Charlotte Name Change Approved by NBA - East Idaho News
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Charlotte Name Change Approved by NBA

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Getty S 053013 NBA?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1374212417411Christopher Trotman/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — During their summer meeting in Las Vegas, the NBA Board of Governors officially approved the Charlotte Bobcats name change back to the Hornets beginning in the 2014-15 season. The Hornets name became available when the New Orleans Pelicans officially discarded the name earlier in the year.

“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.” Charlotte owner, Michael Jordan said in a statement.

The Charlotte team name has been a controversial topic since the Bobcats came into existence. After having several years of sellouts with the Hornets, the Bobcats have struggled since joining the league.

“Fans of the old Hornets would say, ‘Please give us back our Hornet name.’ I laughed at it initially. But it stayed there bubbling below the surface, and there’s something to it.” NBA commissioner David Stern explained.

The Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002. The Charlotte Bobcats began as an expansion team in 2004.

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