Charlotte Hornets - The Brand Returns!!!

[dmutombo321]

Someone linked to this on youtube in the comments section of yesterday's article.

I was reminded of how poor the on the court product actually was in those early years but the team drew record crowds nonetheless. It was all about the brand, the atmosphere and the novalty.

Charlotte can never recapture the last of those but 2 out of the 3 are attainable.

Name and branding are paramountly important and this is what made the Hornets such a merchandising and attendence phenomenon here. The city howled its disapproval when the team was first to be named the "Charlotte Spirit." Had that been rammed down the city's throat, I can't help but think that the fan support those early years would not have been nearly as dramatic.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60D2uixXuow[/youtube]

[Eoghan]

Hey, we started out by drafting a stud from Kentucky (Rex Chapman), it's only destiny that we draft another one to get the fans back into the fold. Right?


Right?

Right?

*begins rocking back and forth, laughing nervously*

[captaincrunk]

There is a poll up on WFNZ with over 95% of people in favor if it. Combine that with Scott Fowlers blog basically blowing up with people in favor of it and its becoming more and more relevant. Of course this doesnt mean anything unless the hornets go to Seattle or the new ownership group decides to change the name and start with a fresh slate anyway.

The poll was self selected.

[fatlever]

there is a long thread on hornetsreport (the main hornets forum) about a rebranding and name change of the franchise. looks like the majority of the fans there are in favor of a change. i think they suffer from some similar problems, as the fans dont identify with the name hornets since its not connected to their city. that and the fact that they also despise george shinn and the name reminds them of shinn.

http://www.hornetsreport.com/HRForums/s ... nge-thread

[fatlever]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17050266/horn ... tball-team

[captaincrunk]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17050266/hornets-fans-push-to-bring-the-name-back-to-charlotte-basketball-team

"Hopes were high.

The NBA was back in the Queen City, but the excitement didn't last.

There were few wins and few ticket sales.

It seems without the name, the love affair was over."

Wow, what a leap. Really? That's the connection you make? May as well have said "I suppose Jesus didn't want people to go to the games anymore" for all the sense that made.

If those people are following the hornets team from 2002 that's fine, they like that team. Good for them. But those same people ought to follow it through a name change or their just fools.

[Stun704]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17050266/hornets-fans-push-to-bring-the-name-back-to-charlotte-basketball-team

"Hopes were high.

The NBA was back in the Queen City, but the excitement didn't last.

There were few wins and few ticket sales.

It seems without the name, the love affair was over."

Wow, what a leap. Really? That's the connection you make? May as well have said "I suppose Jesus didn't want people to go to the games anymore" for all the sense that made.

If those people are following the hornets team from 2002 that's fine, they like that team. Good for them. But those same people ought to follow it through a name change or their just fools.

You aren't from Charlotte so you obviously don't understand, theres a reason a far majority of Charlotteans want the Hornets name back. Your condescending attitude on this issue just makes it seem like you don't know what you're talking about so quit while your ahead.

[captaincrunk]

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17050266/hornets-fans-push-to-bring-the-name-back-to-charlotte-basketball-team

"Hopes were high.

The NBA was back in the Queen City, but the excitement didn't last.

There were few wins and few ticket sales.

It seems without the name, the love affair was over."

Wow, what a leap. Really? That's the connection you make? May as well have said "I suppose Jesus didn't want people to go to the games anymore" for all the sense that made.

If those people are following the hornets team from 2002 that's fine, they like that team. Good for them. But those same people ought to follow it through a name change or their just fools.

You aren't from Charlotte so you obviously don't understand, theres a reason a far majority of Charlotteans want the Hornets name back. Your condescending attitude on this issue just makes it seem like you don't know what you're talking about so quit while your ahead.

"I'm from here, get out foreigner! Damn your rationality straight to hell!"

Okay.

[Stun704]

You aren't from Charlotte so you obviously don't understand, theres a reason a far majority of Charlotteans want the Hornets name back. Your condescending attitude on this issue just makes it seem like you don't know what you're talking about so quit while your ahead.

"I'm from here, get out foreigner! Damn your rationality straight to hell!"

Okay.

I'm not "shunning" you at all, i'm just saying you can tell from this thread, from the observer articles and charlotte blogs I.E people from charlotte the by FAR more majority wants the hornets name back or the name changed... You have to be blind not to be able to see the correlation, the people who say the "bobcats" name is fine, or w/e aren't from Charlotte or the Carolinas(excluding Swedd, hes obviously an outlier )

[fatlever]

i have a question for all the bobcats fans who arent from charlotte, would you still remain a fan of the team if the bobcats became the hornets again? i'm just curious if the idea turns some off to the point they would find another team to pull for.

