Charlotte Hornets Continue To Think Big With Addition Of D-League Team
Regardless of the results on the court in 2014-15, the return of the Charlotte Hornets was a resounding success. In terms of wins and losses, there’s still a lot of work to be done. But in terms of brand awareness, Michael Jordan‘s team couldn’t be in much better shape.
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Despite the losing season that just unfolded, there’s still plenty of reasons for fans to feel good about the future of basketball in Charlotte. One big reason why is the newly announced addition of an official D-League affiliate team.
The Hornets posted a statement on their website announcing the start of a search for a home location.
“Hornets Sports & Entertainment announced today that the organization intends to launch its own NBA D-League team with the hope of beginning play for the 2016-17 season. The franchise today is sending an RFP to seven cities throughout the Carolinas seeking the best home for the D-League club, which would be owned and operated by HSE. Cities receiving the RFP include Asheville, Fayetteville, Greensboro and Raleigh, N.C., as well as Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, S.C.”
“This is a very exciting time for us. The decision to take steps toward launching our own D-League club is yet another example of our owner’s long-term commitment to our franchise and continues to show his willingness to invest in the resources needed to improve our basketball team. A D-League team would also allow us to continue to expand the Hornets brand regionally by having a presence in an additional market,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield.
“The decision to take steps toward launching our own D-League club is yet another example of our owner’s long-term commitment to our franchise and continues to show his willingness to invest in the resources needed to improve our basketball team. A D-League team would also allow us to continue to expand the Hornets brand regionally by having a presence in an additional market.” – Fred Whitfield
There’s absolutely no doubt that this move is going to be a win-win for the franchise. Not only will it help in the player development department, it’s also going to be another huge boost for the Hornets brand.
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Adding a developmental team to the Carolina region will just reinforce the new era that kicked off this past season. In three short years Charlotte will have gone from an afterthought in the minds of many fans, to having one of the most marketable teams in the league with its own affiliate.
The more Hornets awareness and gear that’s out there, the better things will ultimately be for Jordan’s team.
Most franchise’s can only dream of the relaunch success that went on in Charlotte this past season. With ticket and merchandise sales going through the roof (at least in comparison to previous standards) and more focus than ever on player development, it’s a great time to be a fan of the Hornets.
At some point the wins will have to start rolling in on a consistent basis to keep interest high, but most logical-thinking fans will see the big picture and what the franchise is trying to do long-term in the meantime.
Next: Hornets Rebranding a Huge Financial Success
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