The New Orleans Pelicans logo represents the professional basketball franchise competing in the NBA’s Southwest Division. Introduced in 2013 when the team changed its name from the Hornets, the logo centers on Louisiana’s state bird, the brown pelican, with a basketball beneath its beak.
The brown pelican appears on Louisiana’s state flag and seal. Owner Tom Benson bought the franchise in April 2012 and wanted a more regional identity, which led to the name change.
The franchise began as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988 and moved to New Orleans in 2002. After 11 seasons as the New Orleans Hornets, it became the Pelicans for the 2013-14 season. The team has since used one pelican badge, simplified in 2023.
What is the New Orleans Pelicans Logo?
The New Orleans Pelicans logo is a navy, gold and red badge showing a front-facing pelican with spread gold wings, its red beak over a basketball, under an arched “NEW ORLEANS” banner. Rodney Richardson of RARE Design created it, and the team unveiled it on January 24, 2013.
| Symbol | A brown pelican with spread wings and a basketball, with a crescent shape and a fleur-de-lis |
| Designer/agency | Rodney Richardson, RARE Design (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) |
| Current version since | Unveiled January 24, 2013; simplified global logo from 2023-24 |
| Colors (hex) | Navy #0C2340, red #C8102E, gold #85714D (widely cited), white |
| Typeface | Custom lettering inspired by French Quarter street signs; no named font published |
| Previous major version | 2008–2013 New Orleans Hornets hornet logo in darker blue |
How Has the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Evolved Over Time?
The franchise has had three phases: the Charlotte Hornets, the New Orleans Hornets and the Pelicans. Tom Benson bought the team from the NBA on April 13, 2012, for $338 million. The Pelicans name was unveiled at a press conference on January 24, 2013, and became official on April 18, 2013.
Charlotte Hornets Logo (1988-2002)
The original logo showed a cartoon hornet dribbling a basketball in teal and purple, with “CHARLOTTE” arched above and “HORNETS” below. The Charlotte Hornets began play in 1988. I found no designer credited for the logo.
The team moved to New Orleans in 2002 and opened its first season there on October 30, 2002.
New Orleans Hornets Logo (2002-2013)
The 2002 logo kept the hornet character, now with “NEW ORLEANS” above it, in sea blue and bright blue. In 2008 the team introduced new logos with sharper wrought-iron-inspired lettering, redrew the hornet and shifted to a darker “creole blue.”
After Hurricane Katrina, the team played its 2005–06 and 2006–07 home games largely in Oklahoma City, as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The Hornets name had no local link to New Orleans, which was part of the case for a new identity. Charlotte later took the Hornets name back.
Current New Orleans Pelicans Logo (2013-Present)
Richardson’s logo introduced the pelican, a red beak over a blue basketball, gold wing designs, an arched “NEW ORLEANS” banner and a red “PELICANS” band. The team says the blue comes from Louisiana’s state flag and that all three colors appear on the New Orleans city flag.
Richardson said the team wanted a design quickly. A full NBA rebrand typically takes about two years, and RARE completed this one in roughly a month or two.
In June 2023, the team simplified its global logo. The arched city name, fleur-de-lis and wrought-iron balcony detail were removed, and the nickname moved into a stacked wordmark away from the bird. The primary icon, which had been promoted from a partial logo before the 2021-22 season, was not changed.
What Does the Old New Orleans Pelicans Logo Look Like?
The old Pelicans logo (2013-2023) has a pelican with gold wings, a fleur-de-lis and wrought-iron detail above the bird, an arched white “NEW ORLEANS” and the red band. The older Hornets logos before 2013 show a hornet character holding a basketball, in teal and purple (Charlotte, 1988-2002) and in blue (New Orleans, 2002-2013).
What Do the Design Elements of the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Mean?
Richardson said the pelican represents teamwork, group dynamics, regeneration and renewal, and resourcefulness. He noted the brown pelican is the only pelican species that is an active hunter, diving for its food. He said he wanted to capture its focus and strength, and “NEW ORLEANS rests on its wings.”
