What if the NBA Board of Governors don't approve?

[InProblematique]

This is purely hypothetical, and hopefully completely irrelevant.

We all saw what happened in the Sacramento saga these past few months. Looked like a sure bet they'd be moved to Seattle, then shockingly, the BoG shot it down. The Seattle investor doubled his offer (I believe it was doubled, anyway) to get the Kings in Seattle, and there were still no dice.

The BoG kind of shocked everyone by not approving the relocation.

I know a name change is a lot different than relocation, and a lot less expensive... I'm also sure that Michael Jordan, Rod Higgins, Rich Cho, etc. did their research to make sure the BoG would give them the vote.

But what happens if the vote doesn't go Charlotte's way? What are the chances they shoot down the proposal for the name-change to the Hornets?

[TheBeagle]

For me personally: shock, disappointment, anger, then hitch up my pants and get back to Bobcats basketball.

Probably mass rioting and looting in Charlotte.

I'm not informed, but I can't think there's any chance it'll be shot down. Any. I can go out and buy a single lotto ticket and become a multi-millionaire and the BoG will still okay the name change.

[SWedd523]

I'd say the big reason why the BoG shot down the Kings move was due to Kevin Johnson and co. campaigning heavily for the team the remain in Sacramento, finding a new buyer, and just showing a general groundswell of support for the Kings to stay.

No such thing here. I'd say the chances of them shooting down a name change are 0.1% because it can't be 0%. The community, outgoing commish Stern, and incoming commish Silver have all voiced their support for the change.


It would take a big movement to counter all of that positive energy, and I don't think there are enough hipsters in Charlotte to make that happen

[InProblematique]

Agreed with both of you, I can't imagine it happening.

Just something that popped into my head. During the official name change press conference, they were making kind of a big deal out of the BoG vote, so it had me slightly worried, but I can't think of any reason they'd vote it down.

The ONLY reason I can imagine them voting it down is because they'd like to end up sending Charlotte's franchise to Seattle, but that's more of a conspiracy than anything. Just figured I'd pose the question. I think it'd be a pretty catastrophic event if they voted it down, though.

[Roon]

The biggest shock about the Kings situation is not the BOG denying relocation, it was finding a group based in the Sacramento area that could actually field a reasonable offer for the team. The NBA's stance is that relocation is a last ditch resort. As much as they want a team in Seattle, they would rather keep teams where they are at. However, a team has to go to Seattle because Stern has already said that the NBA is not going to expand. My guess is the Milwaukee Bucks could be the prime target now.

The BOG will approve the Hornets nickname because it will be of the best interest of the NBA as a whole. Hornet merchandise will sell more each year than Bobcat merchandise would in three years. It's going to happen

[SWedd523]

Just figured I'd pose the question. I think it'd be a pretty catastrophic event if they voted it down, though.

I won't lie, it crossed my mind as well but Jordan, Whitfield, and everybody else has been all "When we change the name" instead of "if they approve the name change" so it makes me think they already have a back room agreement and don't have anything to worry about.

Imagine how embarrassing it'd be for the franchise to have it shut down? "Welp, I guess it's back to the brand we just decided to kill off...." Can't see the league allowing a team to deal with that trouble

[InProblematique]

The biggest shock about the Kings situation is not the BOG denying relocation, it was finding a group based in the Sacramento area that could actually field a reasonable offer for the team. The NBA's stance is that relocation is a last ditch resort. As much as they want a team in Seattle, they would rather keep teams where they are at. However, a team has to go to Seattle because Stern has already said that the NBA is not going to expand. My guess is the Milwaukee Bucks could be the prime target now.

The BOG will approve the Hornets nickname because it will be of the best interest of the NBA as a whole. Hornet merchandise will sell more each year than Bobcat merchandise would in three years. It's going to happen

Agreed. Somehow the Bucks are less valuable than the Cats. I'm a MASSIVE Milwaukee Brewers fan, so I have a major soft spot for the Bucks, so that's kind of a bummer. I've heard a little about the Hawks moving, but that seems super unlikely.

It'll be interesting when Silver takes over as commissioner... I wonder if he'd be more open to a 2 team expansion than Stern. Seattle/Pittsburgh, maybe? Maybe another Canadian team? Dunno, again, super hypothetical.

I just know that the return of the Hornets name is helping to save the team from relocation. A lot of people say the name change doesn't mean much... I'd argue that it certainly at least helps keep the team in Charlotte.

