New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball organization competing in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference’s Southwest Division. Based in Louisiana, the franchise combines basketball competition and player development with live sports entertainment, ticketing, premium hospitality, corporate partnerships and fan engagement.

The organization’s basketball activities encompass coaching, athletic training and player development. Its event operations include game-day production, facilities coordination, guest hospitality and on-site ticketing. Alongside season and group ticket memberships, the business offers sponsorship opportunities, team merchandise and branded media production. Youth basketball clinics and community outreach extend its activities beyond NBA games.

Franchise history

The New Orleans operating business began in 2002, when owner George Shinn relocated the Charlotte Hornets to Louisiana. Initially known as the New Orleans Hornets, the team temporarily operated as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005 to 2007 following Hurricane Katrina. It subsequently returned to Louisiana full-time.

Tom Benson acquired the franchise from the NBA in April 2012 for $338 million. The team adopted the New Orleans Pelicans name in 2013, introducing colors and imagery reflecting Louisiana’s culture and history. Ownership passed to Gayle Benson following Tom Benson’s death on March 15, 2018.

Organization and operations

The Pelicans maintain administrative and basketball operations in the New Orleans metropolitan area, with home-game production and ticketing activities in downtown New Orleans. Business, administrative, ticketing and marketing functions operate within a shared framework with the New Orleans Saints under common executive leadership. The organization also owns an NBA G League affiliate, providing a separately managed minor league component alongside its NBA operations.