NBA Titles:
0

2002-2003: Expansion Franchise

---

2004-Present

---

December 18, 2002
NBA Expansion Committee unanimously recommends that the NBA Board of Governors approve an expansion franchise for the city of Charlotte to be owned and operated by Robert L. Johnson.

January 7, 2003
Ed Tapscott hired as the organization’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He oversees the business and basketball operations for both the Charlotte NBA franchise and the WNBA Charlotte Sting.

January 10, 2003
NBA Board of Governors unanimously approves the granting of an expansion team to Charlotte to be owned by Robert L. Johnson. Johnson also immediately takes over ownership of the WNBA Charlotte Sting.

January 13, 2003
Robert L. Johnson endorses agreements negotiated between the NBA and the city of Charlotte for the development and operation of the city’s new basketball arena.

May 5, 2003
Sports Illustrated names Robert L. Johnson #1 on its list of 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports. On the same list, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Tapscott ranks #56.

May 6, 2003
The Charlotte NBA expansion franchise narrows the choice for the team’s nickname to three finalists. The Bobcats, Dragons and Flight are chosen out of approximately 1,250 suggestions submitted to the team and the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission.

May 15, 2003
Robert L. Johnson donates $1 million to benefit the West Boulevard YMCA. The donation will be used for a new YMCA on the corner of Donald Ross Road and West Boulevard to aid citizens of West Corridor.

June 11, 2003
The Charlotte NBA expansion franchise unveils Bobcats as the team nickname, the new logo and a color scheme that includes orange as the primary color in a street festival at Trade and Tryon Streets that attracts an overflow crowd of 7,000 fans. Robert L. Johnson is joined by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

June 26, 2003
The Bobcats launch their suite sales drive with a Suite Selection Draft in conjunction with the NBA Draft. Robert L. Johnson plays the role of the commissioner in announcing the sponsor companies and meeting them at the podium.

July 29, 2003
Official groundblasting for the new Uptown Charlotte Arena takes place on the arena site with 5,000 spectators in attendance. Robert L. Johnson, Mayor Pat McCrory, members of the Charlotte City Council and the Charlotte Coliseum Authority and the entire Charlotte Sting team join with an array of family show characters and other live event industry performers for the ceremony and festival. The Bobcats will operate the new facility.

August 1, 2003
The Bobcats initiate a program that provides former Hornets season ticket holders first priority to purchase Bobcats season tickets before the general public. Those who had season tickets in 2001-02 can reclaim their exact seat locations for the Bobcats inaugural 2004-05 season in the Charlotte Coliseum

August 27, 2003
The Bobcats announce that all season ticket holders who purchase Bobcats season tickets for the first five seasons will obtain a FREE Seat License for each seat subscribed.

September 5, 2003
Owner Robert L. Johnson announces that Michael Jordan will not become an investor nor front office employee of the Charlotte Bobcats.

September 15, 2003
An influential group of local Charlotte investors joins majority owner Robert L. Johnson as minority partners in Bobcats Basketball Holdings, LLC, the ownership group of the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Sting. Investor principles include: Bank of America Corporation, Wachovia Corporation, Skipper Beck, M. L. Carr, Howard Levine, Hugh McColl, Jr., Felix Sabates, Nelson Schwab III, Anderson Warlick, Ed Weisiger, Jr. and Professional Sports Investment Group led by managing partners Rev. Claude Alexander and Dr. Spurgeon Webber III.

September 29, 2003
The Bobcats introduce (704) BOBCATS as the club’s new phone number for fan information, ticket sales and customer relations.

October 16, 2003
Bernie Bickerstaff is hired in a dual role as the Bobcats’ general manager and head coach. In conjunction with that announcement, the team introduced the basketball operations staff: Karl Hicks, assistant general manager; Gary Brokaw, director of player personnel; Tim Shea, director of international scouting; Kenny Williamson, director and Frank Ross, scout.

October 23, 2003
The Bobcats names Charlotte basketball legend and community leader Dell Curry as director of basketball relations. The 16-year NBA veteran adds duties in the organization’s basketball operations, community relations, public relations, sales and marketing efforts.

November 1, 2003
Season tickets for the 2004-05 season go on sale to the general public at the Charlotte Coliseum. At the event, the Bobcats also unveil their new team mascot – an orange bobcat with sunglasses, a black button-down jersey, denim shorts and blue high-top basketball sneakers.

November 17, 2003
The NBA announces the divisional alignment for competition when the Bobcats join for the 2004-05 season. Charlotte will be in the Southeast Division with Atlanta, Miami, Orlando and Washington. With 30 teams, the NBA will consist of six, five-team divisions that will be divided into two, 15-team conferences.

November 26, 2003
The Bobcats partner with Sports Radio 610 AM WFNZ and the “Primetime with the Packman Show” to collect more than 2,600 turkeys, over $28,000 and boxloads of canned goods and other holiday items during the first annual “Street Turkeys” turkey drive.

December 4, 2003
The Bobcats open their marketing center one block from the Uptown Charlotte Arena site. The facility contains an exact replica of a suite and the premium seating options for the new arena.

December 13, 2003
Rufus is selected as the name for the team’s new mascot in an announcement at Belk in SouthPark Mall. Rufus was overwhelmingly the fan favorite in online voting.

The Bobcats held their expansion draft on Tuesday, June 22 2004, picking up such seasoned players as Peja Drobnjak and relative newcomers such as Theron Smith. They also traded with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire the second pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, which they used to select Emeka Okafor.

Their first game was a 103-96 loss to the Washington Wizards on November 4, 2004. They won their first game in franchise history over the Orlando Magic 111-100 on November 6. Later, on November 23, the Bobcats posted a 91-89 win over the Detroit Pistons, becoming the first expansion team since 1971 to defeat defending NBA Champions.