[captaincrunk]

My argument isn't one of opinion. I'm saying you'll all be disappointed when the Bobcats have a new jersey and still aren't the Hornets from the 90's. It's pretty annoying to be honest. Why not just move the NO hornets back to charlotte and ship the bobcats to sacremento? Clearly no one cares about the players or the staff or the history of the team. When we made the playoffs for the first time it was the first time because we are a new team. You can't just have it all back like that, it won't work and you'll be bitter about that instead.

[captaincrunk]

i have a question for all the bobcats fans who arent from charlotte, would you still remain a fan of the team if the bobcats became the hornets again? i'm just curious if the idea turns some off to the point they would find another team to pull for.

No, I'd definitely stay. I mean if we got new ownership and relocated and changed names maybe not, but just one or two of those things? Sure.

[Diop]

i have a question for all the bobcats fans who arent from charlotte, would you still remain a fan of the team if the bobcats became the hornets again? i'm just curious if the idea turns some off to the point they would find another team to pull for.

I would remain a fan, as the name and mascot mean bugger all to me.

I personally don't think a name change would make any difference, but I might think differently than the local Charlotte people. I met a bloke from Charlotte over here a little while ago and I asked him if he followed the Bobcats and he said until they started winning he wasn't interested. Made me

But thats the mentality of the people you need to win over.

[Eoghan]

i have a question for all the bobcats fans who arent from charlotte, would you still remain a fan of the team if the bobcats became the hornets again? i'm just curious if the idea turns some off to the point they would find another team to pull for.

Bottom line is I'm going to pull for whatever NBA team resides in Charlotte, even if their name was the Charlotte Gay Sloths. I live an hour or so from Charlotte, so I'm not a from Charlotte per se. I'd love to have the Hornets name and colors back because that's from my childhood but at the same time I think it's pretty selfish to sulk about it when you could be like Seattle and not have a team at all to root for.

So roll on, mighty Tankcats, roll us towards the promised land where wins fuel the bandwagon.

[SWedd523]

he said until they started winning he wasn't interested.

I guarantee you more people are like that than these silly name changers.


The novelty of changing back to the Hornets will wear off in 2-3 years unless the team starts winning and we'd be RIGHT back in the same situation we are now. Seems like the name is the easiest excuse for why people don't like the team, forgetting a few larger issues

[captaincrunk]

he said until they started winning he wasn't interested.

I guarantee you more people are like that than these silly name changers.


The novelty of changing back to the Hornets will wear off in 2-3 years unless the team starts winning and we'd be RIGHT back in the same situation we are now. Seems like the name is the easiest excuse for why people don't like the team, forgetting a few larger issues

Yeah they just enjoy bitching without having to watch the games.

Maybe the fact that you guys have to watch the same illegal streams in the Carolinas that our Australian friends watch has something to do with it...

i have a question for all the bobcats fans who arent from charlotte, would you still remain a fan of the team if the bobcats became the hornets again? i'm just curious if the idea turns some off to the point they would find another team to pull for.

Bottom line is I'm going to pull for whatever NBA team resides in Charlotte, even if their name was the Charlotte Gay Sloths.

[Diop]

I think it has promise!

[Stun704]

he said until they started winning he wasn't interested.

I guarantee you more people are like that than these silly name changers.


The novelty of changing back to the Hornets will wear off in 2-3 years unless the team starts winning and we'd be RIGHT back in the same situation we are now. Seems like the name is the easiest excuse for why people don't like the team, forgetting a few larger issues

thats the thing, if we change the name + drafting a franchise player and start having a solid foundation for winning in 2-3 years that = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, changing the name will multiply any type of monetary success the bobcats have in the near future

[captaincrunk]

he said until they started winning he wasn't interested.

I guarantee you more people are like that than these silly name changers.


The novelty of changing back to the Hornets will wear off in 2-3 years unless the team starts winning and we'd be RIGHT back in the same situation we are now. Seems like the name is the easiest excuse for why people don't like the team, forgetting a few larger issues

thats the thing, if we change the name + drafting a franchise player and start having a solid foundation for winning in 2-3 years that = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, changing the name will multiply any type of monetary success the bobcats have in the near future

You could have the same success and save several million dollars (and the loss of face) by not changing the name.

[Stun704]

You could have the same success and save several million dollars (and the loss of face) by not changing the name.

it cost 2 million dollars to change the name, that money would be easily recouped in the broadening of the market share. You just don't understand that there are ignorant people in charlotte that will no matter how much success the bobcats see, they won't support them because they simply aren't the hornets( these aren't just some random rednecks either) some are former season ticket holders, so indeed there is money to be made