Charlotte Hornets Return: Bobcats To Change Name For 2014 Season

The Charlotte Hornets will return to the NBA in 2014.

The name change comes after the New Orleans Hornets announced that they would be changing their name to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans will make their debut this year while the Bobcats will wait until the 2014-15 season to change their name back to the Hornets.

ESPN reports that the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the change this week during its summer meeting in Las Vegas.

Michael Jordan, who owns the Bobcats, said: “We’re thrilled to bring back the Hornets to Charlotte and the Carolinas… The passion and enthusiasm around this name change by fans in this market has been unmatched. They overwhelmingly told us what they wanted, we listened and we couldn’t be happier with the Board of Governors’ approval of the name change. With the young team we are developing on the court, the direction of our business and the return of the Hornets name, we are extremely excited about our future. The buzz is back!”

The Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002. Charlotte got a new team a few years later when the Bobcats joined the league as an expansion team in 2004. The New Orleans Hornets have now changed their name to the Pelicans, freeing Charlotte up to take back the Hornets name.

Charlotte COO Fred Whitfield said: “We want to reach back and grab some of that equity that the Hornets earned in our community… They did a lot of great things off the court. They were involved in the community. They became very accessible to the Charlotte fans and citizens of Charlotte. We want to reach back and grab some heritage and use it as we move forward to build a brand with our young team that continues to improve.”