NBA Prepares To Relocate Hornets In Aftermath Of Hurricane
1st September, 2005 - 2:09 am

New York Times - Playing sporting events in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is such a daunting prospect that the National Basketball Association is bracing to relocate its local franchise for the entire coming season.

The NBA does not begin play until November, but the deputy commissioner Russ Granik sent an e-mail message to the league's 30 teams yesterday to prepare them for the Hornets' possible relocation.

"Even if the arena is operable, it still may be impossible to play games in New Orleans for some time," Granik wrote in the e-mail message, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.

Granik's e-mail message said that plans were already under way to find locations for the Hornets' training camp, which starts Oct. 3, and preseason games. The league will begin searching for regular-season alternatives next week, when there is expected to be a better analysis of the damage to New Orleans. If the Hornets are forced to relocate - whether for a few weeks or the entire season - the league will seek to place them close to home.

L.S.U. offers the closest alternative, about 60 miles away, and an arena, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, that holds 14,164 people. That is small by NBA standards, but it could accommodate the Hornets, whose average attendance last season was a league-worst 14,221.

"Right now, we're kind of all focused on the humanitarian relief effort and haven't really focused on the implications yet for the Hornets," said Tim Andree, senior vice president for communications for the NBA.

All Hornets employees have been accounted for and are safe, Andree said. But it has been an anxious time for friends and associates, who have had difficulty reaching Hornets employees and players.

"I have not been able to get a hold of anyone," said Mark Bartelstein, a player agent whose clients include Hornets forward P. J. Brown. "We've been calling pretty much nonstop and have had no luck making contact." [READ]

Posted by Nalod:

The owner is a first class piece of dung! His move to N.O. was idiotic. He threatened to move if he did not get a new arena and they called his bluff! Town and city council did not like him, or his partner. The league wanted him to sell. Jordan wanted majority ownership and he refused!

Amazing, Charlotte gets a franchise and a new arena!


They lied about Season tix sales, and they have a long term lease.

They might let this one just fold. Resale makes no sense as the team is tied to lease.

And of no fault of their own, they gotta deal with a natural disaster!

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by Nalod:

The owner is a first class piece of dung! His move to N.O. was idiotic. He threatened to move if he did not get a new arena and they called his bluff! Town and city council did not like him, or his partner. The league wanted him to sell. Jordan wanted majority ownership and he refused!

Amazing, Charlotte gets a franchise and a new arena!


They lied about Season tix sales, and they have a long term lease.

They might let this one just fold. Resale makes no sense as the team is tied to lease.

And of no fault of their own, they gotta deal with a natural disaster!

Good post Nalod, your definately right about that Hornets owner... I think his name is George Shinn?? I mean Donald Sterling is bad but George Shinn is even worse then he is, that guy does not care about ANYONE or ANYTHING. I hope the Hornets move away from New Orleans, it's not the place for them nor any other pro sports team. I know the NBA is eyeing Las Vegas, especially with the announcement that the All-Star game will be played there, maybe depending on how that goes this year the Hornets will be calling Sin City their new home come next year?

They deserve to play in tennessee or kentucky... not vegas.

If thats a shot at George Shinn, I agree. I wouldn't want him in Vegas myself becuase he'd make a ton of money there. I hope he gets the short end of the stick somehow.

Posted by Knight:

The Hornets MUST find a way to play in New Orleans next year. If they let the recent events sway them from resuming their normal lives--then Hurricane Katrina wins. We can't flinch in face of the evil forces of nature. If Mother Nature thinks she can challenge and defeat the will of the people of our great country, well, bring it on!

Posted by Nalod:

Posted by Knight:

The Hornets MUST find a way to play in New Orleans next year. If they let the recent events sway them from resuming their normal lives--then Hurricane Katrina wins. We can't flinch in face of the evil forces of nature. If Mother Nature thinks she can challenge and defeat the will of the people of our great country, well, bring it on!

Katrina is not the Talaban. Shinn and his ex-Crony Woodbridge I think it was just ruined a great thing. THe franchise lead the league in attendence dispite many bone head trades PRIOR to trading Alonzo in his prime. Long lists of bad drafts and trades, and still they would get lucky at times!

But lets be real, The team forged upfront season tix sales to gain approval to move. The NBA did not want a franchise there. He got big upfront money to move! Its not working, and now this disaster sets them way back.

This is a big football area, and N.O. is not a very wealthy town! Just the facts. Was not a good marriage demographically, and now is a disaster.

With the upfront Money, and long term lease, how do they just move? Buyout? How much?

Sure they can move temp., but long term they have commitments with that city.

Louisville, Norfolk VA (3 million people!, no pro sports!) St. Louis all might be better choices. Im not certain the NBA in Vegas makes sense, but what a windfall! Maloofs I think deserve first crack at any ownership there. But not at Sacremento's expense. They have been a good city and deserve a team. NBA in spite to Shinn and his crap should just let them fold and expand elsewhere

give it to VA... or STL. Louisville would be decent.

Posted by Knight:

Kansas City!...make them forget about the Royals--if they haven't already.

Posted by Knight:

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by Knight:

Kansas City!...make them forget about the Royals--if they haven't already.

Jerome weighs more than 206 pounds

I guess I shouldn't get my stats from ESPN or NBA.com then.

no, dont trust them. impossible for JYD to weigh 206 and be 6'9" and be a PF. first of all, his BMI would be at unhealthy levels... steph is about 205/215 and 6'1"/6'2"