The owners of the New Orleans Hornets have announced that the NBA team will be renamed the New Orleans Pelicans from the start of next season.
The Western Conference team's colours will also be changed from blue, purple and yellow to blue, red and gold.
"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," said owner Tom Benson.
"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 symbolises that."
The side was known as the Charlotte Hornets from their foundation in 1988 until 2002.
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
