So why can the Pelicans name happen right away but Hornets take two years?

[Proudiddy]

8789, we should get up for some games each season man. I'm right outside of Raleigh and that is quite a trip to make individually.

I really was hoping they would expedite the process like they did for the name thieves this year... I'm still hoping for that until they say otherwise. I'm so ready for this change. That being said, if they make us deal with another year of corny Bob's Cats, I will load up on some merchandise just for the memories. I gave away my last Cats jersey (an Okafor) to the goodwill last year.

Funny thing is, I haven't shared this with anyone... I bought a Black New Era Charlotte Hornets fitted back in 2000 or 2001 on a whim. Even though I was a teen, I just had a weird feeling about things once Shinn brought in that fat face Ray Woolridge... He just seemed shady. So, anyway, for some reason Sam's Club was carrying them iirc, and I bought it with what little money I had. And usually, with the way I am, after our team was stolen from us, I would've burned that hat out of spite... But, for some reason, I kept it. Part of me felt like the Hornets would be back, but then I'd catch myself and realize how unrealistic it was. I outgrew the hat, still kept it. Took it with me when I threw other things out in multiple moves. And now here we are. It's relevant again... There's a reason I held onto it even though I was disgusted with the image once New Orleans stole and sullied it. This is amazing.

BTW, I bought two new, fresh Charlotte Hornets fitteds last year when the movement started and I plan on rocking them regularly now again.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Heck yeah man, I'm down.

[teeray]

I imagine that regardless of what the team name is next year they will be selling new Hornets merch at TWC arena

[carpanfan96]

The NBA sped up the NO change because they changed ownership and from the formal announce date it will have taken roughly 9 months, it's known they were working on it before hand as well. If you count from the time the team changed hands it would have taken around 15 months or so.   That is pushing it and I'd imagine that it would be hard for the NBA to push two name changes up that quickly. Add on top of that, that the Bobcats had to wait till it was formally announced to make a bid for it. 

[Zod]

I'm not sure. The Hornets won't need much marketing to their local market. They have a large built in base already that are excited about it.

 

Uniforms, banner changes, repainting, etc shouldn't take more than a few months.

[Proudiddy]

The NBA sped up the NO change because they changed ownership and from the formal announce date it will have taken roughly 9 months, it's known they were working on it before hand as well. If you count from the time the team changed hands it would have taken around 15 months or so. That is pushing it and I'd imagine that it would be hard for the NBA to push two name changes up that quickly. Add on top of that, that the Bobcats had to wait till it was formally announced to make a bid for it.

Yeah the big difference there though was, they were changing to a new brand/name that wasn't previously owned by the NBA altogether. That does take much longer to rebrand to versus rebranding to something they already own the rights to and already exists.

One of their fans was commenting on bobcatsplanet that Stern and everyone kept telling them 18 months as well, and then it just happened.

I won't get my hopes up too high but I think there is a very real possibility.

[Zod]

Maybe they are just saying worst case scenerio. It would be an absolute disaster to say 3 months then play another season as the hornets in new orleans

[carpanfan96]

Maybe they are just saying worst case scenerio. It would be an absolute disaster to say 3 months then play another season as the hornets in new orleans

 

 

As a business move that makes a ton of sense. Imagine the backlash if the Bobcat's announce the name change and that it would be effective for this season only for that not to happen.... ouch.

[chknwing]

ok so wait, will retro/throwback be the bobcats, or the old hornets? I'm confused

[carpanfan96]

ok so wait, will retro/throwback be the bobcats, or the old hornets? I'm confused

 

 

I'm guessing they could go with both, but why would they use anything but the old school Hornet jersey's?? 

 

 

I'm really excited to see what they pull off with the color scheme for the new jersey's though. 

[chknwing]

because they dont have the hornets history, just the name, so I am guessing anything hornets beyond today, isnt theirs to use. jerseys, players, etc.

[Zaximus]

Benson also got the #1 pick given to him.  Special treatment for taking that team off the NBA's hands :)

[carpanfan96]

because they dont have the hornets history, just the name, so I am guessing anything hornets beyond today, isnt theirs to use. jerseys, players, etc.

 

 

Cougar throwbacks or Bobcat throwbacks then would be the only possibility if they don't get the permission to use the old Charlotte Hornet throwbacks. 

[teeray]

because they dont have the hornets history, just the name, so I am guessing anything hornets beyond today, isnt theirs to use. jerseys, players, etc.

I'm not sure how all that works, but franchises don't own the players the NBA does. There is no reason we could not honor former Charlotte Hornets.