Keep the Bobcats name

[Carol]

I've been giving this a lot of thought and I think it would be foolish to change the name of the team. According to MJ, it would cost about $10 Million Dollars to do that. I think the smart move would be to keep the name and use the $10 Million to put the best talent we can find on the floor! Personally, I can distance mysel from Bob Johnson since Bobcats are known to roam the NC mountains. Let's relate Bobcats to that and use the money for other things! Thoughts?

[LadyCats Rule]

I've always thought this name change thing was really stupid. I like Bobcats because it goes with the feline theme (Panthers, Lynx light rail, the old ABA Cougars).

If you'll recall, the other finalists for the team name were Dragons and Flight. Both of which are pretty lame.

[dnbman]

If you'll recall, the other finalists for the team name were Dragons and Flight. Both of which are pretty lame.

I agree. However, think of the Jordan brand tie-ins Jordan would have if the team name were Flight. If it were any other owner, I wouldn't really consider a name change, but it might make sense for Jordan.

[Carol]

I agree. However, think of the Jordan brand tie-ins Jordan would have if the team name were Flight. If it were any other owner, I wouldn't really consider a name change, but it might make sense for Jordan.
If it were a simple process to change names then okay, but it isn't. Think of EVERYTHING that would have to be changed from uniforms all the way to stationery & checks, the website, etc. etc. Like Michael said in the interview I saw, it's about a $10 Million dollar proposition to change the name. Spend it on TALENT, not on chaning the name!!!!

As someone has already mentioned, it goes with the feline theme. Also, the fact that Bobcats do roam the NC mountains is another reason to just leave it be!

[spectre]

Agreed...and welcome to BCP!!!!!

[Dcarnys]

Yeha the whole name change thing was a stupid idea all together in my opinion. The Washington Bullets changing their name was a different story but the Bobcats? Its just ridiculous.

[CatNation]

I don't really care either way as long as the team stays in Charlotte. I think what people need to realize is that almost all sport franchise names are stupid, you just get used to them. We were lucky to get a gem the first time around in Hornets, but hey at least we aren't the Clippers or Lakers. How lame can you get, LA?

[teej]

The Washington Bullets changing their name was a different story

Seeing as how their players still think the team IS the Bullets, I don't think it worked :rolleyes:

[Muttley]

If it were a simple process to change names then okay, but it isn't. Think of EVERYTHING that would have to be changed from uniforms all the way to stationery & checks, the website, etc. etc. Like Michael said in the interview I saw, it's about a $10 Million dollar proposition to change the name. Spend it on TALENT, not on chaning the name!!!!

As someone has already mentioned, it goes with the feline theme. Also, the fact that Bobcats do roam the NC mountains is another reason to just leave it be!

Yes! Don't change the name.

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Personally I like the idea of the Charlotte part being changed. I hate when a state has only one city worthy of a pro team in a sport and they name the team after that CITY!!

I feel the Bobcats name is fine as long as they are called the Carolina Bobcats. Since it is not likely the state will have to split their NBA allegiances between two cities why not follow in the same footsteps as the Panthers and Hurricanes? The Bobcats should represent all the Carolina's both North and South and calling the team the Carolina Bobcats makes the most sense.

Now IF the team nickname is to change then it should go back to the ABA days and be called the Carolina Cougars. I can already hear some of you saying that makes the team seem like a bunch of 40 or older woman on the prowel for young lovers. If that crosses your minds I think you KNOW that people know the difference.

Anyway, that is just my take and I am sure many will disagree. Tought I would put it out there none the less.

[BobCatsFanInTx]

I don't really care either way as long as the team stays in Charlotte. I think what people need to realize is that almost all sport franchise names are stupid, you just get used to them. We were lucky to get a gem the first time around in Hornets, but hey at least we aren't the Clippers or Lakers. How lame can you get, LA?Clippers actually is a name that makes sense in LA. On the other hand it is not like LA or Ca. is known for it's abundant lakes. When the nickname was in Minnesota it made perfect sense. Minnesota is known for being the land of 10,000 lakes.

The nickname Bobcats is not worse than say the Bulls, Timberwolves, Bucks, Raptors, Hawks, Grizzlies or any other animal name. At least we don't have names like the Pacers, Thunder etc..etc..

I am fine with an animal name for the franchise be it Bobcats, Cougars or any other along those lines. Bobcats may not be the most lethal animals but they are clever and pound for pound a top predator. If a team were called the Foxes that may not sound great but Foxes are known to be sneaky, intelligent and tricky. Many animals represent several good traits.

