Hornets to change name 2013-2014 season

[QC Thundercats]

I think the equation is quite simple. Regardless of which group of fans is more vociferous in their preferences, or any polls, or what would make more sense, the bottom line is that Michael Jordan is a businessman in every sense of the word. After all costs and expenses are taken into account, the decision comes down to which brand will generate more money in the long run.

Jordan has been involved in or led a fashion empire for decades. Although he doesn't know how to dress personally, he knows what works or makes more money in regards to styles, colors, names, etc. for his business. We can all be sure that he's had numerous studies done that we don't even know about that analyze what could make more money.

Hell, he probably has specifically made shoes and clothes with a color combo of blue/orange, teal/purple, carolina blue/gray/navy with an eye on comparing which color combo is the most popular.

So again, at the end of the day, numbers talk to Jordan. If his case studies and tests have shown that one set has tons more potential revenue than another, then he would go for that without a second thought.

[Scrapper1]

I dont like the Hornets name change for the Cats. That is not this team..thats like the Minnesota residents complaining about wanting the Lakers name back...this franchise didnt earn that history that they have. If they get that name back, they should change the color scheme to differentiate the look. I dont care what a team name is..if you win..they will support.

[Bobcat4Ever]

If we bring the Hornets name back to Charlotte, we also need bring back the in-arena blimp of Hugo. That thing mesmerized me as a kid lol

[Pepperz]

If I had to choose the Hornets or Bobcats, I would go with the Hornets. Im pretty sure most people will feel the same way. The thing is if we dont change the name, Ill still love the Bobcats just as much.

[Adam42R]

JGib23, I appreciate your passion for this so please don't take my next comments in a denigrating way but I think you are making some rather wide brush strokes that are not easily proven.

It could, which is why I'm considering buying season tickets again... I think that the team would be silly to make a decision based only on current customers ( who most likely would continue to be customers despite being disappointed over a name change).

• Companies often make decisions based on their current consumers. When they try address a need/want of "future" customers at the cost of their current ones, they can be left with a zero sum gain.

If the Bobcats had widespread support that some of you claiming this wouldn't be an issue... 60% of 6- 8,000 season ticket holders isn't paying the bills.

• Technically, they are the folks paying a lot of the bills right now. According to Bonnell, the team has added 2,000 new season ticket holders this year.

Like I've said many times, if things were working and the majority of people in Charlotte were in love with the Bobcats brand, this topic wouldn't be a front page Story over and over again, this story has gone national, David Stern is commenting on it... If it wasnt a huge deal, Michael Jordan wouldn't say "it's definitely an interest".

• This really hasn't been front page.

• And as for the oft repeated (here) notion that Jordan could quash this with something more than "it's definitely an interest" -- you ever dated a girl that asked if you like kids? Is "it's definitely an interest" the precursor to getting on a knee or more like deferment until the next time you get the question?

You guys can try to discount it all you want, but it's no doubt a serious issue.

• I am no discounting it at all. I do think there's a real possibility that the name could change and I tell you, I'll be a little disappointed. My wife and son know nothing but the Bobcats and they like them. They don't like the Hornets and they don't "get it" and any attempt I have tried since this name-bashing came up has made me less of a fan of the name change than more of one. Regardless, like the rest of these things, I am not "discounting" it but it's "not" a serious issue IMO. Having a good team/product, having an identity, having a stable front office, having a stable coaching staff ... that's important stuff, the name is in the end just fluff.

[spectre]

Adam's last reminded me of the pre-season game in Greensboro vs NOLA which I'm sure I've related before...but anyway: My son (around 9ish at the time and not a big sports fan) went with me and we had outstanding seats...center court 4 rows up. We go in dressed in Bobcats' gear and when we get to the cheerleaders...which of course I hesitated at wanting him to get a GOOD look...a rep came up and asked if my son could be in the line as the Bobcats came onto the court. After being pissed that I wasn't asked I said sure. He a little reluctantly went the the guy and ended up being first in line...so he got to "high five" all the Bobcats' players. I was one proud jealous papa. Anyway, they also stood in line when the NOLA players came out.

He also got to go to center court and hand the ball to the team captains right before the game.

Once he finally gets back to his seat I'm raving about how lucky he was about high fiving Crash and all those other players and he goes "Yeah it was great! When the other team (NOLA) came out tho I wouldn't high five them...they're the bad guys, right?".

Not even being a big sports fan he knew the score.

Good times. One of the best of many memories I have with the boy.

