The New Orleans Hornets franchise is set to undergo yet another name change.

On Thursday afternoon, team owner Tom Benson announced that the club will change its name for the 2013-2014 NBA season. Starting next year, the team will be known as the Pelicans.


The Hornets began as an expansion team in Charlotte in the 1988-1989 season. They were moved by then-owner George Shinn to New Orleans in 2002. From 2005-2007, the club played in Oklahoma City, because of Hurricane Katrina.

Benson, who also owns the New Orleans Saints, purchased the club in April 2012 for $338 million. NBA Commissioner David Stern announced earlier in the season that he would not object to whatever new name Benson was to select.

The Pelicans are the former name of a minor league baseball team in New Orleans. Benson owns the rights to the name.