Here was the winner:

Design by TinBacicDesign™

TinBacic’s winning logo is fantastic! First and foremost, we love the simplicity of the design, which hangs nicely with the 29 other team logos in the National Basketball Association. As for the pelican illustration, it achieves an effective ferocity that is not normally associated with the bird. The fleur-de-lis is a nice touch — a subtle reference to the history of New Orleans. The font is clean, original and lends itself well to further branding and merchandising.

Head over to 99designs.com to check the runner-ups and see what cool designs fans came up with.

“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 Hornets Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson 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.”

-Tom Benson via NBA.com

via nba.com