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CHARLOTTE, NC -The Queen City is buzzing like it’s 1988 all over again. The classic teal and purple was all over Uptown Charlotte for Buzz Fest – a two-day pep rally leading up to the season opener.
“The Hornets sting everybody,” said Mylindra Diggs, a Matthews Resident.
The name is contagious. It energizes a fan base both young and old.
This weekend, original players like Dell Curry and Sleepy Floyd joined fans for a pep rally at the Charlotte Convention Center.
“They are emotionally invested in the Hornets name and what it stands for. The success over the years, leading the league in attendance for so many years,” said Floyd.
“It’s deeply rooted, the name is deeply rooted in this community. It means a lot and you get a lot of young and old fans back just because of the name,” said Curry.
When Michael Jordan announced the name change last year, he said it was time for the city to get excited about basketball again. The fans answered the call.
The Hornets are now second in the NBA this season for new ticket sales with more than 10 thousand sold.
The team has added 30 new corporate sponsors including McDonalds, Geico and Mercedes Benz.
Sales at the team store are up 77 percent since the name switch and followers across all the team’s social media platforms has grown 400 percent.
As for bringing business to Charlotte, Robert Krumbine with Charlotte Center City Partners says the name itself is a money maker.
“It tells a story and when we’re trying to bring people in to either fill our empty office space or consider bringing a headquarters to Charlotte… all of this is a part of that picture,” said Krumbine.
Many fans are hoping to find the franchise’s future in its past. The original Hornets made six playoff appearances during the team’s time in Charlotte between 1988 and 2002.
