If the Hornets Were to Rebrand…


This is what the result should look like.

Hat tip to bigdub81 over at Hornets Report. Totally New Orleans. I’d suggest going over there for the full sized image. This one has been shrunk.


42 responses to “If the Hornets Were to Rebrand…”

  1. I know a lot of people would like this idea, a more NOLA orientated logo/name/color/etc, but keep in mind there are a lot of Hornets fans that date back to the Charlotte days. I would hate to see the name changed, i wouldnt feel the same for the team. That would be like dissappearing… If you ask me, OKC is not the Sonics, its just a new team in OKC after the sonics were deleted from the nba, and that is plain sad…

  2. If we are lucky enough to get a local owner, I say we rebrand and go as “local” as possible. Krewe is as local as you can get, and I love the jerseys. It will be Mardi Gras every game at the : Den, Krewe Quarters? Pick one.

  3. Rather just go green instead of constantly tweaking the teal/blue/aqua whatever color it has become. Also, Krewe is a cute name for, you know, a WNBA team and all, but c’mon boys this is the big leagues. “Krewe” is TOO local. Everyone else in the World will be like, “Damn, those guys in New Orleans are so uneducated they can’t even spell “Crew.” Can you imagine one of the big free agents saying at a press conference, “I can’t wait to be a Krewe.” Or, I’m really pumped to be a “Krewe.”

    C’mon man! But the Uni’s are nice. I’ll say it again, Purple-Green-Gold. The New Orleans ROYALS. Mardi Gras royalty themed. I don’t mind keeping the hornets name, just change the blue to Green and drop those gawd awful pin stripes (Pin stripes are for baseball teams, fellas. Not the NBA. Yuck). If we were to rebrand, I’m all about the Royals.

    • …”I’m proud to be a member of the _____.” is how they usually say it, so in that case, you have nno case.

  4. Royals. I can dig that. (Sucks that “Brass” and “Voodoo” are already taken. Either of those would be perfect for an NBA team.)

    Replace the word “KREWE” with “ROYALS” on the above uniforms, and then we’re talkin’.

  5. I love it. And Krewe is perfect. Yes, it’s local, and that is precisely the point. Unlike almost every major city in America New Orleans is a fiercely independent place that is driven by a rich, quirky, and history-laden culture. Why not dip into that rich culture in order to re-brand our NBA team?

    Would people be flummoxed when they hear the name (and see the spelling)? Yes. Does that matter? NO! They will learn.

  6. i like it. need to get back to the N’awlins roots and wouldnt even be opposed to a name change to somethin really about the city, like what we had with the jazz

  7. Whats wrong with being the hornets? I like that much better than the krewe. Also, I like the hornets blue, but the mardi gras jerseys are pretty sick and I wouldn’t mind them as our primary, but I dont like the jerseys shown above

  8. Really like the name “BRASS” or keeping the name hornets and changing the colors.

    I’d love the colors above BUT Black and Gold are colors no other team uses and are colors are just as associated with NOLA now

  9. I really like our current color scheme. The blue looks better that those jerseys. They’re just too busy with green/gold/purple.

  10. Every Mardi gras “krewe” has a King and or a Queen – ROYALTY. The Royals. Alligator mascot wearing a crown named REX. perfect. Purple and Gold trimmed with Green. I DIG IT!!!

  11. I Rather Brass, Krewe jus doesn’t sound right. But if it was up to me Unless we can get New Orleans Jazz back I would leave it as is.

  12. Been a Hornets follower for over 18yrs, personally it would be sad for me if the Hornets brand didnt exist. However I understand the importance of re-branding the team at this juncture, if it helps the team to get more love from the nola public then im all for it. This team is about New Orleans now not were it has been before. The color scheme is like the Utah Jazz’s current design tho.

    • If the Hornets name becomes available and Bob’s Cats Don’t rebrand as the Hornets there very well might be a riot in Charlotte! Judging that the name should have never been STOLEN from us in the first place. The name comes from the fact that this are was a Hornet’s nest of revolutionary activity in this countries war for independence. Furthermore, it had been used in the city for multiple sports teams since 1901. So long story short there will be a Hornets team in the NBA it just depends if they are playing in the right city.

  13. I like the uniforms above, just “Brass” instead of “Krewe”. I like “Krewe”, I just like “Brass” more. I think it’s more local than “Brass”. Not that there’s anything wrong with the “Hornets”, these are just my preferences if the team were to rebrand.

  14. this is a dumb idea .

    if we did change the name i vote the new orleans jelly rolls , if we can’t have the jazz back i say we out jazz em’

  15. No no NO. We ARE HORNETS FANS! Don’t Let Them ERASE US COMPLETELY! I don’t like the color ideas for the jerseys but I understand… As Longs as we’re HORNETS I don’t care. Hornet 4 Life

  16. And I’m in NORFOLK, VA. I feel like you’d be cutting off the rest of the fans in America by trying to stay more local.

