The New Orleans Hornets, who have been rumored to be interested in changing their name for weeks now, are set to formally make the change as early as next season according to a report published by Yahoo! Sports yesterday. They will be known as the New Orleans Pelicans as of 2013-14.
Their current Hornets name came over to New Orleans when the franchise relocated from Charlotte in 2002 but the new ownership group, led by Tom Benson – who also owns the NFL’s Saints – is said to want a name more closely associated with the state of Louisiana.
Louisiana is the Pelican State. Tom Benson’s wife apparently told Fox Sports New Orleans recently that her preference for new team colors was navy blue, red and gold.
