The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the most unique team names in the NBA, but is it the right one?
Let’s face it, the Pelicans would and should still be called the Jazz if the team hadn’t relocated to Utah, inexplicably taking the ill-suited name with them.
Is there any place in the world that is less “jazzy” than Utah? Jazz music is probably illegal in Salt Lake City.
But Utah isn’t giving it back anytime soon, so New Orleans is stuck being the Pelicans. Or are they?
The Hornets became the Pelicans in 2013, naming the team after Louisiana’s quirky state bird. And while the unique and fierce bird does capture some of the spirit of New Orleans, it’s definitely not the first thing people think of when they think of the Crescent City.
This is the city of Mardi Gras, a city that is one of the musical capitals of the world, so why in the world are they named after a bird? Is it time to make a change?
New Orleans Pelicans: Now is the time to change the team name
Zion Williamson has brought renewed hope to basketball fans in New Orleans. He is a generational superstar who could finally bring some sustained success and credibility to a franchise that has lacked both.
This seems like a good time to capitalize on that hope by having a better team name, especially considering the amount of merchandise they could sell by coupling the name change with a franchise superstar like Zion.
Also, the state of Louisiana is mostly crazy about football and couldn’t care less about the NBA. Most of the fans of the team are in and around the city of New Orleans, so the name doesn’t have to appeal to the whole state, make it about the city.
A new era with a new superstar seems like the ideal time to focus on the city and the team’s ties to the community.
Reader Eric Brown suggested the name New Orleans Rhythm, which much more embodies the spirit and vibe of the city of New Orleans and would come with some music-inspired gear that would fly off the shelves.
What do you think? Should the New Orleans Pelicans change their team name? What do you suggest?