First, how is Oklahoma City in any way the "little man"? Secondly, I've said it before and I will say it again: We would not be the front-runner to temporarily host the New Orleans Hornets if the NBA did not have confidence in OKC as a viable market for major league basketball, therefore, you can't say it's only because of the tragedy.

Read the whole post and you might understand it.

I said Decious has the little man complex not OKC.


So, your saying if the hurricane never destroyes NO, that the team would have still moved here at the same time.

I doubt that.

Decious, I have to ask. What is your obsession with Tulsa? Why do you always want to show us up? I come here alot of times and congratulate OKC on upcoming things, All you do is try to bash Tulsa, and make yourself feel better. It's saddening that you have little man complex. Another saddening thing is your sentence structure. :]

Look, i'm happy for you guys. I seriously never thought Oklahoma would ever have a pro team. It's saddening that the only way we can get them is from anothers tragedy.

I still don't see them staying. College sports are too big in Oklahoma.

:LolLolLol

You should be saddened by my sentence structure! I don't proof read my posts, so I'll tend to have run-ons and stuff like that. Sorry about that.

I can assure you that I don't have a little man complex, and ne person that knows me would laff their booty off if they heard ne1 say that about me. Also, I don't need to feel better. I'm extremely happy with my life and career. Actually, I'm overjoyed with them. Also, I can live anywhere I choose and actually like Tulsa. N-e-way, I was not aware that I seemed to be trying to bash Tulsa, but I can see how it may come off that way. 4 that I apologize, but u were 1 of da 1's who taught me that on OKCtalk and Tulsanow you're supposed to bicker back and forth about nonsense. Oh well. I must have misunderstood. (I'm tearing up) I always meant to be reactionary, not instigating.(I think I did a good job of that, but I guess not) I've only been perusing online forums for about a year now, but I'm stopping now.(horrible sentence-I'm so very very really ungrammer) They were a good way for me to kill time while I was in between sessions, and I feel like I got to know a number of great people, but I just don't fit in.(running on and on-pitiful) I still look forward to reading and learning from people like you though.(bad sentence again-I'm hopeless) Wow!! I really have learned a bunch.(another wack sentence) I didn't even know that Tulsa and OKC had some stupid little feud thing going on. Talk about being in the dark. I was so shocked! Maybe that's why I reacted to it like I did. I know you don't care, but please forgive me Flyingcowz. I'm not going to be doing anymore posting, so you won't have to c anymore of my drivel. But 4real, thnx 4 checking me!! & thnx 4 the free psycho analysis!! Seriously, I enjoy reading your posts on Tulsanow, u seem to be a cool dude. 4real! (awful)
:yourock:

oh Decious, stop that, you can't stop posting on this board and no one from Tulsa should have any say about our members here.... don't you dare let them chase you away.

I'm not trying to chase him off or have any say. I also do not proof-read my posts.

I just noticed he always has to say something about Tulsa.

Cowz, why do you post on the Tulsa board about how badly you are treated here, but then continue to post and stir up trouble? I don't appreciate you trying to run my name through the mud with my Tulsa bretheren. :lame:

oh Decious, stop that, you can't stop posting on this board and no one from Tulsa should have any say about our members here.... don't you dare let them chase you away.

:sofa:
I'm not being chased away. That's laughable. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!My promo tour is starting this week and the preparation is taking up all of my time. Beginning next week, my head will be completely underwater.

That's why I haven't been able to check the forum since yesterday morning. Flyingcowz and I r just talking taurus feces. It's all in good fun. I don't mind accomodating people. I believe a soft answer turns away wrath. Consequently, I don't get into arguments or the like with people unless it's necessary or important.
:fighting4

Flyingvcowz made a legit assumption, he wasn't trying to run me off. Hypocritical of him? Yes, but it's no big deal. He thinks Bricktown is a red neck themepark. I dislike lower Bricktown. I don't like the "redneck loveseats" in TK's place. To each his own. The point of my post concerning the Hornets is self evident. The allusion to Tulsa was simply to make the point that the opinion that aspects of Downtown/Bricktown were unappealing to the eyes of some is irrelevant & immaterial regarding their utilitarian value.(run on?ha ha) In other words, Bricktown being dead to u or me doesn't make it dead existentialy. This was also clearly conveyed, but maybe Flyingcowz was just fed up with my comments concerning Tulsa. That's fair, and I'll accomodate. Inferences regarding my self esteem and grammer(intelligence) are just needling. I'm obviously neither weak minded nor dumb. Like I said, he's a cool and creative dude (as is swake) and this is all in good fun.

