New Orleans Pelicans’ Name Change is Official

New Orleans Hornets’ owner Tom Benson announced Thursday that, at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, the name of the team will become the New Orleans Pelicans. This is a name that will represent the culture and resolve of the Gulf Coast region, while also symbolizing Louisiana’s most pressing initiative of coastal restoration and wildlife conservation.

Benson introduced the team’s new logos, as well as color scheme, during the announcement. He purchased the Pelicans in 2012, and is also the owner of the New Orleans Saints.

The team will remain under the name New Orleans Hornets until the end of the 2012-13 season.

During the unveiling, several people commented on the change.

“When we purchased the basketball team, it was a priority to change the name to reflect our culture, our community and our resolve. The Pelican does that,” said Benson. “Our region has been hard hit in recent years and the one thing that stands out is the resiliency and determination to comeback, to fight and overcome. The Pelican symbolizes that.

“The synergy of this name, this bird and the future of our state and region are intertwined and in three, five, ten years from now, it will be not only be a name of a sports franchise but it will also be the face of the continued recovery of our region.” he continued. “We will promote healthy habitats, not only for our youth but for our community, our coast and our wildlife. The Pelican name will do that. It is more than a name. It represents our way of life.

“The team’s cornerstone community platforms will focus on two initiatives critical to the future success and prosperity of the Gulf South Region; the health and sustainability of our coastal wetlands and the health and fitness of our region’s children. The message of a healthy habitat, in which the Pelican thrives, will provide the centerpiece for a program of healthy living, exercise and education to that of protecting, saving and restoring our coastal wetlands and wildlife. The Pelican will serve as that symbol.”

“The New Orleans Saints were an amazing symbol of recovery after Hurricane Katrina and really a motivation for the community,” said Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities, Garrett Graves. “Now we have this crisis of the coast eroding and the incredible impact it’s having on our city and state every time we have hurricanes. It’s impacting seafood production, energy production, and all the maritime industry.

“To have this kind of potential and this kind of focus on coastal restoration efforts and the need to restore the coast with the Pelicans joining us in educating the state and the nation, is just going to be an amazing opportunity to get the coast restored and get the resources we need to develop a sustainable, bright future for Louisiana.

“Perseverance and renewal have been hallmarks of our community’s resurgence and the Pelican’s remarkable recovery closely matches that of the Gulf South Region. The Pelicans will be more than a namesake for the franchise, as New Orleans, the State of Louisiana and the Gulf South have a rich history connected to the name. Represented on Louisiana’s state flag and seal, the Pelican has been the state bird for over a century. The Pelican symbolizes the determination to not only survive, but thrive even when the odds are stacked against them as our region has demonstrated over and over.”

“Establishing the New Orleans Pelicans is a process of building a basketball legacy for our community that entwines our team image with the best qualities of our community,” said Hornets Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson-LeBlanc. “The Pelican is not only the state bird of Louisiana, but it is also representative of teamwork, the positive synergy of group dynamics and, as we’ve experienced recently here on the Gulf Coast region, regeneration. The strength, resiliency and loyalty of a Pelican are the core values our fans and team can be proud of.

“This identity change was an investment we had to commit to, in order to provide a fresh beginning for our fans. Forging a new and bright future for the Pelicans will bring awareness to the best of New Orleans, the Gulf South, and provide our fans with a team that they can identify as their own.”

The Pelicans’ colors will be blue, gold and red. The team’s primary color, blue, is taken from Louisiana’s state flag. The Pelicans and Saints will share the color gold, uniting the organizations, while celebrating the spirited life of New Orleans and its many celebrations (gold is also a commonly found color on the “crown” of the pelican). Red represents fraternity and is indicative of the blood provision of the mother pelican and the vibrant color underneath the pelican’s throat. All three colors are found on the City of New Orleans flag.

“I am really excited about this logo,” said Benson-LeBranc. “The pelican is a strong, dynamic animal, and the eyes in the logo are something that all of our fans will be really excited about. We have limited apparel right now, but it will be available in stores. It is the right image to unify everyone; we have such an opportunity with a global platform at basketball games and with social media. So after choosing the name, at this point it’s about how can we bring the fans closer to craft that message, build that legend, and build a tradition of basketball and championships.”

Due to the lack of fan support — despite performing well enough to reach the playoffs — the Pelicans moved from Charlotte, N.C. in 2002. The New Orleans’ organization can now start their chapter in the NBA history books with a refreshed identity.

“Well the Hornets name was brought here from Charlotte and I guess that is where it belongs, but it doesn’t mean anything here,” said Benson when asked about the nickname’s connection with New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. “So, I think it’s very important that we got something like the Pelican that represents New Orleans and Louisiana. The Saints do that, and I think the Pelicans name does that as well. We didn’t just pick this out of thin air. We looked at a lot of names. Every time something came up there were a lot of good points, but we always came back to the Pelicans. I think it’s going to help us get to a championship here.”

The Charlotte Bobcats’ organization did not have much to say about New Orleans’ nickname change.

“We are aware of the impending change regarding the team nickname in New Orleans,” said Fred Whitfield, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bobcats Sports & Entertainment. “We are currently in contact with the NBA and conducting our own due diligence relative to this matter. We will not have any further comment until we have completed this process.”