Tom Benson tied the bird to recovery after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, calling it a symbol of the region’s resolve to come back.
Why Did New Orleans Pelicans Choose These Specific Colors?
The palette is navy blue, gold and red. At the launch, team executive Rita Benson LeBlanc said red stands for passion, blue for loyalty and gold for “the gleam of championships” the team hopes to bring to the state.
The team’s own explanation adds that the blue comes from the Louisiana state flag, that gold is shared with the Saints, and that all three colors appear on the New Orleans city flag. The color palette also gave the team a clean break from the Hornets’ teal.
The hue of white is used for lettering and highlights, giving strong contrast on the navy.
What Are the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Colors?
The commonly cited values are navy #0C2340, red #C8102E and gold #85714D, plus white. They appear on reference sites such as 1000logos, but I could not find them in an official brand document, and the RGB values some sites list next to them do not match the hex codes. Treat all of them as approximate.
The gold in the logo as shown on screen looks lighter than #85714D, so a sampled value would differ. The team’s own brand guidelines are the only authoritative source, and they are not public. For print, an RGB to CMYK conversion can shift the gold and red, so a Pantone reference is safer for a spot color.
What Font Is Used in the New Orleans Pelicans Logo?
The Pelicans wordmark is custom lettering, not a named font. The team says the 2013 “New Orleans” lettering was inspired by French Quarter street signs. The tall, condensed capitals have small round details, like rivets, on the strokes. “PELICANS” is set in wide red capitals.
Some reference sites say the team’s official font is Arial Bold for supplementary use, but I could not verify that, so it is left out of the table. The 2023 stacked wordmark replaced the arched one.
The same typography style was used on the 2013 uniforms, and the font style gives the badge a historic New Orleans feel.
What Are the Hidden Meanings in the New Orleans Pelicans Logo?
Richardson said the crescent shape stands for the city itself. New Orleans sits on a bend of the Mississippi River, and “Crescent City” is a nickname for the city. He described that position as one of good fortune, and the word “crescent” also suggests growth.
The 2013 logo also includes a fleur-de-lis, a symbol of the region’s French heritage that the Saints also use. The “Bird-de-Lis” alternate logo combines a pelican, a fleur-de-lis and a crescent-shaped basketball. It was used on the back of the neck of the 2013 uniforms until the NBA logo replaced it in 2014.
How Does the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Compare to Competitor Logos?
The Pelicans logo stands apart from most NBA franchises through its wildlife illustration and its focus on local symbols.
While the Chicago Bulls logo, Miami Heat logo and Milwaukee Bucks logo use animal or fire symbolism, the Pelicans add city symbols such as the fleur-de-lis and crescent.
The Memphis Grizzlies logo also pictures a regional animal, and the Toronto Raptors logo shows a dinosaur.
Teams like the Golden State Warriors logo, Los Angeles Lakers logo and Boston Celtics logo rely more on text and simpler iconography.
The Charlotte Hornets logo kept the teal and purple the franchise dropped when it moved, so the two teams look clearly different today.
What Cultural Impact Has the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Had?
The Pelicans name and logo gave the franchise a local identity in place of a name that came from Charlotte. The brown pelican is Louisiana’s state bird, and the state is nicknamed the “Pelican State.”
Pierre the Pelican, the team mascot, debuted on October 30, 2013. Fans chose the name in an online poll, but some found the first design frightening, and a redesigned head was released on February 11, 2014. Pierre replaced Hugo the Hornet, who had served from 2002 to 2013.
How Does the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Fit Into the Overall Brand Identity?
The logo is the center of the Pelicans brand, with the pelican icon, the wordmark and alternates such as the Bird-de-Lis used across uniforms, the court and merchandise. The same navy, red and gold run through all of them.
The team’s brand guidelines are not public, but the pattern is visible in the way the badge is reused across uniforms and fan gear.
How Should the New Orleans Pelicans Logo Be Used?
The following is generic advice, not the team’s own rules.