I appreciate the sentiment though Karried. You're great. I bet u look good too. You just seem like it. I'll be sending you a CD if you want one, and be praying that I don't get worn out. :bedtime:

NBA in Oklahoma City is not a far-fetched idea

By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman

Alvan Adams sat in an Oklahoma City television studio almost 30 years ago. Adams was early in what would be a 13-year NBA career, all of it with the Phoenix Suns, the franchise with whom he's still affiliated.
Adams was back in his hometown, giving an interview, and a Channel 4 sportscaster, Bob Barry or Robbie Robertson or somebody, asked Adams about Oklahoma City's chances of landing an NBA franchise.

Adams said something like, "Sure, why not?" He compared Phoenix to OKC, which frankly was not an absurd notion in 1977. At the time, the Suns were the only big-league franchise in the desert and Phoenix had not exploded into the megalopolis it is today.

So NBA talk is nothing new in Oklahoma City. But only now has it grown serious. No speculation. No pipe dream. The NBA, under the banner of the homeless New Orleans Hornets, might set up shop at the Ford Center come October.

Will the Hornets come? One question begets another. If the NBA comes to Oklahoma City, will it work?

First, there are two discussions. One, short-term, the other long.

Short term, Oklahoma City would be just a refuge for a franchise trying to gets its bearings. The Hornets after one season could be off to another locale, though not New Orleans. I don't see the NBA back in the ruined city.

Short term, OKC would do just fine. I don't know details, but the league and the Hornets would make ticket concessions to make up for the late start in marketing. NBA tickets are ridiculously high; the Hornets were charging $150-$400 for the primo seats at New Orleans Arena, and $26 for the nose-bleed section.

I'll bet cheaper seats would be available, and Oklahoma City -- both corporations and Joe Average -- will respond, because of both the newness of the NBA and the community spirit of rallying behind a displaced basketball team.

The chance to go downtown and see Shaq and Yao, the Spurs and the Knicks, Celtic green and Laker gold, well, it's like the circus-comes-to-Mayberry. Gotta go check it out.

The apparent humdrum football season could help, too. If OU and OSU don't start completing some passes soon, Oklahomans might be hungry for some new athletic entertainment.

Long term is more tenuous territory. Our population of 1.1 million metro, 3.5 million statewide, is big enough. But our corporate base isn't bulging, and pro franchises have to sell at least half their tickets to businesses. TV and radio rights wouldn't be huge, though it would help if the Hornets worked the Tulsa market, too.

But history is on Oklahoma City's side.

A funny thing happens when the NBA enters virgin territory. The franchise prospers. The community embraces it.

Salt Lake City, Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento. Questions abounded about the viability of each to house major-league sports. Now the Jazz and TrailBlazers, the Spurs and Kings, are cornerstones of their cities.

In the last 40 years, the NBA 10 times has placed a franchise in a city that had no other major-league sports. Nine of those cities retain their team; Charlotte lost the Hornets to New Orleans, but only after the NFL came to town, too, and now an expansion franchise has arrived in the North Carolina city.

That's more history on OKC's side. In those same 40 years, all 11 cities that lost NBA teams had other major-league franchises.

The evidence seems overwhelming. The big boys -- New York, LA, Chicago, that bunch -- can handle a full load of major-league sports. Otherwise, the NBA is best served not trying to carve out a niche of Cincinnati or St. Louis or San Diego. The NBA is best served having a city all to itself.

Hello, Oklahoma City.

Can we make it? I say what Alvan Adams said.

Why not?

This is a VERY positive article. In fact, every article I have read strongly suggests we are the winner this time. No other city is being mentioned as much as we are. Other cities are mentioned, however, only by name.

This is a VERY positive article. In fact, every article I have read strongly suggests we are the winner this time. No other city is being mentioned as much as we are. Other cities are mentioned, however, only by name.

Yep, that's the notion I'm getting too. According to ESPN.com Louisville said that they haven't even received any return contact by the Hornets or the league regarding their offer.

Reprint From ChicagoSports, at least we are getting National attention.


OKLAHOMA CITY -- NBA representatives toured the Ford Center and met with local officials Friday about the possibility of temporarily moving the displaced New Orleans Hornets to the city.

