Rebrand Hornets

[teeray]

I'm confident a rebrand wont happen from people I know within the Bobs. But if it did, and they became a watered down Hornets, my interest would wane. The whole purpose of the rebrand is to faze out fans like myself who've been down since day 1 and say the last 10 years meant nothing and start anew with casual fans who werent. I don't support that, so thats pretty much the only way I'd stop supporting the Bobs. If they sold us out to gain new fans who might or might not support it.

Isn't that the definition of fair weathered fan?? "On board until they do something I don't like then my interest will wane".

I have been on board with the Bobcats since day 1 also, but a re-branding is something several franchises have done with great success.

Look at the Cavaliers before Lebron. As soon as they drafted him they changed their uniforms, color scheme, floor design, etc. They didn't change their name but they re-branded to capitalize on the energy of the arrival of Lebron to give the feeling of a new era in Cavaliers basketball.

Things are a little bit trickier here. The name Bobcats has a stain on it that many people can't get past (I am not one of them but I know too many people who feel that way). If we get the number 1 pick and select Unibrow we will be in a prime position to re-vitalize interest in the NBA in Charlotte. What better way to do that than re-branding.

At the end of the day it is about what energizes and reinvigorates a fan base. In other words, gets people to the coliseum and put butts in the seats. As long as they remain the Bobcats I fear that we would have to be a legit NBA championship contender in order to do that (easier said than done in a small market). Otherwise, a certain contingency won't pay attention just like they didn't two years ago when we were in the playoffs.

Yes. Winning cures all ills. But how much winning will solve the problem. We just went to the playoffs two years ago and still had some of the worst attendance in the NBA. We won. We had MJ as the owner. The people of Charlotte still didn't embrace the team. Because they are the "Bobcats".

In a lot of ways this reminds me of those restaurant rescue shows like "Kitchen Nightmares". You always have the owner of the restaurant that says something like "...if I make this change I will lose my regulars!!" To which Gordon Ramsey would reply something like "Are those regulars making you money or are you headed for bankruptcy and shutting the restaurant down??"

Change is a good thing, and in this case, quite possibly the only thing that can save the franchise short of an appearance in the NBA finals.

[King Taharqa]

Changing your jerseys and colors scheme is not the same as rebranding. There's never been an NBA team to rebrand to a previous/existing franchise. Change is good, which is why I accept the Bobs today over the Hornets 20 years ago. What thee catch the buzz movement is about to do is erase the Hornets completely from the NBA. We will remain the Cats while NO rebrands to a "new" (not to be confused with rehash) logo and name.

The Bobs are not gonna gentrify themselves and alienate their diehards.

[John Morgan]

Changing your jerseys and colors scheme is not the same as rebranding. There's never been an NBA team to rebrand to a previous/existing franchise. Change is good, which is why I accept the Bobs today over the Hornets 20 years ago. What thee catch the buzz movement is about to do is erase the Hornets completely from the NBA. We will remain the Cats while NO rebrands to a "new" (not to be confused with rehash) logo and name.

The Bobs are not gonna gentrify themselves and alienate their diehards.

So let me get this straight, King:

You'd rather the B**Cats stay the course, continue to draw somewhere in the 4,000 range, and continue to hemorrhage funds than to do something that just might inspire the other 14,000 'fair weather/bandwagon/wine-and-cheesers/insert KT-coined-personal insult here' to pull out their wallets and show up to a game or 41.

Is that what I'm hearing?

You'd run the risk of losing the team in 5-10 years all in the name of catering to the 'diehards'?

Sounds kinda selfish to me.

P.S. - Teeray: you're really, really good at this :)

[King Taharqa]

Ever since this forum started people have been implying the end is near. Here we are 8 years later still goin strong. Go Bobs Go! We're not the Hornets, we will be in Charlotte for the long haul. But thanks for the final death blow to the Hornets. Once NO scraps em, the past will finally remain in the past.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

did someone just suggest that attendance per game would boost by 14000 if they rebranded to the hornets?

seriously?

[John Morgan]

Ever since this forum started people have been implying the end is near. Here we are 8 years later still goin strong. Go Bobs Go! We're not the Hornets, we will be in Charlotte for the long haul. But thanks for the final death blow to the Hornets. Once NO scraps em, the past will finally remain in the past.

We get outdrawn by our minor league hockey team.

We're literally the single worst team in NBA history.

We lose $20 Million a season.

Just what part of things is 'going strong', King?

I gotta say, I respect the hell out of your resiliency. Once one aspect of your argument is thoroughly debunked/eviscerated, you just mold it into something else (I'm loving the latest remix...we're somehow "killing the Hornets brand for good"...that kind of spin takes talent, sir; you're the T-1000 of angry internet message boarders). But really, man...are you just unwilling to admit that there is a fundamental disconnect with this franchise and the community? I'm not asking you this because I think you're a proxy for any larger group of malcontents - we're pretty much operating with the approval ratings of a 1950's Banana Republic dictator at this point - I'm asking because I'm worried about you, individually. Listen...it's looking more and more like this is going to happen. I just don't want you to do anything drastic when it does ;)

[John Morgan]

did someone just suggest that attendance per game would boost by 14000 if they rebranded to the hornets?

seriously?

I believe it was something to the effect of "(a rebrand) MIGHT inspire the other 14000 fans that aren't there to come out for a game or 41". But we all know that you knew that, Porn. I know how pesky that little 'quote' button can be when you're trying to twist words, but come on...you can do better than that.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

i think its more likely that you're living in a bubble

[King Taharqa]

LMAO@outdrawn by our minor league hockey team.

John we don't even have the worst attendance in the NBA. Try again.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

hell even the "free sean peyton" movement got jimmy buffet behind it.

the charlotte hornets movement only matters to the 30 or so people pushing for it

[John Morgan]

Actual attendance, King. Bodies in seats. You and I both know it happens. However, I'll concede: that's an anecdotal tidbit and if I had any shred of journalistic integrity, I'd have omitted it. My apologies.

Care to address the other actual, tangible issues?

[King Taharqa]

What is "fundamental disconnect with the community"? You need to be clear. These arguments you are making are subjective, and it seems like the end goal is being the Hornets, poof all our problems solved. I dont hear you discussing talent, game play, or how being the Hornets is gonna make Chris Paul want to play for us or Dwight Howard. Just saying "being the Hornets brings you $$$$" is weak when the Horbets themselves arent happy or making $$$ being the Hornets.

[John Morgan]

hell even the "free sean peyton" movement got jimmy buffet behind it.

the charlotte hornets movement only matters to the 30 or so people pushing for it

i think its more likely that you're living in a bubble

Your 'argument' has no teeth, so you resort to insults.

Digging your own grave there, Porn.

(And for the record, we have just a couple more than 30 people on board. Just a couple :) )

[John Morgan]

Specifics?!?

There are 16 pages on this thread tearing everything you just said apart, King. Of course we're concerned with personnel issues. Of course we don't think a rebrand is a silver bullet...blah blah blah. It just doesn't end with you. Foolish of me to wade back into the cesspool.