[JGib23]

JGib23, I appreciate your passion for this so please don't take my next comments in a denigrating way but I think you are making some rather wide brush strokes that are not easily proven.

Adam, no offense taken and hopefully no one here has any Ill will towards me. This is something I'm passionate about but, if MJ comes out tomorrow and says it's over. We are the Bobcats and will remain the Bobcats, I will be 100% behind his decision and move on knowing I fought a good fight but, in the end didn't win. I will than order a Bobcats Home Jersey ok MKG because I think they did a great job with the new jerseys.

Now to you points:
1: my assumption is that they wouldn't lose any (or many) customers over a name change from Bobcats. I've never read one post on this board or heard anyone say if they change the name I'm through pulling for them... Even if they did change the name, I'm sure the team would make some concessions to appease any current customers that are pissed. Additionally, I think the "new customers" as a result of the rebrand would far outnumber any that they lost.

2. The team lost a reported 20+ million (the team refutes it was that large) my point is the current fan base isn't large enough to keep the team out of the red... As to you point about the 2,000 new season ticket holders, I've never seen them say they have gained 2,000 over last season. If they lost 2,000 of the season ticket holders from last season and then turned around and sold 2,000 new season tickets we are right back at your zero sum gain.

I will give the team all the credit in the world for creating 2k new season tickets, even if in the end it was a zero sum gain. The marketing group was creative and the $2 season tickets and buy one get one fee season tickets were great ideas that helped them create 2,000 season tickets when they could have crashed and burned pretty hard after 7 wins... Kudus to the team for thinking outside the box and doing a great Job!

3. Totally disagree, this topic has been front page of the Observer.com 2 times this were alone, David Stern addressed this last night in New Orkeans, it has been in Yahoo, the front page of ESPN.com this week and columnist from everywhere are writing stories that involve Jordans interet in the Hornets name (just google it and you will see)

I dont really understand your analogy- my point is at the very least, he's hurting merchandise sales as people are reluctant to shell out money on Bobcat gear, if the name is going change. As a businessman, I don't see very much benefit in letting this topic grow into the distraction that it has unless it's a a real possibility that is being considered.

Remember the rumor this summer about him selling the team? He squashed it the next day.
Remember the rumor/comments that Larry Brown & charles Barkley made about him surrounding himself with yes men? Squashed the next day.

I just don't see any benefit from letting this continue.

4. Serious was a poor choice of words. It's an important decision because it effects the teams revenue and overall fiscal health. If they change names and it works out like many think, Jordan will make a lot if money that may have not been made, if they change the name and it doesn't draw more fans because MJ basically burned 3 million..... In my heart, I think the change makes him allot of many.

Thanks for the respectful debate without any slams. I hope if the name changes, that you son falls in love with Hugo and is still able to cheer for Kemba with the same passion and love that I cheered for Muggsy.

[Adam42R]

JGib23, the 2,000 season ticket increase was accompanied by an 80% STH retention from the previous season. Both numbers (the # increase and retention percentage) were either above our average or new highs. Now that's kind of amazing to me that following the year we had last year, we increased in both new STH sales and retention.

We can disagree on what constitutes front page news. I get the paper (in newsprint form) and read it online several times a day. I have never seen this on the front page of the actual paper (nor do I remember it taking up any appreciable real-estate in the weekend sports section) and it only seems to be a quickly retreating block on the CO site (like all articles that are published to the site do throughout the day). But I may have missed something there.

To the point of merchandise sales and no definitive yes/no. Again, we'll just disagree on that, the non-answers seem to me to have much more to do w/ the league and law - they cannot engage with a name they do not have legal rights to and I am sure that's been very well covered between the league and FO. But I don't think it hurts actual merchandise sales in the meantime.

As for my son, I think that's a tougher one - he literally knows nothing but Bobcats. He's too young to know the players, he just knows the team - by name, by his bobcats PJs and by Rufus. I don't think you can just swap out a cat for a bee and not hit a wall there but there are worse things in the world right?

Either way, they have me as a fan - but if given the chance, I'll definitely voice my desire for our remaining Cats.

[Ghost Kat]

I seriously thought this was a joke when I read about it yesterday. Even if we dont get the Hornets name back, The Pelicans is a ridiculous name

[CampNightmare8]

I seriously thought this was a joke when I read about it yesterday. Even if we dont get the Hornets name back, The Pelicans is a ridiculous name

Yeah I know right, I understand its relative to NO..but it sounds terrible