So unless a team is called the Pheasants, Quails, Turkeys, Rabbits, Mice or anything along those lines, I think it is safe to say that many animal names are ones a fan base should be okay with.

[mj4life]

Personally I like the idea of the Charlotte part being changed. I hate when a state has only one city worthy of a pro team in a sport and they name the team after that CITY!!

I feel the Bobcats name is fine as long as they are called the Carolina Bobcats. Since it is not likely the state will have to split their NBA allegiances between two cities why not follow in the same footsteps as the Panthers and Hurricanes? The Bobcats should represent all the Carolina's both North and South and calling the team the Carolina Bobcats makes the most sense.

Now IF the team nickname is to change then it should go back to the ABA days and be called the Carolina Cougars. I can already hear some of you saying that makes the team seem like a bunch of 40 or older woman on the prowel for young lovers. If that crosses your minds I think you KNOW that people know the difference.

Anyway, that is just my take and I am sure many will disagree. Tought I would put it out there none the less.
won't happen it's part of the contract between the nba and the city

[davcbow]

Keep the name, Bobcats are cool animals, I saw one last year up here in the woods. Scared me at first but he turned and walked down into the hollow away from me. :cool:

[CatNation]

Pistons might be the dumbest name. a part in a car engine? zzzz

[teej]

won't happen it's part of the contract between the nba and the city

Yeah, most people seem to have forgotton the two important parts of that contract.

A) The team has to pay tens of millions if they move and violate the lease
B) The team MUST be named after Charlotte

:rolleyes:

[mj4life]

Yeah, most people seem to have forgotton the two important parts of that contract.

A) The team has to pay tens of millions if they move and violate the lease
B) The team MUST be named after Charlotte

:rolleyes:
in return the city basically allows the bobcats to operate the building as if they own it, they keep all revenue and only cover operating expenses

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Yeah, most people seem to have forgotton the two important parts of that contract.

A) The team has to pay tens of millions if they move and violate the lease
B) The team MUST be named after Charlotte

:rolleyes:Nothing I forgot teej. I am a transplanted Texan and have never been to any of the Carolina's. I just happen to have followed the Bobcats after the Hornets left. I have given my reason's for supporting the Bobcats. Anyway not being from your state I had no way of knowing the conditions of your stupid city leaders. In my opinion that is a mistake. Much like I think my Broncos and Nuggets of Denver should be Colorado Broncos and Colorado Nuggets. There is no city in Colorado outside Denver worthy of NFL or NHL teams so why exclude giving the naming rights to the state? If the people of the Carolina's are going to support the Bobcats why not make them feel more a part of the team by naming them the Carolina Bobcats?

Teej, I can tell by the tone it seems you use in bringing up the lease agreement that you think Charlotte is the best name. If that is so please elaborate why you think it is good the team MUST be named after Charlotte. Is the city that in need of recognition and an identity that Charlotte MUST come before Bobcats. In my way of thinking your state is in need of an identity more than it's biggest city. Don't get me wrong I don't know squat about the Carolina's but it would seem that all y'all don't get the proper respect as STATES both North and South Carolina let alone blanket the teams name under the identity of the North's biggest city.

Regardless I will support the Charlotte Bobcats because personally the beginning name does not mean squat to me. Still as a person who grew up in Colorado I found it a mistake not to name the pro teams in Denver after the state. The NHL and MLB did the right thing and put COLORADO before the nick names of those sports teams. In your state the Panthers and Hurricanes did the right thing. Of coarse Hockey does not require as big a markets as does the other pro sports, so technically another city in your state may be big enough for an NHL team.

With all that said only Charlotte is big enough to have a pro sports team in the other three sports. To me that should mean that the NBA team should follow the same rout as the other two pro teams in your state.

You people talk about the Bobcats needing to feel like they belong to all of the Carolina's yet I get the feeling most of you prefer the team named after a city in a state that will NEVER in your lifetimes have a second NBA team. How does this seem like uniting of the state in it's best possible way? I guess it is my personal feelings but I am 38 years old and always hated that my city of Colorado Springs and all of Colorado supported the DENVER Broncos and the DENVER Nuggets Knowing no other city would get a pro team. Maybe I am just nitpicking but so be it. That is just how I am.

[CatMan72]

Agree, keep the name change the culture (already underway).

