it's timeless -- no worries that it will sound dated like "Orlando Magic" does. Plenty of existing team names would get criticized for sounding silly if they were new today; the haters would hate any change. Give it a good logo and good jerseys and the merch will sell itself.

The only thing I'm sad about is that we'll lose my favorite alternate jersey in the league. This is the only NBA jersey that doesn't use any white at all, right?

[CubsFanBudMan 399]

I don't think the gold jerseys that the Cavs wore against the Bulls tonight have any white...

[zpqmaowl 419]

If you don't include logo outlines (white outline on the fleur-de-bee), the Cavaliers' alt comes to mind. The logo's mostly white on the road red, though.

[kw11333 134]

The fact is that many of the teams names (that have something wrong with them) in the NBA are beyond fixing, but the Hornets/Bobcats situation can be fixed.