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

[hawk36]

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.

What's funny is I have people not from Seattle asking me all the time what Sounders means. Most think it's because of Seattle's music scene and not the Puget Sound. Probably doesn't help that the logo is the Space Needle and has nothing to do with water.

[Gothamite]

Yeah, I think "Sounders" requires every bit the explanation "Krewe" or "Rougarou" does.

[Billy B]

I kind of just figured out what Sounders meant after a little bit. It's not the most obvious, but it's definitely easier for people nationally to recognize than than "Krewe" or "Rougarou". Soccer is also a lot different in terms of branding where you don't need a strong mascot to have a strong brand. There are teams in the US with "Sporting" and "Real" and international teams can sell stuff like crazy here and none have American names.

[hawk36]

I kind of just figured out what Sounders meant after a little bit. It's not the most obvious, but it's definitely easier for people nationally to recognize than than "Krewe" or "Rougarou". Soccer is also a lot different in terms of branding where you don't need a strong mascot to have a strong brand. There are teams in the US with "Sporting" and "Real" and international teams can sell stuff like crazy here and none have American names.

Other teams that do just fine with odd names that often have to be explained:

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

4. New York Mets

5. Minnesota Twins

6. Philadelphia Phillies

7. San Francisco 49ers

8. Philadelphia 76ers

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. Buffalo Bills

11. New York Knicks

12. Indiana Pacers

And that doesn't even include college (Georgetown Hoyas)...

[Gothamite]

After the first press release and the first nationally televised game, everybody will know full well what a Krewe or a Rougarou is.

[Island_Style]

Yeah, this is 2012. I have a hard time believing that info wont get around.

[CubsFanBudMan]

I think search engines would have been able to handle the extra traffic to their underutilized Rougarou page results. Plus, ESPN would be happy to have Billy Crystal come on each telecast and explain it for a quarter.

[rams80]

Yeah, I think "Sounders" requires every bit the explanation "Krewe" or "Rougarou" does.

Yes, the difference being, though, that the MLS has about the same international appeal as League One. The NBA has slightly higher aspirations with regards to appeal and attention.

And another thing. Just what appeal does a garbled French werewolf have?

[Gothamite]

The number one American brand internationally? The "Yankees". Somehow I think any of the New Orleans choices could do just fine, regardless of however local they make the identity.

[Eye]

The number one American brand internationally? The "Yankees". Somehow I think any of the New Orleans choices could do just fine, regardless of however local they make the identity.

Rougarou and Krewe suck; that's why they're awful choices. Also, you can't compare the Yankees to this franchise that almost nobody outside or even some inside (after looking at attendance numbers) of New Orleans cares about.

[Gothamite]

All I'm saying is that you don't need some generic mass-market name to have broad appeal.

With New Orleans, I think they'd be smart to build the brand around the city. Brooklyn has done a fantastic job doing just that, hampered by a terrible nickname.

I'm not sure what goal exactly people think can't be met with any of those proposed names, especially when you're building around a brand as internationally-renowned as that of the Crescent City.

[rams80]

The Yankees' appeal comes more from them winning all the time.

Loup garou and Krewe is just simply trying too hard. Forcing obscure regionalism in the hopes that it will appeal to....I dunno...people who exult in eccentricity or something. Hipsterism will die out eventually though, so, *shrug*.

(Also you already have wolves in the league.)

[hawk36]

Yeah, I think "Sounders" requires every bit the explanation "Krewe" or "Rougarou" does.

Yes, the difference being, though, that the MLS has about the same international appeal as League One. The NBA has slightly higher aspirations with regards to appeal and attention.

Be careful, the MLS has had higher average attendance than the NBA and the NHL for the past 2 years. Yes, they are still second tier, but on a very strong path to success. This past year, for the first time, I saw a Sounder jersey being worn in England by a local who was an actual Sounders fan. All this to say I wouldn't dismiss what the MLS does.

[MEANS]

all this bickering is pointless...

[Fresno St. Alum]

all this bickering is pointless...

Star Wars

[bosrs1]

I kind of just figured out what Sounders meant after a little bit. It's not the most obvious, but it's definitely easier for people nationally to recognize than than "Krewe" or "Rougarou". Soccer is also a lot different in terms of branding where you don't need a strong mascot to have a strong brand. There are teams in the US with "Sporting" and "Real" and international teams can sell stuff like crazy here and none have American names.

Other teams that do just fine with odd names that often have to be explained:

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

4. New York Mets

5. Minnesota Twins

6. Philadelphia Phillies

7. San Francisco 49ers

8. Philadelphia 76ers

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. Buffalo Bills

11. New York Knicks

12. Indiana Pacers

And that doesn't even include college (Georgetown Hoyas)...

The bolded ones are neither odd nor need any explanation to anyone who is older than 5 years old or who doesn't have their head up their ass when it comes to even basic social and historical information.

[Gothamite]

You think everyone automatically knows that "Packers" refers to the meatpacking industry?

[bosrs1]

You think everyone automatically knows that "Packers" refers to the meatpacking industry?

If they don't they need to retake a basic primary school social studies and geography class.

[Gothamite]

I think you're really reaching there. To this day Wisconsin is known for many agricultural products, but eatin' cows ain't one of them.

[TornadoGTS]

Maybe not the Packers, but bosrs1 has a point on the rest of them, I mean if you gotta explain the Philadelphia 76ers or San Francisco 49ers to someone, then they need to go back to 4th grade social studies.