And the winner of the Hornets sweepstakes is?

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

From the AP

 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City has reached a tentative agreement with the New Orleans Hornets to play at least part of the NBA team's upcoming season at the Ford Center, The Oklahoman reported on its Web site late Sunday.

 

Mayor Mick Cornett said a proposed lease is being drafted and he was not sure the public would have a chance to review it before the city council is asked to approve it on Wednesday.

 

Cornett said he expects a formal announcement before then by the NBA and team owners that the Hornets will play at least part of its 41-game home schedule at the Ford Center, which seats 19,675 when configured for basketball games.

 

"Everything is going well, but we still have a few details to work out," Cornett said.

 

The Hornets have been searching for a temporary home since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, making it unfeasible for the team to play its season, which starts in November, in its hometown.

 

NBA representatives toured the Ford Center and met with Oklahoma City officials on Sept. 9.

 

It is still not known how many games, if any, might still be played in Louisiana. The Times-Picayune reported Sunday the team would establish most of their base operations in Oklahoma City, but would also keep a smaller office in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge.

 

If the team moves to Oklahoma City, the team is expected to relocate 100 employees from Louisiana and also hire 50 people locally to do a "rapid ramp-up" of telemarketing and ticket sales promotions.

 

Combined with the players, the team would bring an approximate $50 million payroll to the state -- an incentive, Cornett told The Oklahoman, for the state to share in providing support for the team's expenses.

 

Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, has said he plans to file legislation that would provide state money to the city to help pay for the team's relocation costs.

 

Oklahoma City is not the only city that has offered the team a new home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Others include Nashville, San Diego, Kansas City, Louisville and Las Vegas.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Might as well stay there.

[Guest *KNK*]

I'm surprised NBA didn't go for Las Vegas because it would have been a good "test" to study to see if LV would support a franchise...

[Krankor 0]

Remember we're talking about the NBA here. It would make too much sense to try and use the Hornets to test to see if anyone in LV would support a team. Then again, the Hornets are awful so that might not be a good team to really try and test out an area with.

 

Okalahoma City will probably be a good site for a team. What else do they have to do their?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

OU sports which they take very seriously. No pro teams can surpass the popularity of OU in that area.

[cabbageboy 0]

Louisville was also up for this (and in fact almost got the Hornets before they went to N.O.) but I can see why they didn't want to come here. U of L basketball would be so much more popular it wouldn't be funny, particularly for a lame duck team that might leave again.

[teke184 0]

I think I now know why the Charlotte fans told George Shinn where to stick it...

 

The dickhead should have cut a deal with LSU to hold the games at the PMAC (Pete Maravich Assembly Center), which was the option at one time.

 

 

As much of an asshole as Tom Benson is, he at least held off on moving the Saints completely to San Antonio, instead splitting time between there and Baton Rouge.

[Precious Roy 0]

The Hornets may not be very good, but Chris Paul will put asses in the seats....

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Either the Hornets will draw dismally because they are a poor team in an unfamiliar market, or draw exceptionally due to moving to an area where the NBA is a new market, and there is no other big time sports franchise. I'll lean towards the latter, at least for the first few months.

[Damaramu 0]

I think when they play big names like Shaq, Lebron, Kobe, and such then they will draw. But I don't forsee many asses in the seats for a barn burner with the Hawks.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

They would play the Hawks at home once I believe. Of course if the team is marketed like most other teams these days, the Hornets will announce the Lakers game is "sold out", but tickets are still available in a package that includes the Hawks game, or something of that nature.

[Slayer 0]

Apparently it's official now (at least according to the radio), 35 games in OKC

 

Fuck I may go down and check out a game, at least so I can say "I've been to an NBA game"

[alfdogg 0]

NBA.com has them listed as the "New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets".