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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/7Hm0u.St.138.jpeg|525Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sits at court side during the Charlotte Bobcats vs the Milwaukee Bucks game on Monday, December 26, 2011 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. The Bucks led the Bobcats at the half 52-41. Jeff Siner - jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/1pdMXq.St.138.jpeg|461Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sits at court side during the Charlotte Bobcats vs the Milwaukee Bucks game on Monday, December 26, 2011 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. The Bucks led the Bobcats at the half 52-41. Jeff Siner - jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/1boo9Q.St.138.jpeg|443Lids, a store that sells sport, fashion and collegiate hats, started carrying merchandise with the Charlotte Hornets logo a year ago and according to store manager, Adrian Splawn, "They sell very well." MELISSA MELVIN-RODRIGUEZ - mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/11EgTA.St.138.jpeg|525Authentic Charlotte Hornets' track jacket.
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/1e9zGU.St.138.jpeg|525It was conversion night at the Charlotte Bobcats last night, and Rufus, the Bobcat mascot, cleaned out some old gear Tuesday night as the Bobcats took on the New Orleans Hornets. 2004 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/12Mwd2.St.138.jpeg|508Drew Glenn, 11, right, and his mother, Jill Glenn, both of Charlotte, N.C., cheer for the New Orleans Hornets, during the Hornets' game against the Washington Wizards at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002. AP File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/Gvk46.St.138.jpeg|439Rock Hill, S.C.--The Charlotte Hornet mascot "Hugo" is dismantled behind the teams practice facility in Rock Hill on Wednesday morning. Team owner George Shinn is expected to announce tomorrow that he will apply to move the Hornets to New Orleans, La. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/19ybqq.St.138.jpeg|525MASCOT MAYHEM? A statue of Hugo the Hornet, mascot of the Charlotte Hornets, sits in pieces behind the team's training facility in Fort Mill, S.C., Thursday. The 2,000- pound Hugo, a creation of Studio Displays of Charlotte, was displayed on a South Boulevard billboard last season. The team plans to reuse the creation this season but isn't saying how. Talk of trading all-star center Alonzo Mourning has left the team's future uncertain as well. A Sign Of the Times?A statue of Hugo the Hornet sits in pieces behind the team's training facility in Fort Mill, S.C., Thursday morning. Trade talks involving star center Alonzo Mourning has left the team's future uncertain. The 2,000-pound Hugo, a creation of Studio Displays Inc., in CHarlotte, was displayed last season on a South Boulevard billboard. The team plans to reuse the creation this season but isn't saying how. 1995 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/RDWav.St.138.jpeg|500George Shinn, left, and Ray Wooldridge answer questions at a news conference outside the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Thursday afternoon, Jan. 10, 2002. Shinn and Wooldridge, owners of the Charlotte Hornest basketball team, were discussing the possibility of relocating the NBA franchise to New Orlenas. AP File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/GgdSY.St.138.jpeg|413Billy Peeler, who has lived in Charlotte for 12 years talked to Gene Williams, a member of the Beekeepers after the group held a press conference in the Wachovia Atrium. "I'm for an NBA team but I'm not for the Hornets," Peeler said. "They can leave town anytime they want." 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/16n7w5.St.138.jpeg|525A Charlotte Hornets fan holds up a sign saying goodbye to the team during the Hornets' 89-79 loss to the New Jersey Nets in game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday May 12, 2002. The Hornets' season, and their 14-year existence in Charlotte, ended Wednesday with a 103-95 loss to the New Jersey Nets. AP File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/eXaV8.St.138.jpeg|409Justin Ray, 10, of Rockwell, NC hols up a sign supporting the Hornets as they play the Atlanta Hawks during the final preseason game in the Charlotte Coliseum on Tuesday night. The Hornets won, 91-79. 2001 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/30/19GuJW.St.138.jpeg|253Charlotte Hornet's fans altered the sign from Go Hornets Go to Stay Hornets Stay, prior to the start of game one of the first round of the NBA playoffs between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, Saturday night at the Charlotte Coliseum. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/mxH6g.St.138.jpeg|409A newly erected billboard reminds motorist on Interstate 10 in New Orleans of the approaching deadline to sell enough Hornets tickets to bring the bugs to the Big Easy. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/xdEBO.St.138.jpeg|416People came out with signs in hand to voice their opinions to the Charlotte City Council, Monday night January 14, 2002, about the building of an Uptown sports and entertainment complex. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/Yz3Xt.St.138.jpeg|391The Hornets mascot Hugo wants to know "Who's Next/" as the Hornets sweep the Heat 94-79 to advance in the NBA playoffs. 2001 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/ghAqp.St.138.jpeg|451Charlotte, N.C. firefighter Rick Coulson attaches a headband around the "Queen Charlotte" statue at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Friday, April 26, 2001, in Charlotte. The headband was placed atop the statue as a symbol of good luck for the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets face the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference playoffs Friday night. 2001 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/g1sQA.St.138.jpeg|525Charlotte Hornet's Baron Davis celebrates with teammates Elden Campbell and David Wesley after the Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 100-110 in overtime during game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, Saturday afternoon April 27, 2002. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/oT00r.St.138.jpeg|406Andy and Sue Ives, of Charlotte, N.C., sit in the stands at the Charlotte Coliseum prior to the start of Game 4 of the Charlotte Hornets-New Jersey Nets second-round playoff series Sunday, May 12, 2002, in Charlotte, N.C. The Nets won 89-79 in what may have been the Hornets' final game in Charlotte. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/LdQQs.St.138.jpeg|438In what may be his last performance in Charlotte, Hugo the Hornet waits to take the court before New Jersey's 89-79 win over Charlotte Sunday. The game could very well be the last ever NBA game in the Charlotte Coliseum. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/7swG8.St.138.jpeg|525A sign posted at the scorer's table shows the feelings of some of the Charlotte Hornets fans before their Eastern Conference semifinal game against the New Jersey Nets at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 9, 2002. In what could be their final days in Charlotte, the Hornets hoped for significant crowd support in their playoff series with the New Jersey Nets. On the eve on the NBA's vote on their relocation request, no one knew what to expect. AP File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/12z5sT.St.138.jpeg|419Charlotte Hornets mascot 'Hugo' leads the players onto the court in front of a very small crowd before the start of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New Jersey Nets at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday May 9, 2002. NBA owners approved the Hornets' move to New Orleans on Friday, assuring that the team's 13-year era in Charlotte is about to come to an end. AP File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/1geMDu.St.138.jpeg|432Hugo the Hornet tries to pump up the crowd prior to Charlotte's 89-79 loss to New Jersey Sunday. The game could very well be the last ever NBA game in the Charlotte Coliseum. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/1cSO0V.St.138.jpeg|409The Charlotte Coliseum. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/hwCAe.St.138.jpeg|409Hugo the Hornet rests in an upstairs window as members of the team applied some Energy-Wrap Infiltration Barrier to a future home in the Lincoln Heights Community in Charlotte, NC Monday afternoon. The Charlotte Hornets and the Fannie Mae Foundation., Charlotte's "HOME TEAM" joined with Northwest Corridor Community Development Corporation (CDC) to install insulation on a house in the Lincoln Heights community at the corner of Augusta St. and LaSalle St. in west Charlotte. 2002 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/29/19DjEL.St.138.jpeg|525The Hornet's mascot Hugo carries around a buck head during a timeout in the second half. The Hornet's beat the Buck's 102-92. 2001 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/28/3D9Oe.St.138.jpeg|525Brad Wiles, 9, cheers for Super Hugo after the Hornet mascot sank a free throw during a special event for handcapped youngsters at the Hornets Training Facility in Fort Mill. 1997 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/28/eneRb.St.138.jpeg|420Kids get autographs from Hugo, the Charlotte Hornets mascot, at the Hornets' 3rd annual Jam Session. Thousands of fans packed the Charlotte Coliseum Saturday afternoon for the event. Hornets players signed autographs, and the Honey Bees and Hugo performed. Hornets spokesperson Harold Kauffman said attendance was up over last year's festival. 1994 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/28/GTDee.St.138.jpeg|525Charlotte Hornets coach Dick Harter at a press conference in Charlotte. This photo is from The Charlotte Observer archives and was taken on June 2, 1988.1988 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/28/1rTM6n.St.138.jpeg|471Hugo the Hornet bursts out of a brick wall in a mural on the side of the First Union building in uptown Charlotte. The painting should be completed by mid-March if weather permits, according to a First Union representative. Charlotte's most famous insect replaces a painting of Hornets players Muggsy Bogues and Larry Johnson and former Hornet Alonzo Mourning, now with the Miami Heat. 1996 Observer File Photo
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http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/05/13/28/hsCTQ.St.138.jpeg|409Workers clean the stands at the Charlotte Coliseum in preparation for Sunday's game against the Nets. The team announced Friday it will be relocating to New Orleans. 2002 Observer File Photo
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