Events aim to start Hornets' buzz

By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma City is ready to party with the Hornets.
Two "Buzzfest" events will help fans get in the spirit for the first regular season NBA game to be played at the Ford Center on Tuesday. The Hornets open the season against the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. inside the Ford Center.

The Bricktown Association will sponsor activities beginning at 3 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the Hornets will hold their own celebration outside Ford Center. The Oklahoma City Council heard details about the events Tuesday.

Jeff Jacobsen, senior director of corporate partnerships and merchandise for the Hornets, said the day is a chance for fans to celebrate the start of the NBA season. Jacobsen is a former employee of SMG, which manages the Ford Center and Cox Convention Center.

"We are getting ready to have a party," Jacobsen said. "This party has been planned in a very short time, but we've been making the cake for a long time, really since 1993 and 1994 when MAPS began and the Ford Center became a focal point of the MAPS projects."

The highlight of the Hornets' event will be the NBA Jam Van, said Jessica Richardson, Hornets director for game presentation.

"It's a huge, interactive 18-wheeler that comes out and has a lot of incredible activities," Richardson said. "We'll have some live music out there. We'll have a lot of interactive games for kids and families. We'll have a caricature artist, face painters. It's just going to be an overall great experience for any type of fan in Oklahoma City."

Down the street, Bricktown merchants will also have live music, face painting and other family events, Bricktown Association Director Frank Sims said.

The Bricktown events will also include a balloon artist, street performers, big-screen televisions and various interactive games.

Sims said the event is a celebration not just for fans, but also for Bricktown merchants who are excited about the additional business the Hornets are already bringing to the entertainment district.

"We saw a nice push with the game on Sunday," Sims said. "We are already seeing a number of reservations in restaurants for the preseason game Thursday."