Mayor Mick Cornett said five NBA officials walked around the facility and discussed possible terms of a lease should the team decide to play its 41-game home schedule at the arena, which seats 19,675 for basketball.
Cornett said he believed the success of major league baseball exhibition games, plus the turnout at major concerts, provided evidence that Oklahoma City could support an NBA franchise. He said sales of tickets for college games at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for similar prices also suggest the team would be marketable in Oklahoma City.

"The NBA is impressed with what we have to offer," Cornett said.
"That old image that we had of Oklahoma City as being a market that was only able to support minor-league events is outdated," Cornett said.

The mayor said the main considerations for the NBA would be facilities for games, practice and office work. The Hornets are not expected to be able to open the season in New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Cornett said a decision was possible in the next two weeks, and a league official said nothing was imminent. Nashville and Baton Rouge, La., Kansas City, Louisville, San Diego and Las Vegas have been mentioned as other possible relocation sites.

"We're continuing to work with the Hornets to analyze contingency plans, but no decisions have been made," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

I, for one, am not afraid to admit that I could very well be wrong.

Even though some cynicism remains in my mind as to the long-term viability of a major league franchise in our city, I can't help but feel some excitement at the prospect of a major league team coming, even if it is temporary. Trammel's column is very encouraging.

I just hope that, if the Hornets come here, that OKC blows people's minds supporting the team with a full house at most home games and that there's sufficient corporate support to help make it a successful team. If it's going to happen, I just hope we do it right. If we don't, it will do more harm than not having them come here at all because it will certainly reinforce any perceived notion that OKC is not a major league city.

mranderson, if OKC becomes a "permanent" (if that's possible in this day and age) home for a major league team, I'll certainly give you the credit you're due.

Scribe, if they do come which companies do you think will be the main corporate contributors? Do you think that Devon and Chesapeake will be interested? Kerr-Mcgee's presence might not be strong enough for them to have much of an impact and we know the mess that Six Flags is in. Are there any other major options? Maybe Hobby Lobby? Or might we be depending on a number of smaller companies picking up the slack?

P.S. Your blog looks great homie.

I must admit, I'll have to defer to the experts on this one. There are some big companies inside and outside the state that could participate, but I cannot give an informed response.

I imagine that it would make sense for Sonic to be involved. I'm not sure how heavily though.

Here's an image I found of company rankings from 2004 of Oklahoma companies.




EDIT: It appears that I can not post a link as of yet. The image was at NewsOK in the business section.

Here's the picture you posted Scott. Thnx.

http://newsok.com/permimages/2004_okinc_1.jpg

Here's the picture you posted Scott. Thnx.



Thank you!

I'd imagine a good number of our corporate citizens would love to get involved with a major league endeavor.

From Chesapeake, Devon, KerrMcGee, Sonic, Express, The Oklahoman/OPUBCO, BOk, OneOK, Love's, Hertz, etc, I think the coporate support will surpass anybodys expectations.

Right now we're just playing the waiting game...

Do you think we could make a difference by implementing an email campaign to the businesses above and ask them to express interest and support to the NBA?

It'd be nice if some of them came forward and said they would pledge so-and-so in advertisement or guarantee 100 seats/game or likewise, just to get the ball rolling.

It's worth a shot.

Ive been reading this board...If someone wants to coordinate a campaign to send to the NBA and owner George Shinn...I will definately put trememdous amount of time into it. If someone gets the ball rolling on this...It would be great. It would not only show the NBA that the fans are serious about bringing the Hornets here, it would bring the corporate sponsors that would increase funding to the city and inevitably help downtown grow. Im very enthused and if the hornets come...ill be one of the first ones in line for season tickets. And Owner Shinn Should use his brain too...he should donate 50% of all profits to the New Orleans Hurricane victims...this would give even more people a reason to support the team. :yourock:

Great!!

What do we need to do? Business Stats - Tourism info on hotels and restaurants - Petitions - Email requests indicating support and thanks for considering our city? What do you recommend?

There are so many brainiacs on this board.. brainstorm... maybe we should start a new thread... do we have contact info for George Shinn and the NBA?

Yep, this sounds great!! Karried, you should start a new thread.

My viewpoint has not changed: If we (Okc) act to help in a great time of need, only intending to be helpful, that's one thing. If we (Okc) see the time as an opportunity to "take" from our distressed family member, that's quite another.

