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

[Gothamite]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

[hawk36]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

I'd disagree that it is not conducive and argue that it is actually more conducive. People want to buy/wear things that are unique and show that they are in the know. Why do you think local kitsch t-shirts sell by the millions in tourist destinations around the world?

Maybe it's just me, but not being from the area I would never think of buying a New Orleans Hornets item. Same for New Orleans Pelicans. But a New Orleans Rougarou... that gets my shopping interest.

[29texan]

Just.... stick with Pelicans if you can't do Hornets.

[BigStunna]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

This. See Exhibit A: Montgomery Biscuits. Consistently one of the top selling MiLB brands across the country.

[IceCap]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

This. See Exhibit A: Montgomery Biscuits. Consistently one of the top selling MiLB brands across the country.

MiLB brands tend to skew towards local kitsch though. That's part of minor league sports. I'm not sure if that level of kitsch would work for a nationally branded pro team.

[rockngoalie1]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

Agreed. Washington DC seems to do a good job with the Nats/Caps.

[raysfan24]

Once again, I think the Charlotte Hornets would exist if this guy played for them. It just looks right to me.

[O.C.D]

Once again, I think the Charlotte Hornets would exist if this guy played for them. It just looks right to me.

100% agree (aside from it looking right). 5 rings later, that trade has brought me and my family immense happiness.

[IceCap]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

Agreed. Washington DC seems to do a good job with the Nats/Caps.

"Nationals" and "Capitals" are not kitschy. "Rougarou" is.

[Chawls]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

I'd disagree that it is not conducive and argue that it is actually more conducive. People want to buy/wear things that are unique and show that they are in the know. Why do you think local kitsch t-shirts sell by the millions in tourist destinations around the world?

There's truth here.

[BBTV]

Local kitsch is not conducive to large-scale brand awareness. Vetoed.

Depends how they sell it. Overridden.

Agreed. Washington DC seems to do a good job with the Nats/Caps.

"Nationals" and "Capitals" are not kitschy. "Rougarou" is.

Really. These counter "arguments" are horrible at best. There's a huge difference in target market between minor league and the top level, and there's a huge difference between Washington and New Orleans, and at least Nationals is something people can pronounce (and it's pretty generic anyway.)

Excepting teams that were named 100 years ago, maybe Pacers, Nuggets, Texans, Canauks would even sorta a little bit maybe kinda qualify, but again, they are at least words that are people know (well, I didn't know Canaucks until someone explained it to me) and it's easy to understand why the teams are named that.

[hawk36]

Don't you think a locals name instantly endears the team to its city? Something that's theirs, that they can "own". To me that's one of the many reasons why the Sounders have been so ultra popular here in Seattle. Sounders is a unique sports name that those in the Puget Sound call their "own" and that the fans actually selected (won as a write-in vote vs 3 other options).

Maybe New Orleans ownership should let the fans vote and let them feel intimately involved with the team.

[IceCap]

Don't you think a locals name instantly endears the team to its city? Something that's theirs, that they can "own".

A local name is fine. You can have a name that's to local though. "Rougarou" and "Krewe" are to local.

A good local name is one that's instantly recognizable by a national or international audience yet one that also ties into the team's locale. "Rougarou" and "Krewe" may tie into New Orleans but most people not from the area won't know what the hell these names mean.

"Pelicans," on the other hand, is the perfect local name. It ties into the area and it's also something fans all over will recognize.

[The_Admiral]

I wonder if in twelve years we'll be debating whether this was just a move to jolt lagging merchandise sales or a heartfelt reaction to Louisiana's stigma of hornet-related violence.

[Cujo]

Once again, I think the Charlotte Hornets would exist if this guy played for them. It just looks right to me.

100% agree (aside from it looking right). 5 rings later, that trade has brought me and my family immense happiness.

TBH, Kobe's primarily responsible for just two rings. He was "Pippen" for 3 of those Lakers teams.

[O.C.D]

Once again, I think the Charlotte Hornets would exist if this guy played for them. It just looks right to me.

100% agree (aside from it looking right). 5 rings later, that trade has brought me and my family immense happiness.

TBH, Kobe's primarily responsible for just two rings. He was "Pippen" for 3 of those Lakers teams.

Primary or not, they wouldn't have won them without him

[gosioux76]

Don't you think a locals name instantly endears the team to its city? Something that's theirs, that they can "own".

A local name is fine. You can have a name that's to local though. "Rougarou" and "Krewe" are to local.

A good local name is one that's instantly recognizable by a national or international audience yet one that also ties into the team's locale. "Rougarou" and "Krewe" may tie into New Orleans but most people not from the area won't know what the hell these names mean.

"Pelicans," on the other hand, is the perfect local name. It ties into the area and it's also something fans all over will recognize.

I just think "Krew" and Rougarou" require too much explanation to the rest of the league's fanbase. Sounders is a locally derived name that doesn't require as much explanation.

[rams80]

Maybe New Orleans ownership should let the fans vote and let them feel intimately involved with the team.

They play in a publicly-funded arena and have been in town for over a decade. The only way the people of New Orleans could be more intimately involved with the team would be for Anthony Davis to make door-to-door booty calls throughout the city.

[tBBP]

You know, I find it funny that so many people claim that the New Orleans basketball team should use Mardi Gras colors...probably because Mardi Gras is about all that most outside Louisiana know about New Orleans. I'm sure most if not everyone on this side of the 49th parallel (and maybe many above) have been to a Mardi Gras parade at some point in their lives—and yet some want to say no one outside New Orleans would know what a "Krewe" is?? I don't follow that syllogism. (Granted, its more than just a parade troupe in local lore, but, still.)

In any event, while "Pelicans" may not be most, well, athletic name out there, the identity package they come up with (or maybe have already come up with) will be the clincher. I'm keeping an open mind about this.

[IceCap]

You know, I find it funny that so many people claim that the New Orleans basketball team should use Mardi Gras colors...probably because Mardi Gras is about all that most outside Louisiana know about New Orleans. I'm sure most if not everyone on this side of the 49th parallel (and maybe many above) have been to a Mardi Gras parade at some point in their lives—and yet some want to say no one outside New Orleans would know what a "Krewe" is?? I don't follow that syllogism. (Granted, its more than just a parade troupe in local lore, but, still.)

In my defence, I don't think anyone outside of New Orleans would know what "Krewe" means, but I also don't want a Mardi Gras theme. That's been played to death.