[teej]

Nothing I forgot teej. I am a transplanted Texan and have never been to any of the Carolina's. I just happen to have followed the Bobcats after the Hornets left. I have given my reason's for supporting the Bobcats. Anyway not being from your state I had no way of knowing the conditions of your stupid city leaders. In my opinion that is a mistake. Much like I think my Broncos and Nuggets of Denver should be Colorado Broncos and Colorado Nuggets. There is no city in Colorado outside Denver worthy of NFL or NHL teams so why exclude giving the naming rights to the state? If the people of the Carolina's are going to support the Bobcats why not make them feel more a part of the team by naming them the Carolina Bobcats?

Not anything you've missed as a non-member of Charlotte, but rather that it's been posted on this board at lease 5-7 times since I joined. I'll get into the city parts in a minute.


Teej, I can tell by the tone it seems you use in bringing up the lease agreement that you think Charlotte is the best name. If that is so please elaborate why you think it is good the team MUST be named after Charlotte. Is the city that in need of recognition and an identity that Charlotte MUST come before Bobcats. In my way of thinking your state is in need of an identity more than it's biggest city. Don't get me wrong I don't know squat about the Carolina's but it would seem that all y'all don't get the proper respect as STATES both North and South Carolina let alone blanket the teams name under the identity of the North's biggest city.

I think it has to do with Charlotte trying to build it's own identity. If we don't get respect, who cares. Anyone with an education knows how valuable the Carolinas are, so ignorance is the only thing holding others back. Charlotte has a reputation as a small-town place disguised as a city, and people need to know there's stuff to do in Charlotte. We do have the "Carolina" Panthers, who played in one of the best Super Bowls ever just 7 years ago, and the "Carolina Hurricanes" who won the Stanley Cup a few years ago.


Regardless I will support the Charlotte Bobcats because personally the beginning name does not mean squat to me. Still as a person who grew up in Colorado I found it a mistake not to name the pro teams in Denver after the state. The NHL and MLB did the right thing and put COLORADO before the nick names of those sports teams. In your state the Panthers and Hurricanes did the right thing. Of coarse Hockey does not require as big a markets as does the other pro sports, so technically another city in your state may be big enough for an NHL team.

With all that said only Charlotte is big enough to have a pro sports team in the other three sports. To me that should mean that the NBA team should follow the same rout as the other two pro teams in your state.

Raliegh is a city that has grown a lot, and I think within 5-10 years it'd be capable of having it's own NBA or MLB team. There's a large population an hour away in Greensboro, and the Hurricanes are one of the most successful small-market teams in the NHL, largely due to a high amout of die-hards. While UNC, NC State, and Duke would take away from any NBA team in the area, if the city continues to grow that might not be a problem.


You people talk about the Bobcats needing to feel like they belong to all of the Carolina's yet I get the feeling most of you prefer the team named after a city in a state that will NEVER in your lifetimes have a second NBA team. How does this seem like uniting of the state in it's best possible way? I guess it is my personal feelings but I am 38 years old and always hated that my city of Colorado Springs and all of Colorado supported the DENVER Broncos and the DENVER Nuggets Knowing no other city would get a pro team. Maybe I am just nitpicking but so be it. That is just how I am.

I think you're nitpicking. Look, where I am (Hickory, hour north of Charlotte) and where a lot of others in the area are, even down in SC, everyone wants to associate themselves with Charlotte. Maybe that's just how we are around here, but people who live in Rock Hill, SC say they live in Charlotte. I tell people I'm an hour outside Charlotte. People in Concord or Mooresville say Charlotte.

And finally, the Hornets were named "Charlotte" and I think that has a strong influence on getting new fans.

[WhatAboutBob_cats]

Agree, keep the name change the culture (already underway).

I feel like this topic is overdone but I'll put in my two cents. Keep the name. New Orleans probably isn't thinking about a name change anytime soon. I love the name. It fits in with the cat motif we have goin' on with the city: Carolina Panthers, LYNX system, CATS buses, etc.

People who hate the name always say "Well I never see any bobcats around!" What about panthers? I never see any panthers around here, but no one has a problem with that name.

Because of the way the Hornets left town, the Bobcats had to make their own identity separate from the Hornets. And finally, the success of the team is helping the Bobcats become a part of the city. As a fervent supporter of the Bobcats, I would be pretty hurt and a little alienated by the organization if they changed the name. Especially if they change it to Flight. I hate that name with a passion.

[BobCatsFanInTx]

I feel like this topic is overdone but I'll put in my two cents. Keep the name. New Orleans probably isn't thinking about a name change anytime soon. I love the name. It fits in with the cat motif we have goin' on with the city: Carolina Panthers, LYNX system, CATS buses, etc.

People who hate the name always say "Well I never see any bobcats around!" What about panthers? I never see any panthers around here, but no one has a problem with that name.

Because of the way the Hornets left town, the Bobcats had to make their own identity separate from the Hornets. And finally, the success of the team is helping the Bobcats become a part of the city. As a fervent supporter of the Bobcats, I would be pretty hurt and a little alienated by the organization if they changed the name. Especially if they change it to Flight. I hate that name with a passion.
WhatAboutBob_cats I think I have stated that I don't really think the Bobcats name needs to change. Actually I prefer teams named after real characters as opposed to inanimate objects or things like Pistons, Pacers, Magic, Thunder, Heat and the such. I am not crazy about the name Suns but it is better than the Heat.

Anyway, the gist of my post on this topic is that I really don't care for a team being named after a city as opposed to the state...Charlotte Bobcats...Carolina Bobcats.

Teej answered me quite politely and quite well. Even though I don't understand the thinking among many I'll accept it.

As far as growing up in Colorado Springs and hating the Broncos being the DENVER Broncos and the Nuggets being the DENVER Nuggets that is just my thing. I have been out of the Springs for 20 years and the city is big enough for a pro team yet still does not have one.

Based on that don't expect another city in North Carolina to get a pro team any time soon.

That is why I think having the Carolina's named to represent the Bobcats is best.

Then again being an hour from Denver and in a fairly good sized city of my own, I never thought of myself as a Denver person. If Colorado Springs could have had a pro team the Broncos and Nuggets coming after the name Denver would never have bothered me.

With all that said I still rooted for my Colorado teams. I still do. I do like the Panthers and the Bobcats and I liked the Hornets. I guess I just liked them best among the expansion teams coming out. So though I don't know squat about the Carolina's I support two of your pro teams.

Here's to the CHARLOTTE Bobcats and I hope they kick ass tonight.

I must admit though that in the West I root for the Nuggets. Mavs are a close second.

If the Bobcats lose this series I also must say that my support will go to the Magic. Even if the name is stupid. By the way don't Suns produce Heat? So does that mean the Heat can't exist without the Suns? Lol Just my bizarre way of thinking.

Not that I want the Bobcats name taken away but I saw someone say they hate the name Dragons but to me one mythical creature name is no worse than an extinct dinosaur known as a Velociraptor. Besides Raptors didn't terrorize villages and breath fire. I guess I would say I like the name Dragons way better than a descriptive word of an action. Flight. That could be connected to ANYTHING!!! Just my opinion though.

[rsxnova]

Keep the name, buy Bosh.

[Wolfpackbobcat]

keep the name..trade diaw

[cFlight]

What's the latest on the name change? I heard that if they do decide to change the name, they will announce it after the NBA finals.

[WhatAboutBob_cats]

What's the latest on the name change? I heard that if they do decide to change the name, they will announce it after the NBA finals.

Where did you hear that? I haven't seen any new developments about a name change whatsoever. I thought this "name change" idea was dead

[EvetsMorrison15]

I feel like this topic is overdone but I'll put in my two cents.

Why is it a penny for your thoughts but you have to put your two cents in?...somebody's making a penny.

[kickazzz2000]

Boy, those Massachusetts Celtics really took it to the Lakers tonight...
:facepalm:

[cFlight]

Where did you hear that? I haven't seen any new developments about a name change whatsoever. I thought this "name change" idea was dead

Where did you read that it was dead?

[Muttley]

Where did you read that it was dead?
Well, probably because no one's brought it up at all recently.
The idea should die.
The whole name-change idea is inane anyways. The "Bobcats" is a perfectly fine name (for reasons I don't feel like reiterating for the 17th time), and there have been, nor will there likely be, any suitable replacements. Especially the "Flight," though I take it you feel differently.
\end{discussion}

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Just what the F is a Flight? I know it describes an action but is it actually a thing? Names like Flight, Thunder, Heat, Magic and the such are so stupid to me. There are plenty of things that a team can be named after as opposed to being given names based on descriptive words or inanimate objects.

Then again there are plenty of teams with dumb names so it really wouldn't matter.

As far as Dragons being a dumb name all I can say is that Dragons have a rich history in the mythology of the world and the name makes a hell of a lot more sense than a name like the FLIGHT. Dragons according to lore were some bad MFers and being named after such a wicked creature to me isn't so bad.

Since all that is out of the way I will say that the team should remain the Bobcats if for no other reason than the fact that the name has been around since the beginning and is a part of the teams short but proud history. People have had time to get used to the name.

Reporters are still at times slipping and calling the team the Hornets so the last thing that needs to happen is to take away the Bobcats identity that has just started to stick.