If you've ever been involved in a probate of a dead family member's estate, you will know that it is not at all uncommon for one of two things to occur: The event often either brings out (1) the best or (2) the worst in the character of the dead person's survivors.

I'd hope in all of this that Okc, particularly remembering its own dark days of need in 1995 and during which we were blessed by the outpourings of virtually every part of this country, none of whom wanted anything in return, would opt to be "the best" of character, like those who unselfishly helped us in our time of need, and not be "licking our lips", so to speak, over what we as a city might have to gain from the horrible misfortune of the Gulf Coast, but instead only be focused on what we can do to help, without hoping for, exepcting, or wanting, anything in return.

Although I think the decision is already made, and we are it, maybe we should email Shinn and tell him we look forward to helping his displaced team. If he hears from the considerate Oklahoman's, then maybe we will be the new permanant home to the team.

I can guarantee, any business would use any advantage good or bad to schmooze.

Although I think the decision is already made, and we are it, maybe we should email Shinn and tell him we look forward to helping his displaced team. If he hears from the considerate Oklahoman's, then maybe we will be the new permanant home to the team.

I can guarantee, any business would use any advantage good or bad to schmooze.
Somehow, Mr. Anderson, it sounds to me like you've just described in your words what I was alluding to in my immediately preceding message. You suggest that we should e-mail this guy BECAUSE it will score practical points for OKC, not because such e-mails expressing sympathy and offers of help might actually be GENUINE in their own right, i.e., not wanting, expecting, even hoping for, anything in return for the expression. It's almost as though you think that the sole purpose of such e-mails is to feather Okc's nest, but perhaps I misinterpreted. But, on the surface, we do not appear to be in accord.

Doug, I hear you.

I want to convey to the team that they are very welcome here and that OKC welcomes them with open arms and wants to support them.

I totally disagree with anyone trying to take advantage of the terrible tragedy.

My intentions are to welcome the team and take it from there. I have no plans to
'schmooze' anyone and completely disagree with that line of thinking. I also disagree 100% with a name change or anything to that effect.

I agree with Doug. I don't think we should "campain". For one thing, the decision most likely has already been made, and secondly, I think that would look insensitive. The City, the Ford Center, and Cornett already did a fine job last Friday convincing the NBA that we are the best place for them if they choose to leave Louisiana. Let's just wait it out now, and avoid an unnecessary campain that could look like "schmoozing".

I do not think we should email anyone. This just does not seem like something that we should "campaign" for. The the fact of OKC stand for themselves. We apprear to be the frontrunner, and we don't want anyone to think we are being insensitive.

I agree with Doug. We need to make sure we don't overdo it and look as if we're trying to still their team. We're simply keeping their team until they can return to New Orleans. I don't think we should really see this as an opportunity to steal the Hornets. Instead, we need to see this as a way to show the NBA and other major leagues that we can be a major league city.

Arena might be ready for Hornets by All-Star break
Monday, 3:30 p.m.

By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer

Damage to New Orleans Arena, home of the Hornets, was relatively minor and the facility could be ready to play host to NBA games by the mid-season All-Star break, a top official of the building's management company said Monday.

Doug Thornton, regional vice president for SMG, toured the Arena on Sunday and reported that with any luck at restoring power in the area soon, the necessary cleanup and repair should only take a couple of months.

"The good news all this is the Arena is not nearly as bad as the Dome," Thornton said. "If we can get in quickly and get to work, we can fix it quickly.

"The bottom line is we think we can get the Arena in shape and ready for use by the first quarter of 2006, if not sooner. That's our goal."

Unlike the Superdome, which housed tens of thousands of evacuees as a shelter of last resort during Hurricane Katrina, the Arena was used only as a special medical needs facility and access in the building was restricted to the concourse areas of the building.

The Arena came through the storm without significant structural damage, Thornton said.

"I think there's minor roof damage that needs to be remediated," Thornton said, "and some water damage on some of the carpet and drywall in the locker room areas. Obviously, there's some damage to the exterior skin; a couple of panels that have come off. And there are a couple of panels on the exterior LED screens missing, but we don't know the extent of the damage there.

"We don't think there's any significant damage to the electrical distribution system or the mechanical systems such as the elevators or escalators. We've got those issues at the Dome, but not the Arena."

Cleanup crews are clearing the facility of debris around the outer concourses, Thornton said and SMG soon will put out a bid to do the environmental cleanup inside of the Arena to dispose of refuse and medical waste that was left behind during the evacuation process.

