Hornets to change name 2013-2014 season

[JGib23]

Yeah. I got to thinking 'Why haven't we heard anything yet?' but then I realized they won't announce the outcome before the end of the season so as to still be able to sell Bobcats merchandise at retail and not at slashed prices which would occur if the name is indeed changed and before the season is over.

What do you think though, has the decision been made one way or the other, or is MJ still wrangling over it?

I'd be shocked if the decision hasn't already been made. (atleast in MJ's mind)

Everyone knows which side of the fence I'm on and the continued lack of a decision gives me a little more confidence... Again MJ could have settled this in his Chairman's Corner letter last week if he would have said that the results were mixed and don't support the change or doesn't justify a change. That would settle this whole thing but, again he hasn't done that. Maybe it's part of the plan to continue to play this out so that it look like this was a gut-wrenching decison so that whichever side loses will feel like the team did them justice by "really" doing their due dilligence.

But, if we are going to continue to be the Bobcats that needs to be said ASAP, if we are going to be the Hornets I don't think we hear anything until after the season and the name is "officially" available. I guess, if the announcement hasn't been made & team store is offering huge discounts on merchandise during the last home game like they did last year- we might know which way the wind is blowing.

Also, this went national today.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ey...ack-to-hornets

No matter, what you think about the name change- Blackhawk Hardware (a family owned business) just got tons of attention (Their ad is on National Sports site) and I'm sure they will make whatever money they spent back really quickly.. that's pretty awesome!

[Pizzy]

No other team owns the name anymore. It is a free agent, so no it isn't taking a name from another team. Its been discussed a million ways from Sunday, but the Hornets name originated here, and it would most definitely be considered "getting it back" Thats just facts.

Your last points don't make any sense to me either. "What about the silent opinions"... who gives a hell what the silent opinions are. They aren't buying tickets either way. Silent opinions don't buy merchandise, and they don't fill arenas. Also, no one is going to start booing the Hornets if the name is changed... thats just a silly notion. No matter yours or my personal opinions on the name change, the fact of the matter is that it can only have positive effects.

So the people who are silently content dont go to games, buy merchendise etc? quiet doesnt mean they dont go, just that they either A cant be bothered discussing (and lets be honest with sports it often ends up in an argument) or 2 are more than happy with the way things are.

Yes the Hornets did originate there, but then got sold and shipped off somewhere else. The franchise is called the Bobcats atm. The only thing the Hornets have to do with your franchise is they are both from the same city. Does that mean if the Knicks changed their name the Nets should use Knicks? Or if the Lakers went bust, the clippers should change?

To say it can only have positive effects shows where your opinion lies, and that you aint going to be able to discuss it rationally. But not everything would be rosey. Im sure there are kids who know sod all about the Hornets, would they be happy? But as long as the fist shakers get what they went, of course there can be no downside...........to you at least anyway

[Mustachio]

So the people who are silently content dont go to games, buy merchendise etc? quiet doesnt mean they dont go, just that they either A cant be bothered discussing (and lets be honest with sports it often ends up in an argument) or 2 are more than happy with the way things are.

Yes the Hornets did originate there, but then got sold and shipped off somewhere else. The franchise is called the Bobcats atm. The only thing the Hornets have to do with your franchise is they are both from the same city. Does that mean if the Knicks changed their name the Nets should use Knicks? Or if the Lakers went bust, the clippers should change?

To say it can only have positive effects shows where your opinion lies, and that you aint going to be able to discuss it rationally. But not everything would be rosey. Im sure there are kids who know sod all about the Hornets, would they be happy? But as long as the fist shakers get what they went, of course there can be no downside...........to you at least anyway

Thats not an opinion... its both factual and rational. The only negative effects of a name change are emotional effects, and that will only a affect a small few. Merchandise sales will increase (if only because people will need to personally rebrand as well. I and every other fan out there will be buying new gear. Like when Kobe changes numbers, you go get the new jersey) Bottom line is... No fan of the Bobcats will stop buying season tickets or supporting the team. That faction of fans just simply doesn't exist. You are suggesting that people who have spent hard earned money on a 7 win team will suddenly stop attending games because of a name change?


Sure some people will be butt hurt about it, but the needle only points one way in terms of impact. Positive. Look at it this way. Will more people buy season tickets if they are the Hornets instead of the Bobcats? The answer is yes and has been proven on this site already (jgib) . Thats a positive. Will people buy more Hornets merchandise than Bobcats merchandise. Factually yes, its why teams do throwbacks and special jerseys... it increases sales. Not to mention the Hornets brand is already outselling Bobcats gear nationally. Kids are a fickle being, and if you think there are kids out there who will be butt hurt about losing the name on expansion franchise that never really got a foothold, then I don't know what to tell you. I would postulate that kids in the area know more about the Hornets, and probably own more Hornets gear than they know of the Bobcats.