The Pelicans logo is a registered trademark, so commercial use on merchandise needs a license from the team and the NBA. Editorial use, such as news coverage, is treated differently from commercial use.
If you reproduce it, use a sharp vector graphics file, keep the proportions, and avoid recoloring or stretching it. A simple color scheme of navy, red and gold is easy to keep consistent.
FAQ on the New Orleans Pelicans Logo
When was the New Orleans Pelicans logo created?
The Pelicans logo was unveiled on January 24, 2013, and used from the 2013-14 season. The team simplified its global logo in 2023.
Who designed the New Orleans Pelicans logo?
Rodney Richardson of RARE Design in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, created the logo and several alternates.
What do the colors in the New Orleans Pelicans logo mean?
At the launch, Rita Benson LeBlanc said red stands for passion, blue for loyalty and gold for “the gleam of championships.” The team says the blue comes from the Louisiana flag.
What are the Pelicans colors and hex codes?
The commonly cited values are navy #0C2340, red #C8102E and gold #85714D, plus white. They are not from an official brand document.
What was the old New Orleans Pelicans logo?
Before 2023, the global logo had an arched “NEW ORLEANS” banner, a fleur-de-lis and a red “PELICANS” band around the pelican. Before 2013, the team was the Hornets, with a hornet logo.
What font is used in the Pelicans logo?
It is custom lettering with no published font name, inspired by French Quarter street signs.
Why is the team called the Pelicans?
The name honors the brown pelican, Louisiana’s state bird. Owner Tom Benson wanted a more regional name, and the team announced it on January 24, 2013.
Why did the Hornets become the Pelicans?
The franchise moved from Charlotte in 2002 and kept the Hornets name until 2013. Tom Benson bought the team in 2012 and wanted a more regional identity, so the name changed to Pelicans.
How many times has the Pelicans logo changed?
The Pelicans introduced their logo in 2013 and simplified the global logo in 2023, while the primary pelican icon stayed the same.
Is the New Orleans Pelicans logo trademarked?
Yes. It is a registered mark of the team and the NBA, so commercial use needs a license.
Conclusion
The New Orleans Pelicans logo represents a basketball franchise through Louisiana’s state bird in navy, gold and red. Rodney Richardson created the 2013 emblem to give the team a regional identity after Tom Benson bought it.
The pelican, the crescent, the fleur-de-lis and the lettering all draw on New Orleans and Louisiana. The 2023 simplification kept the pelican while stripping out the extra detail.
The design separated the franchise from its Charlotte Hornets origins and gave it a distinct Louisiana look.
If you liked this article about the New Orleans Pelicans logo, you should check out this article about the Portland Trail Blazers logo.
There are also similar articles discussing the San Antonio Spurs logo, the Philadelphia 76ers logo, the Boston Celtics logo, and the Indiana Pacers logo.
And let’s not forget about articles on the Los Angeles Clippers logo, the Oklahoma City Thunder logo, the Phoenix Suns logo, and the Charlotte Hornets logo.
Sources
- Sports Illustrated, New Orleans Pelicans announce name change from Hornets, unveil logo – https://www.si.com/nba/2013/01/24/new-orleans-pelicans-logo-hornets
- NBA.com, Stories behind each New Orleans Pelicans logo – https://www.nba.com/pelicans/blog/stories-behind-each-new-orleans-pelicans-logo-12413
- Fox 8 Live, Hattiesburg man creates New Orleans Pelicans logo – https://www.fox8live.com/story/20956499/hattiesburg-man-creates-new-orleans-pelicans-logo/
- Sports Logos News, New Orleans Pelicans simplify global logo, update wordmark – https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/06/29/new-orleans-pelicans-simplify-global-logo-update-wordmark/basketball/
- Wikipedia, New Orleans Pelicans – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Pelicans
- 1000logos, New Orleans Pelicans Logo – https://1000logos.net/new-orleans-pelicans-logo/
Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.
His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.
He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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Bogdan Sandu is a seasoned designer who has been designing websites since 2008. Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients. His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8. He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.
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