Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Let the re-branding begin — well, technically it’s already begun with the renaming — but it will continue in earnest this offseason for the New Orleans Pelicans, who have ditched that nonsensical Hornets moniker carried over from Charlotte.
“When you do this logo change and you change the brand of this basketball team, it goes well beyond just beyond the dance team and the mascot,” Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha said on a call with season-ticket holders, according to NOLA.com. “We have a number of different names that we have to think about. When you do this logo change and you change the brand of this basketball team, it goes well beyond just beyond the dance team and the mascot. We have a number of different names that we have to think about.”
A key part of this process is finding a good deal on the naming rights for New Orleans Arena while making sure the name works on every level imaginable. I imagine no money total that BP throws at the NBA will get their name on the building. There are many things that need to be renamed or plastered over.
It should be something emblematic or indigenous to the region, but it also shouldn’t have a boring name. You don’t want to make the mistake they did a stone’s throw west, though I’m not totally sure how you would avoid an Enron Field-type situation. It also shouldn’t sound too corporate.
I’m excited to see if the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board will really take this on. The Crawdad Dome? Solid gold.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