  17. MaskedTalent, we’ll help find you another NBA team to support but it is deplorable that the NBA fans of N.O. have been forced to support at team named the “Hornets”. I’m a huge New Orleans fan, but that goofy bee as a mascot is very hard to take. We must change to something that reflects the unique culture of the city and area. I can’t believe that it upsets me so much – I thought I would get use to it, but it will never happen. If some midwestern city like Columbus, Ohio or Ames, Iowa ever gets a team – they can be something as ordinary and dull as the Hornets.
    Please, please, please, please, please – lets change the name & look of New Orleans’ NBA team to something that reflects the unique nature of the city.

    • or just give the name back to the city it belongs to where it has a wealthy of history that stretches far beyond the NBA.

  18. I dont want to include everyone from NOLA in my statement but from the posts i see on here and hornetsreport im pretty sure the people in NOLA supporting a rebrand just simply dont give a damn about the “Hornets” fans. Theyre more interested in putting their own mark on an NBA team because they feel they were given a second-rate NBA team after the Jazz moved away. I honestly couldnt care less where the Hornets are located but if NOLA doesnt want em then move them, simple as that and everyone is seemingly happy

  19. The team should change its name to the New Orleans Brass. Market the team through Jazz, Food and most importantly Basketball. Commercials for the team could feature living jazz legends performing while advertising the team. The team brand should be about new orleans. The Hornets name should go back to the city of Charolette.

    also I am suggesting a Black and Gold (Brass Colors) and maybe some brown on an alternate jersey and also keep the mardi-grais ones now.

  20. WHY NOT LET THE HORNETS NAME GO BACK TO CHARLOTTE (written by a Charlotte guy)?
    Other than pure athleticism, sports are a product of their place and time. Of course athletic talent and winning are the end-game. But a Charlotte Hornets game was more than just a game–it was a local party almost every time–and the whole region was invited.
    But that was 20 years ago, so anyone who moved to Charlotte after that, or was too young to have been aware of the sports culture begun in Charlotte by the Hornets back then, will have little, if any, knowledge of how palpable the fun was with the Charlotte Hornets.
    Carolina beach music played in the “Hive” along with classic rock and more current tunes. Something for everyone – like Shakespeare plays were designed for their diverse audiences in their own time.
    It was also exemplified in the “little” things like uniforms and team colors and teal coliseum seats by well-known NC designer–Alexander Julian, whose Hornets apparel still sells – worldwide. His Hornets uniforms designs changed the way all sports uniforms were designed since then.
    Fans in the “Hive” were a combo of die-hard basketball fans, and the wine and cheese set–and what’s wrong with that? Everyone’s ticket money was well-spent there. Everyone had fun–win or lose. You could still follow your college teams so beloved in this region, and love the Hornets as well.
    Even when we lost the game, Charlotte pride made it all OK. That’s why we had the best attendance in the league. The “Hive” was a place to party, see and be seen–a place where you felt safe enough to bring your kids and meet your friends. And local restaurants greatly benefited before and after the games.
    George Shinn, a local guy and the Hornets founder, was a brilliant marketer at first, then lost his way when it became all about the money to him. He threatened to move the team a number of times before he actually did. That’s when fans began to lose interest. Then it got worse.
    Robert Johnson never made any attempt to make his team all about Charlotte–it was always all about him, his name –and all about his money. He had no clue about Carolina culture, and could have cared less about it, or about being a part of the community, which the Hornets and their players well understood from the start. Johnson’s name, Bob, and the bad team karma can be purged forever from Charlotte sports if the Hornets name returns. That would be big.
    Michael Jordan is a “favorite son” in the Carolinas. He surely well remembers how even in defeat, the Charlotte Hornets fans were every bit as excited to attend even a losing game as the Chicago Bulls fans were to attend their winning games when they were the national champs. Not many teams can claim that kind of loyalty in defeat–ok maybe NY Mets fans. But few else.
    In the Carolinas, it’s all about the culture of the fans, the corporate sponsors, and the history of the region. Without that, a sport is doomed here. That goes for football, golf, NASCAR, etc. if you want it to succeed here, you better play to local culture, pride and history.
    Repatriating the Hornets name from New Orleans (which deserves its OWN cultural team name) would increase attendance, advertising and sponsorships, merchandise sales, and would help Charlotteans feel like the good old days just might return again someday soon. If Jordan decides to go for it, I have no doubt he would not let anything stand in his way.
    With higher attendance, more TV revenue, sponsorship, merchandising and advertising dollars, and luxury box subscriptions, Jordan could afford to pay for better talent on the court, and things would begin to look up across the (score)board.
    Or–maybe it wouldn’t change a thing. Some will disagree. But nothing will improve without taking a few risks. Getting the Hornets name back would probably be pretty high on the reward vs. risk scale. Not much risk for a possible big reward for Jordan…and a great sports comeback for Charlotte and the Carolinas region.
    Charlotteans still want to have fun with basketball–but the Bob(Johnson)cats haven’t hit that mark. MJ needs to put his own fun spin on our b-ball.
    The combined good karma of native-son Michael Jordan bringing the Charlotte Hornets back would be a positive force for Jordan, Charlotte, and for the NBA itself. Commissioner Stern should yield the Hornets name back to Charlotte at no cost. It fits nowhere else but here.
    Teams should never again have their original names moved when teams have to move. Each city/region should have a name, a brand, that reflects its own culture. Basketball needs more positive forces going for it these days–if it is to survive as a major sport in the minds of a great many sports fans. So, let’s bring back the Hornets to Charlotte. Let N.O. brand their own team with their own culture. Let’s bring back the fun to BOTH cities.

  21. Howdy NOLA!

    First off, congrats on what sounds like great news coming out of the whole ownership fiasco. New Orleans is one of the best places on the planet, and y’all losing a team would’ve been a travesty. Ok…so I come in peace…that established? 😉

    Obviously, from my link, you can see what I’m all about. I’m a Charlotte native, and the Hornets tipped off when I was 7. Which pretty much made Kurt Rambis and Kelly Tripuka superheroes in my book. A whole heck of a lot of this city still feels this way, and we’d do just about anything to get our name/colors back.

    I’ve been reading in various places that y’all are about as eager to shed yourselves of the stench of Shinn as we are to eliminate the residual B** Johnson filth that permeates every nook and cranny of our franchise. So I figured…why not come straight to the source? This is the page I’ve set up supporting Charlotte reclaiming our original, regionally-significant and beloved name, and New Orleans rebranding under the banner of one of y’alls’ myriad unique cultural traditions. I friggin’ LOVE the Krewe thing…it actually seems like something that would attract people to y’alls’ brand on a national level…

    …we pretty much just have the Hornets…

    This isn’t some kind of ‘goodwill gesture’ I’m asking for…no charity here. I feel like it’d be mutually beneficial to the both of us. As far as I can tell, the whole ‘Hornet’ thing means about as much to y’all as the Knickerbockers would to us. So why not work something out in which both cities can rebrand (or in our case, re-rebrand) and connect with a couple of fanbases who, lets face it…don’t currently have much else to cheer about.

    New ownership, fresh start…think about it.

    Thanks for your time, and again…congratulations on today’s news!!!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Beelieve-Charlottetake-back-your-Hornets/110429122320741?ref=ts

  22. PLEASE rebrand!

    We would really like to have our name back here in Charlotte. We earned it back in the Revolutionary War! General Cornwallis called the citizens of Charlotte a “Hornet’s nest of rebellion.” Charlotte’s history is tied to the Hornets name. Please allow it to go back to its rightful owner.

    New Orleans can find a much more appropriate name and set of colors for its own history.

  23. Rebrand means kill the identity of the franchise. For me (i’m not from Charlotte or New Orleans) the name Hornets is much important. Because this franchise in Charlotte era beat the Bulls and Jordan after 44 home game win and the Bulls lost his home invincibility. In the New Orleans era, the Hornets beat the Mavs in one spectacular playoffs series for example. The uniform designed in this post, is very beautiful, i think is possible change color, but is better don’t change name and simbol (Fleur de bees is most beautiful logo in the NBA and perfect mix). I think when the Jazz go out New Orleans the neworleanians not are happy, i hope someone understand me. I think rebrand is only commercial operation because this franchise is in Louisiana and play for New Orleans from 2002! (10 years!) We need a new strong team for sell much more tickets.

  24. I’m a huge proponent of the team nickname staying in their original city. I hate that the Jazz are in frickin UTAH (really hate that one), that the Clippers are in LA instead of San Diego, that the Lakers are in LA and not in Minnesota, the Rams are in St. Louis and not L.A., that the football Cardinals are in Phoenix and not St. Louis, etc. Kudos to Cleveland (Browns) and Seattle (Sonics) for fighting for their history and not letting their owners take the names with them. The Hornets name needs to be moved back to Charlotte, and New Orleans should do everything it can to pry the Jazz name back from Utah. If it costed 10 million dollars, it would be worth 50 times that in merchendise and ticket sales in New orleans. If those Mormons won’t give in to our demands, then we should either go back to the old ABA name – Buccaneers – or choose another New Orleans-esque name. I like the Brass personally, as they can capitalize on the popularity of the old Hockey team and steal some of the Jazz’s mojo in the process. George Shinn tried to run this team into the ground, and should have left the Hornets name in Charlotte, so he is to blame for this. Cut bait, switch these names around, and have “Bobcats” (Bob’s (Johnson) cats – really?? How crappy and self indulgent was that decision) erased from existence.

    Oh, and change the Wizards back to the Bullets. I hate the Wizards.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.