That effort could be slowed somewhat by the lack of electrical power and sewer availability in the area surrounding the Arena.

Thornton said he spoke with Hornets owner George Shinn on Sunday following the inspection tour of the facility and updated Shinn on the damage; the first time Shinn had received first-hand knowledge of the Arena's status.

He said Shinn reiterated to him the team's desire to move back into New Orleans as quickly as possible, though, officials are still in fact-finding missions around the state and the country, touring possible venues to hold some of the team's home schedule.

Several of the facilities at which the Hornets are looking are operated by SMG, including those in Oklahoma City, Bossier City and Baton Rouge.

That, Thornton said, is merely coincidence, though New Orleans Arena's game operations employees would be available to work Hornets games in any SMG-run arena, which would make any transition much easier.

"I think," Thornton said, "the Hornets are appreciative of that."

LSU officials are awaiting word as to when the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, a possible alternative venue, would be cleaned up so that Hornets officials can tour the building, according to LSU senior associate athletic director Dan Radakovich.

The PMAC was used as a medical evacuation facility until last Thursday, preventing members of the Hornets' fact-finding team from visiting the arena.

"We're just waiting to hear from the cleanup people," Radakovich said.

Efforts to reach Hornets president Paul Mott were unsuccessful Monday.

Personally I don't think the big problems is necessarily with the arena in New Orleans. The big question is how many people will be in New Orleans to support the Hornets next year. It may take up to a year for all of the citizens of NO to return, and even then, some may never return.

Alot of them lost everything. I have heard them say they might as well start out in their new place, since they have nothing to go back to.

we have some here...that dont know where to go...in fact i met with them yesterday...very nice people, and they are normal people like you and me...they lost everything, they only grabbed what was life threatening essential and fled...these people need all the help they can get and that's what we are doing for them. I go to UCO and am the VP of the Young Democrats, and we are raising funds from anybody we can to get these people moving. One couple was on Channel 4 at 10 last night and they were trying to get married. That was one of the 8 familes we are helping. This is a truly sad tragedy and we could appreciate all the help we got. Like flyingcowz said...."Alot of them lost everything. I have heard them say they might as well start out in their new place, since they have nothing to go back to."

That statement is sooooo true. They have nothing to go back to...no job, no church, etc. So lets show all these people the hospitality that Oklahoma is famous for. There are some estimates of 1000 or more people here from the areas affected.

Our school has a family in my son's class and we are fulfilling a wish list - the saddest thing she said to me was 'we are safe and the house can be replaced, but it's the little things, like the first lock of hair that I'll miss".

Back to the Hornets. My original idea was to email the business owners who might sponsor the team and ask them to show support to the team.

I remember when Kerr McGee might be leaving the state. We all sent business letters of support telling them how much they contributed to the state and supported the company. They were blown away by the support of the state. That was what I was thinking about earlier when I posted sending an email campaign.

In no way do we want to come across as insensitive because most of us are not. We are excited about the possibility of showing our city in a good light and the best way at this time would be to extend a huge welcome and offer support in the way of having businesses sponsor the team and ourselves committing to purchasing tickets.

Who knows if they will come or not? I hope if they do, we can be supportive and encouraging, not obnoxious and gloating.

I think the email campaign and such would be directed at local businesses and corporations ready to meet the team with a welcome and support from the community.

Emails to the owner and NBA at this point would do no good, as they already have a decision. You don't come out and say 'we will have an announcement within the week' if you're still making decisions.

Even without an email campaign, I feel the business sector of OKC and Oklahoma, for that matter, is going to embrace the Hornets and give them a great home away from home.

My point was valid, but not well received. I approach this just as if I was a business owner trying to pursuade a company to relocate into my facility. I will use any advantage I have. You can be sympathetic and still use an unfortunate situation to your advantage.

Yes. I feel the decision IS made and we will be announced shortly as the new home of the Hornets... At least for the season.

To email local business is a fine idea. I think national businesses such as my employer and Lowe's would help also. Many companies sponsor teams outside their cities.

My point was valid, but not well received. I approach this just as if I was a business owner trying to persuade a company to relocate into my facility. I will use any advantage I have. You can be sympathetic and still use an unfortunate situation to your advantage.

