Hornets notebook: Stern reaffirms Hornets intentions


NBA commissioner David Stern attended the Cavs’ season opener against the Hornets on Wednesday night, re-affirming the league’s intentions to eventually move the Hornets back to New Orleans.
Stern would later sound pessimistic, though, adding that the city of New Orleans has considerably more to worry about than hosting the Hornets again.

“Right now, the more important issue is life,” Stern said. “I just feel a certain sense of personal discomfort with something like rebuilding a sports facility in the face of all that.”

Stern, who will attend the Hornets’ next home game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, said the team’s future home is ultimately the decision of the NBA’s Board of Governors. He’ll have “considerable input” in that decision, he said.

Stern added that the vote needs to be made “very early in the new year” because of ticket sales and renewals.

Stern went on to say that Oklahoma City has done enough to prove itself ready for a professional sports franchise.

“It demonstrated that, almost even if they never played another game there,” Stern said. “It’s been a great response. And I think it will be a beneficiary of this outcome.”


In other words, "Our intentions were to go back, and it was always our intention to go back. Unfortunately, the rebuilding effort is ongoing and there are much more important priorities for the NOLA region. Our hands are tied and we must move the team."

The league will continue to say the "right" thing and eventually raise the white flag in the direction of the desruction in New Orleans. Every league exec and Shinn have been ordered to assertively say "it's our intent, "it's our plan", so they can ultimately be viewed as a victim who acted in a reactionary way and was not aggresively trying to relocate.

I, for one, have no problem with this and never have. After all, it will be the God honest truth. We'll have a franchise in OKC, whether it be the Hornets, Raptors, Magic, Bucks, or via expansion.

I certainly agree that it is a possibility that the Hornets stay in OKC. I do think that a decision has not been made one way or another though. The good thing for OKC in regards to any NBA franchise is that Stern seems to think highly of our city (of course, why wouldn't he?). That plays into our advantage for the future.

I certainly agree that it is a possibility that the Hornets stay in OKC. I do think that a decision has not been made one way or another though. The good thing for OKC in regards to any NBA franchise is that Stern seems to think highly of our city (of course, why wouldn't he?). That plays into our advantage for the future.


I agree. I can also see the team staying here for 2 years and then moving to Vegas. If they can get the NBA games off the casinos books, it's a done deal for them. Also, I would think that the league is probably leaning toward OKC over Louisiana right now simply because Stern said the decision concerning their permanent home will be decided in January.Source is an AP story in todays edition of the Times in New Orleans. Obviously, that isn't enough time for New Orleans to recover in any significant way.

I can also see the team staying here for 2 years and then moving to Vegas. If they can get the NBA games off the casinos books, it's a done deal for them.

While I agree with some of this, the probability of Vegas dropping sports betting or at least NBA betting is slim to none, the Las Vegas mayor said it himself, Nevada relies too heavily on the gaming industry

While I agree with some of this, the probability of Vegas dropping sports betting or at least NBA betting is slim to none, the Las Vegas mayor said it himself, Nevada relies too heavily on the gaming industry


Yes, they've said that the chances are slim to none of Vegas taking the NBA off of the house boards. The Maloof Bros. in Sacramento have really been pushing hard to get it done to no avail thusfar. Stern has said that without compliance of the gaming industry in this matter, the league will never be there. However, being that they've awarded Vegas the All-Star game I wouldn't completely rule it out. You can't bet on the NBA at the Palms and that hasn't hurt their bottom line at all. I wounldn't at all be suprised if there was some sort of compromise around the turn of this decade.

I highly doubt that Vegas would ever take the NBA off the board. Add that to the fact that there is sooooo much to do in Vegas. I mean, I think there are some legitimate concerns that a major league franchise may not do extremely well. Think of all the shows and events that the NBA or NHL or NFL would have to compete with. Las Vegas would need to get behind the team big time with local Las Vegans (?) for attendance to remain consistent.

I mean, I think there are some legitimate concerns that a major league franchise may not do extremely well. Las Vegas would need to get behind the team big time with local Las Vegans (?) for attendance to remain consistent.

I love escaping to Vegas but, I wouldn't go to a pro game if I were there vacationing either. To add to your point, the Las Vegas(Gladiators) AFL team has seen flat to declining ticket sales while AFL attendance overall has increased over the past few years.

Las Vegas would need to get behind the team big time with local Las Vegans (?) for attendance to remain consistent.

My guess is that any team in Vegas would have one of the worst home field advantages in the league. I'm sure they could sell some seats, but I bet there would be more visiting fans at that venue for each home game than at any other in the league. Everyone would go to Vegas when their team played there.

My guess is that any team in Vegas would have one of the worst home field advantages in the league. I'm sure they could sell some seats, but I bet there would be more visiting fans at that venue for each home game than at any other in the league. Everyone would go to Vegas when their team played there.

That in itself might tip the scales to vegas!

They may not have home advantage, but imagine the droves of people who would love to follow their team to the city; and catch some gaming while there....

It might be an offer the league can't refuse - but then again, I am confident OKC WILL LAND AN NBA team; most likely - retain the Hornets! It only makes good business sense.

No offense to NO, but N.O. means no... (probably for 10 years).

And N.O.'s Saints are gone also....

I have heard several people say that the Hornets would never receive approval from the NBA to move to Vegas because they are at the top of the list for an expansion team. Why move a team when megabucks are waiting to be paid for a team? I don't know a lot about the business side of the NBA, but it makes sense to me.

All four of the major leagues said they hesitated about expanding to Las Vegas due to the sports betting. So, I really do not expect to see any major leagues there unless the sports betting law is changed and Clark County overturns legalization.

My money is on the Hornets dropping New Orleans from their name... If you get my drift.

I think NO eventually deserves to have their team move back to their city. OKC has demonstrated itself to be a proper host for a NBS franchise, however it is not the fault of the fans or residents of NO that a hurricane ripped their city in two.

The ethical thing to do here is ensure that the Hornets return to NO when they are ready to have them back and then petition for a new franchise to be placed in OKC.

The ethical thing to do here is ensure that the Hornets return to NO when they are ready to have them back and then petition for a new franchise to be placed in OKC.

I think that is the ideal situation, but feasibility and economics will ultimately decide, not idealism. I truly belive that the team is New Orleans's and that only a slow recovery will prevent the team from going back. However, the NBA and the owners can not have a team temporarily relocated indefinately.

I think that is the ideal situation, but feasibility and economics will ultimately decide, not idealism. I truly belive that the team is New Orleans's and that only a slow recovery will prevent the team from going back. However, the NBA and the owners can not have a team temporarily relocated indefinately.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Idealism and reality can be two entirely separate things. You can't rebuild a highway, sewer, water, utilities, and most importantly, an ECONOMY infrastructure overnight, nor in a year or two. These things take decades to build and possibly longer if ever to rebuild. You're talking tens of thousands of people permanently displaced, not temporarily.