September 21, 200521 yr The New Orleans Hornets will play 35 home games in Oklahoma City and six others in Baton Rouge, La. under terms of a temporary relocation agreement approved Wednesday by the city council. The New Orleans Arena, where the Hornets normally play, was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and could take months to repair. But even if New Orleans is ready to welcome the team back before the season ends, the Hornets are locked into their 35 dates at the 19,675-seat Ford Center. Playoffs games also would be played in Oklahoma City, and the Hornets will have the option to stay for an extra year. The Hornets also moved up the date of their home opener against Sacramento to Nov. 1, making it one of four games to be played leaguewide on the opening night of the season. All of the Hornets' games against Eastern Conference opponents will be played in Oklahoma City. The games scheduled for Baton Rouge are Dec. 16 against Phoenix, Jan. 13 against Sacramento, Jan. 18 against Memphis, March 8 against the Los Angeles Lakers, March 18 against Denver and March 21 against the Los Angeles Clippers. City Council members unanimously approved a lease that would provide financial support for the Hornets should their revenue drop in the temporary venue. If the team does not earn 5 percent more in local revenue than it made in New Orleans last season, taxpayers and local businessmen pay the team as much as $10 million. If the team exceeds last season's revenues by more than 5 percent, Oklahoma City would receive 80 percent of the proceeds to cover its expenses. If all the city's costs are covered, the team and the city would split the remaining profits in half. Local officials expect to gain sales and income tax revenue, along with a chance to showcase the city to a national and international audience. ??Very few businesses offer that type of exposure,'' Mayor Mick Cornett said at the council meeting. In addition to use of the Ford Center, the city will make provisions for the Hornets to have a practice facility, downtown office space and housing for the upcoming season. Ticket prices will be $10 and $20. ??We have a minimum amount of risk for a really substantial reward,'' Councilman Patrick Ryan said. City manager Jim Couch said the city would have about $2 million in expenses to recover, including about $1 million in game-day expenses, $500,000 in relocation costs including housing, $300,000 for office space and $200,000 for improvements to the arena. The city already has a Triple-A baseball team, the Oklahoma RedHawks, an arena football team and a minor-league hockey team. After the New Orleans Arena was damaged by the Aug. 29 hurricane, Cornett offered the Ford Center as a temporary home. Numerous other cities ? including San Diego, Las Vegas, Nashville, Tenn., and Kansas City, Mo. ? also made offers to host the team for the upcoming season, but Oklahoma City had what few others could offer ? a top-quality arena with few scheduling conflicts. The move also makes geographic sense. While Oklahoma City is more than 700 miles away from New Orleans, the Hornets' Southwest Division foes in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston won't have to trek far to play games here. Oklahoma City will be the Hornets' third home in five seasons. The team, which moved from Charlotte in 2002, ranked last in the league in attendance last season with an average of 14,221. Source: AP
September 21, 200521 yr This reminds me... When will there be a Brooklyn Nets already so I can not go their games.
September 21, 200521 yr This reminds me... When will there be a Brooklyn Nets already so I can not go their games. 956964[/snapback] did they close that deal?
September 21, 200521 yr Wouldn't be surprised to see them make Oklahoma City their permanent home next season, especially with that brand new stadium and the fact that the city has been trying to get a team for years now.
September 21, 200521 yr Stop hating on NO Das. 957071[/snapback] Why? He is spot on. The NBA and New Orleans dont mix, just ask the Jazz.
September 22, 200521 yr Stop hating on NO Das. 957071[/snapback] Why? He is spot on. The NBA and New Orleans dont mix, just ask the Jazz. 957087[/snapback] did you even look at their attendance? they didnt even support that team in year 1 in NOLA. And they were a playoff team in the east that year. of course George Shinn is stupid and doesnt deserve a team in the NBA anyway....but with a hurricane or no hurricane, NOLA was a stupid idea for the NBA, always has been, always will be.
September 22, 200521 yr So, if the Hornets decide to stay permanently in OKC, can the Hornets and the Grizzlies switch conferences? It's kinda stupid to have a team in the Western Conference in the East and a team in the Eastern Conference in the West.
September 22, 200521 yr If they move permanently, it wouldn't be there, most likely. Once the novelty wears off, it'd be no better than New Orleans market-wise.
September 22, 200521 yr Well, where do you think it's going to be? Buffalo? Yeah right. Pittsburgh? Has never supported any pro basketball team that has been here. Cincinnati? Don't think so.
September 22, 200521 yr So, if the Hornets decide to stay permanently in OKC, can the Hornets and the Grizzlies switch conferences? It's kinda stupid to have a team in the Western Conference in the East and a team in the Eastern Conference in the West. 957716[/snapback] the hornets are already in the west. so are the grizzlies. in fact they are both in the same division.
September 22, 200521 yr Oh, you're right. I was thinking NO was still in the Eastern Conference b/c they just played the Heat in the first round of the playoffs a couple years back.
September 22, 200521 yr From the media standpoint, the TV partner of the Hornets, Cox Sports, has the channel it airs the Hornets on in the Gulf Coast and Cox is also the dominant cable company in Oklahoma. Clear Channel can stick them on a Clear Channel station in OKC to tie up that contract.
September 22, 200521 yr Stop hating on NO Das. 957071[/snapback] Why? He is spot on. The NBA and New Orleans dont mix, just ask the Jazz. 957087[/snapback] did you even look at their attendance? they didnt even support that team in year 1 in NOLA. And they were a playoff team in the east that year. of course George Shinn is stupid and doesnt deserve a team in the NBA anyway....but with a hurricane or no hurricane, NOLA was a stupid idea for the NBA, always has been, always will be. What the hell Das? I was agreeing with you...
September 22, 200521 yr Oh, you're right. I was thinking NO was still in the Eastern Conference b/c they just played the Heat in the first round of the playoffs a couple years back. Yeah, they switched them last year I believe when the Bobcats came to be. Stop hating on NO Das. 957071[/snapback] Why? He is spot on. The NBA and New Orleans dont mix, just ask the Jazz. 957087[/snapback] did you even look at their attendance? they didnt even support that team in year 1 in NOLA. And they were a playoff team in the east that year. of course George Shinn is stupid and doesnt deserve a team in the NBA anyway....but with a hurricane or no hurricane, NOLA was a stupid idea for the NBA, always has been, always will be. What the hell Das? I was agreeing with you... He probably just quoted you when he meant to quote FIUmarlinfan.
September 22, 200521 yr Stop hating on NO Das. 957071[/snapback] Why? He is spot on. The NBA and New Orleans dont mix, just ask the Jazz. 957087[/snapback] did you even look at their attendance? they didnt even support that team in year 1 in NOLA. And they were a playoff team in the east that year. of course George Shinn is stupid and doesnt deserve a team in the NBA anyway....but with a hurricane or no hurricane, NOLA was a stupid idea for the NBA, always has been, always will be. What the hell Das? I was agreeing with you... not disagreeing with you, just adding on to your info and expanding on it.
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