And, as any business owner knows, the ways in which you publicly handle your business is very important to the success of that business. And, in this case, the role of PR is magnified ten fold that of most businesses. Local teams are often looked at, whether right or wrong, as a representation and a reflection of the community.

In addition, this special case magnifies it exponentially as well. No doubt, more of the nation will know about and be aware of how this process unfolded than even an actual relocation.

Given that most here are probably interested in a major league team for the very idea that hosting a such a team is a measure of status and a PR instrument, it is not surprising that they want it done in a way the represents their community well and that it is in no way an act of anyone in OKC taking advantage of the tragic events in New Orleans. There is, in fact, a right way to do this and, given the nature of most Oklahomans, I am not surprised that many are very emphatic that it be done with all proper consideration and respect.

Vegas out; KC still wants in

Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman told the Las Vegas Sun that his city is out as a possible home for the relocated New Orleans Hornets, because of demands put in place by the NBA.
The league wanted Las Vegas casinos to no longer list NBA games on their sports books. Goodman said that was unrealistic.

"There's not enough time to fulfill the NBA requirement," Goodman said about dropping NBA games from Nevada sports books. "And I wouldn't ask them (the sports books) to, either."

Kansas City was visited by Peter Fink, vice president of NBA Entertainment on Thursday, one day before a group of NBA officials held day-long meetings with Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett. Fink toured Kansas City's Kemper Arena.

Kansas City is building a new arena, but the Sprint Center won't be finished until next season.

The NBA has said it would like to have a decision on the Hornets' relocation by Sept. 23. Commissioner David Stern told ESPN.com that he would like to decide by this week.

http://newsok.com/article/1614883/?template=sports/main

I still think the decision is made and you can expect the moving trucks to be backed into the Ford Center within two weeks.

Cold Pizza, a morning show on ESPN, had a report on the NOLA Hornets and the site selection process. The report was part of the Morning headlines segment.

Last night NBA sources said that OKC's Ford Center is the preferable choice, but that the league is trying find a way to play as many as 8-12 games at the RiverCenter in Baton Rouge. The NBA had stated that they would prefer to keep the team in one location, but feels that playing at least a few games in Baton Rouge is the right thing to do. This would follow what the Saints have done and would be great for the moral of the Louisana area. I hope they figure out a way to get it done.

Obviously the market is probably more conducive to an NBA franchise in Kansas City, but fortunately, we have the newer, nicer arena, whereas Kansas City simply doesn't have a decent facility to offer at the moment. Kemper Arena is a dump.

And the team is saying they can be back in NO by the all-star break. That is the current plan anyway.

Hopefully, they will at least play the entire season In the Ford Center. Either way, we need to shine now, folks. This makes us the the front runner for the next team.

My only hope is that the Hornets don't move away from OKC after this year and set up in Kansas City permanately once they finish their arena.

My only hope is that the Hornets don't move away from OKC after this year and set up in Kansas City permanately once they finish their arena.

If we rally around the team and support it, I asure you, they will stay if the move is not for just one season. Teams only move if they have to. Financial (losing money) or, in this case, acts of God.

Good point! Kansas City should go after the NHL since they've never had a franchise in that league.

The New Orleans Times Picayune has a story entitled "Hornts possibly playing in Oklahoma City and Baton Rouge." I think the media is slowly leaking the news we are the chosen one.

I think the media is slowly leaking the news we are the chosen one.

You mean chosen 1/2 or 3/4. :)

T-P Sports


Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Hornets to possibly play in Baton Rouge, Oklahoma City
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer

The Hornets are leaning toward possibly playing some "home" games this season in two cities -- Baton Rouge and Oklahoma City, a league source said on Tuesday.
The Ford Center in Oklahoma City could be the venue away from Louisiana, while either the Pete Maravich Assembly Center or the downtown River Center would be the team's in-state home for anywhere from eight to 12 games, the source said.
Oklahoma City's arena, opened in 2002, seats more than 19,000 for basketball, with 3,300 club seats, seven party suites and 49 private suites. The facility is also managed by SMG, the same group that operates the Hornets' permanent home, New Orleans Arena, and the River Center.
It's unclear what part of the Hornets' schedule this season would be played away from the Arena, which experienced just minor damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Doug Thornton, regional vice president for SMG, said on Monday that the Arena could be ready for occupancy by the mid-February All-Star break. Whether the city would be ready to accommodate visiting teams in major hotels by then is much more uncertain, however.
But the fact that the Ford Center is run by SMG affords the Hornets the opportunity to utilize the same SMG game-day staff that is accustomed to the game-day operations in New Orleans Arena, which could make the transition in the temporary venue easier, as it would be in the SMG-managed facility in Baton Rouge.
Dan Radakovich, LSU's associate athletic director for internal affairs, said Tuesday that Hornets officials are scheduled to tour the PMAC sometime on Wednesday.
Hornets president Paul Mott confirmed Tuesday that he would be in Baton Rouge on Wednesday and Thursday, along with an NBA representative whose job it is to "evaluate venues and markets. That's what he does. He's all over the place. He's coming in to finish the fact-finding that (Hornets front-office executives) Sam Russo and Steve Martin started a week ago.
"We also want to see the (downtown) River Center, look at potential office space, prospective practice facilities, where the players might reside, as well as the two arenas," Mott said.
The PMAC is currently being cleaned and decontaminated after its use as an evacuation hospital in the hurricane's aftermath. That medical facility closed late last week.
Last Friday, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, along with SMG employees, gave NBA officials a guided tour of the Ford Center.
There are no apparent scheduling conflicts in Oklahoma City. The minor league hockey team that the Ford Center houses during the fall has agreed to relocate 22 games that could conflict with Hornets games into a facility across the street.
In Baton Rouge, there are only about 10 potential conflicts between Hornets home games and events scheduled in the PMAC. It's uncertain whether there are date conflicts at the River Center.
Tim Frank, spokesman for the NBA, said the league hoped to make a determination about where the Hornets would play home games in the next week to 10 days.
"We're not going to break it down city by city," Frank said. "Once it's complete, we'll have an announcement."
There also has been talk of the Hornets playing games in Nashville, Louisville, Kansas City, Las Vegas and even Puerto Rico.

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpsports/

1/2, 3/4. I will take them any way I can get them.

There might be a handful of games, at most, played in Baton Rouge. It just isn't feasable with a good chunk of New Orleaneans calling B.R. home for the time being. Hotel rooms and housing are in short supply.

I can see a couple of games being played in the PMAC as a morale builder, but the team needs one home. The NBA is an organization with its head firmly on its shoulders, unlike the MLB with its Expos fiasco of last year (Montreal, Puerto Rico, Montreal, Puerto Rico, on and on). Stability is something the Hornets organization needs at this point in time.

Look for an announcement from the NBA eliminating Baton Rouge as a candidate to house the Hornets for this year, soon afterwards, Oklahoma City will be named the temporary home of the Hornets.

Nothing about this situation is OKC profiting off of others misfortune, only helping a company and its hundreds of employees regain a sense of normalcy with offices and a place to set up shop.

Go Hornets! :D

KOCO is reporting the Hornets will announce their relocation to Oklahoma City this Friday.:congrats:

But will there be anyone in New Orleans to attend the games by that time?

I would think most of the city and many of the roads would still be a wreck in early 2006.

I hope KOCO is right!

hopefully they will report it in 2 mins on the news

Anything?

yes...the hornets are allegedly coming to okc and the announcement could come as "early as friday"....

Hornets Announcement Could Come Friday

POSTED: 6:23 pm CDT September 14, 2005
UPDATED: 6:57 pm CDT September 14, 2005

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An announcement regarding the New Orleans Hornets and Oklahoma City could happen as soon as Friday, NBA sources said Wednesday.

Sources within the NBA confirmed this afternoon that officials from the New Orleans Hornets were in Baton Rouge visiting the Maravich Assembly Center. KOCO Sports has learned that a small number of Hornets games could be played in Baton Rouge; however, there are several contingencies that must still be worked out.

How would a move by the Hornets to Oklahoma City affect the Blazers?

In an open letter to fans this afternoon Express Sports CEO Brad Lund said the hockey club is offering its full support to the city's pursuit of the Hornets for its temporary home.

Lund said the Blazers could play an estimated eight games at the Cox Center, which would still leave a majority of the games inside the Ford Center.

on the news cast in the sports section they seemed more sure and him and traber were on talking about it as if it was going to happen

Its going to happen.

Is is wrong to be happy about this?

Circumstance aside, OKC can see this as the fruit of a dozen years' work. :congrats: Now comes the real test of welcoming the team and supporting them at the games -- no matter how long they stay.

I hope we will do everything with class and dignity - OKC Talk/Hornets Shirts to wear at the Fair!