[InProblematique]

I won't lie, it crossed my mind as well but Jordan, Whitfield, and everybody else has been all "When we change the name" instead of "if they approve the name change" so it makes me think they already have a back room agreement and don't have anything to worry about.

Imagine how embarrassing it'd be for the franchise to have it shut down? "Welp, I guess it's back to the brand we just decided to kill off...." Can't see the league allowing a team to deal with that trouble

That was my line of thinking as well. They made a big point about how they wouldn't know much until after the vote, which is mostly why this has been nagging at me, but I can't imagine they'd go this public without having done their research and talking with the rest of the NBA to make sure it passes smoothly.

[Mustachio]

Agreed. Somehow the Bucks are less valuable than the Cats. I'm a MASSIVE Milwaukee Brewers fan, so I have a major soft spot for the Bucks, so that's kind of a bummer. I've heard a little about the Hawks moving, but that seems super unlikely.

It'll be interesting when Silver takes over as commissioner... I wonder if he'd be more open to a 2 team expansion than Stern. Seattle/Pittsburgh, maybe? Maybe another Canadian team? Dunno, again, super hypothetical.

I just know that the return of the Hornets name is helping to save the team from relocation. A lot of people say the name change doesn't mean much... I'd argue that it certainly at least helps keep the team in Charlotte.

1. Easy answer... we'd go on about our business as the Charlotte Bobcats. People would be disappointed for a couple years, sales would be stagnant, and then when we start winning it will be forgotten.

2. But its not going to happen, there is absolutely zero reason in the world they would shoot it down. BOG shares revenue from merchandise sales. Voting down the Hornets means voting down more money coming to them. In my opinion any reason that the BOG kept getting mentioned in the press conference was because they didn't honestly know any more about the specifics yet, other than they planned to apply for a name change. Its just easier to answer specific questions with "we have to follow the process".

3. The Charlotte franchise isn't going anywhere. Despite what douchebags like Bill Simmons thinks. It would be an absolute PR disaster for the NBA. They allowed the Hornets and Sonics to slink out of their towns like cowards, and then they give Charlotte a franchise only to send it to Seattle? That reeks of incompetence on an Obama administration level (just kidding politics fans, relax). And really the idea that we are the market most likely to be moved is just false. The Pacers are still in the playoffs and they averaged less attendance this year than we did. The Bobcats on court have without a doubt been one of the worst teams in the league performance wise, and every year there are 5-6 teams who have lower attendance. Our market, considering performance, is actually really good. Put a winning team here, or switch to the Hornets and become a winning team, and we are at worst top 15 in attendance yearly.

[InProblematique]

1. Easy answer... we'd go on about our business as the Charlotte Bobcats. People would be disappointed for a couple years, sales would be stagnant, and then when we start winning it will be forgotten.

2. But its not going to happen, there is absolutely zero reason in the world they would shoot it down. BOG shares revenue from merchandise sales. Voting down the Hornets means voting down more money coming to them. In my opinion any reason that the BOG kept getting mentioned in the press conference was because they didn't honestly know any more about the specifics yet, other than they planned to apply for a name change. Its just easier to answer specific questions with "we have to follow the process".

3. The Charlotte franchise isn't going anywhere. Despite what douchebags like Bill Simmons thinks. It would be an absolute PR disaster for the NBA. They allowed the Hornets and Sonics to slink out of their towns like cowards, and then they give Charlotte a franchise only to send it to Seattle? That reeks of incompetence on an Obama administration level (just kidding politics fans, relax). And really the idea that we are the market most likely to be moved is just false. The Pacers are still in the playoffs and they averaged less attendance this year than we did. The Bobcats on court have without a doubt been one of the worst teams in the league performance wise, and every year there are 5-6 teams who have lower attendance. Our market, considering performance, is actually really good. Put a winning team here, or switch to the Hornets and become a winning team, and we are at worst top 15 in attendance yearly.

I agree with everything you just said except for point No. 1. haha.

I worked in the grassroots campaign when it started about two years ago, and I've been writing about it to help get the word out. If the BoG turned it down (which as you made clear, virtually no chance of that happening), there would at least be a surprising amount of fans in that community that have blossomed into the rest of the community that would be absolutely infuriated by the disapproval. I agree that many fans would be pissed, go home, and come back when the winning starts, but I know a whole lot of people aren't going to forget what happened, and a lot of them won't forget.

Wouldn't end up being the end of the world in Charlotte, I'm just saying that there's a huge chunk of people that aren't about to let that happen and then slowly come back if the team suddenly becomes good again.

Otherwise, the rest of your post was dead on, I think.