HoopsHype.com Rumors

It’s official: The Charlotte Bobcats plan to be the Charlotte Hornets. The Bobcats formalized that intent at a 6 p.m. news conference at Time Warner Cable Arena, featuring team owner Michael Jordan. As expected, the Bobcats wouldn’t be able to implement this change until the start of the 2014-15 season, as it would take that long to do all the rebranding. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

The Bobcats will hold a press conference tomorrow at 6:00pm ET at Time Warner Cable Arena, a source said. It is expected that Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan will announce that the team will change its name to the Hornets, likely for the '14-15 season. Bobcats officials declined to comment. The Bobcats have been studying for months whether to adopt Charlotte’s original NBA franchise name, which became available after Saints Owner Tom Benson bought the then-New Orleans Hornets in '12 and this year changed its name to the Pelicans. The Hornets played in Charlotte from '88-'02 before relocating to New Orleans. Sports Business Daily

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Owners, Charlotte Hornets 

Rick Bonnell: Bobcats news conference early.evening tomorrow to announce their intent to change nickname to Hornets. Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

The Charlotte Bobcats are on their way to becoming the Charlotte Hornets. The Bobcats have started pursuing a name change to Charlotte's original NBA team, an informed source confirmed to the Charlotte Observer. Though the Bobcats will need permission from the league to make such a change, incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver has twice indicated that shouldn't be a problem. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

What's still in question is when the name change could be implemented and how extensively the Bobcats would assume the Hornets' old look. The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, would not comment on whether the popular teal-and-purple color scheme would return to Charlotte. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

Any change probably couldn't be implemented before the 2014-15 season. Silver said last month during a trip to Charlotte that it would take a minimum of 18 months to rebrand an NBA franchise. The league's uniform-maker, Adidas, and other licensees need that much lead time to produce branded merchandise. The Bobcats have estimated it would cost them about $3 million to rebrand because so much signage and other logo material would have to be replaced. Sources indicate both Bobcats owner Michael Jordan and outgoing NBA commissioner David Stern advocated a switch to the Hornets to better market Charlotte's team. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, David Stern, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

The Charlotte Bobcats are in the process of changing their name back to "Hornets," a source with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com's Will Brinson, including arranging digital assets that would allow a return to their original nickname. CBSSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

There is no timetable for the switch though NBA commissioner to be Adam Silver told Bobcats season ticket holders in April that such a change would take at least 18 months to implement. Moreover, the change is not unexpected and would likely be popular with the North Carolina fan base. CBSSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

Silver told season ticket holders re-acquiring the name "Hornets" would not be an issue, stating that the NBA and not the Pelicans owned the moniker. Acquiring and rearranging the necessary digital assets would be a major part of any change. Hornets.com and CharlotteHornets.com are owned by NBA Media Ventures, LLC and currently redirect to NBA.com/Pelicans. However, a WhoIs.net search for the domain name NBAHornets.com shows that the URL was created and registered very recently -- on May 15, 2013 to be exact -- by NBA Media Ventures, LLC. NBA Media Ventures, LLC, is the media branch of the NBA and owns NBA.com, Hornets.com and CharlotteHornets.com. CBSSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

I laid out my argument for the Charlotte Hornets rebrand three weeks ago. Since then, MJ addressed the name change on Bobcats.com: “As some of you may be aware, we have engaged a national polling group to survey both our current season ticket holders and randomly selected individuals in our local area to see how our fans and stakeholders feel about this topic. Judging from the e-mails you’ve sent me, the opinion seems to be very mixed.” CBS

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Michael Jordan, Charlotte Hornets 

Could the Charlotte franchise reclaim the Hornets moniker after New Orleans ditched it for the wholly less intimidating Pelicans? A new ad is pushing that very idea. CBSSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Hornets 

The Charlotte Bobcats face a $3 million decision: Is it worth the investment to change the team’s name to “Hornets,” hoping to capture the nostalgia for Charlotte’s original NBA team? Reports Tuesday said Tom Benson, the new owner of the New Orleans Hornets who said he wants to change his team’s nickname to something that represents that city, has chosen “Pelicans” as that new name. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

“There is enough nostalgia about that name that you could get some good karma from it,” said Joe Favorito, a professor of advanced sports marketing at Columbia University. “Would they stick around if the team isn’t good? Probably not. But that nickname could have the effect of getting some customers to give it a second look.” Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

The team has prepared, though. A marketing study of Charlotte the team commissioned during the summer of 2010, couldn’t ask specific questions about the Hornets, but did poll Charlotteans on the name “Bobcats.” The results might surprise you. According to chief sales and marketing officer Pete Guelli, more than 60 percent of those polled liked the name Bobcats; about 20 percent advocated a name change. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets