New Orleans Pelicans Unveil New Logo, Color Scheme
By Josh Sanchez
The New Orleans basketball franchise has finally unveiled their new logo and color scheme. It was no secret that the New Orleans Hornets would be changing their name to the New Orleans Pelicans moving forward, but owner Tom Benson signed some light on the franchise’s branding moving forward.
It was previously rumored that the team’s color scheme would be blue, gold and red and that was spot on. All three colors are featured on the state flag. The logo features a pelican with it’s wings spread, a basketball and a fleur de lis. The font on the logo is inspired front street signs in the French Quarter. As for the Pelicans name, the team gets it’s nickname from the Louisiana state bird.
“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,” Owner Tom Benson said in a press release. “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. 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.”
New Orleans will remain the Hornets for the remainder of the season and the new identity will takeover next season.
Hornets Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson LeBlanc hopes that the new nickname will help fans identify with the team and be more willing to call the Pelicans their own.
“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 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.”
Information on the Pelicans uniforms will be unveiled in the coming months.
A limited supply of Pelicans merchandise is now available at the team store at New Orleans Arena and online at www.hornetsnestonline.com. More information about the Pelicans’ logos and brand can be found at www.pelicansnba.com.