I am bringing far more rational points to the discussion than you are. You are arguing emotions and silent opinions, when I'm simply bringing the numbers game to the table. Some people will be upset to see the Bobcats name go, I am one of those people as I've never had season tickets to anything other than the Charlotte Bobcats. But I and every other season ticket holder, will still be there next year no matter the name. Merchandise and ticket sales can only go up from a name change point of view.

[Pizzy]

Never have i said that it wouldnt be probably best for the team. Id rather they didnt, my point was that facts can prove anything.

Try these. If the Bobcats play the Lakers today, would they win? No, probably not. Then they play them tomorrow. Will they win, no probably not. Next year will the Bobcats beat the Lakers. Once again probably not. Does that mean the Lakers will be better forever? Not for deffinate. So yeah, short term, taking the Hornet name will have far more upsides than downside. but can you honestly tell me, there is not a chance, however small that it might not be for the best? If it was 1005 for the best, it would be signed, sealed and announced by now. Why do you think it hasnt? Is MJ and the rest of the men in charge that thick they cant see such a wonderfully 100% way to make a shed load of money? Or is it that on the surface it looks great, but long term it may not be.

Also, of course the Hornets sell more merchendise, they have a bigger fan base, thats like saying the Bulls sell more merchendise, shall they change the name to that? Hell, they could change the name to Charlotte Donkey rides and get new gear, that would also sell loads. Im sure there are quite easy ways of getting retro Hornets tops already.

All i was saying was get your rose tinted glasses off for 1 second and just think, perhaps it isnt so cut and dry as you say,

Or just carry on thinking the way you do. Im sure you'll be happy with it.

[Mustachio]

Never have i said that it wouldnt be probably best for the team. Id rather they didnt, my point was that facts can prove anything.

Try these. If the Bobcats play the Lakers today, would they win? No, probably not. Then they play them tomorrow. Will they win, no probably not. Next year will the Bobcats beat the Lakers. Once again probably not. Does that mean the Lakers will be better forever? Not for deffinate. So yeah, short term, taking the Hornet name will have far more upsides than downside. but can you honestly tell me, there is not a chance, however small that it might not be for the best? If it was 1005 for the best, it would be signed, sealed and announced by now. Why do you think it hasnt? Is MJ and the rest of the men in charge that thick they cant see such a wonderfully 100% way to make a shed load of money? Or is it that on the surface it looks great, but long term it may not be.

Also, of course the Hornets sell more merchendise, they have a bigger fan base, thats like saying the Bulls sell more merchendise, shall they change the name to that? Hell, they could change the name to Charlotte Donkey rides and get new gear, that would also sell loads. Im sure there are quite easy ways of getting retro Hornets tops already.

All i was saying was get your rose tinted glasses off for 1 second and just think, perhaps it isnt so cut and dry as you say,

Or just carry on thinking the way you do. Im sure you'll be happy with it.

You're obviously new here. If the Bobcats played the Lakers today... they would win. Tomorrow and yesterday. We have a winning record against them. Statistically we win more than we lose against the Lakers.

Hornets have a bigger fan base? A non existent franchise has a fan base? I was talking about retro hornets gear, not the New Orleans hornets. New Orleans Hornets gear sells as badly as Bobcats gear does. How can I have rose tinted glasses? I stated in my last post that I would be sad to see the Bobcats name leave.

Once again you've posted about the potential negatives of a name change, without offering one single negative thing that could happen. (spoiler alert: there aren't any tangible negatives) While I posted the several positive things that will happen. Thats cut and dry.

[Pizzy]

Yup, new i am. Hypothetical point still stands. I havent put any negatives down, because as ive said, i dont know what they are, IF ANY!

As for the retro shirts, i think you will find thats true about most retro shirts in most sports. Retro is massively popular at the moment.

Last thing im gonna say on it though. Just because you dont see the bus coming dont think it cant run you down

[adam187]

we actually just dropped below .500 against the lakers unfortunately

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...head2head.html

[QC Thundercats]

we actually just dropped below .500 against the lakers unfortunately

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...head2head.html

[Mustachio]

we actually just dropped below .500 against the lakers unfortunately

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...head2head.html

DAMNIT!. I guess we'll always have Minnesota and Sacramento.

[Pizzy]

Slight change of direction from me. If the name does get changed. Do you think the team would go back to classic colours or keep the white, blue and orange?