Charlotte Hornets seek move to New Orleans

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Posted 3:17PM on Wednesday, January 16, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Hornets, who tried unsuccessfully last spring to relocate to Memphis, want to move to New Orleans, Mayor Pat McCrory said Wednesday. McCrory said he had not spoken directly with the team, but was told by Mike Crum, director of operations management at the Charlotte Coliseum, that the team plans to apply to the NBA for permission to move. Any move would have to be approved by NBA owners. "This comes as no surprise. We anticipated it for several weeks," McCrory said. Hornets management refused to comment Wednesday, Crum could not be reached, and NBA officials did not immediately return phone calls. A spokeswoman for Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster, Marsanne Golsby, said Foster and team co-owner Ray Wooldridge would meet later Wednesday in Baton Rouge. "It's not ever a done deal until it's signed," she said. "We've been very cautious about expressing our optimism because Charlotte could make an offer and they would change their minds." Hornets co-owner George Shinn refused to comment as he left practice Wednesday morning after meeting with players. They said Shinn told them a deal with Charlotte looks unlikely, but mentioned nothing about applying to move and said no decision had been made. Shinn told the players that the Hornets "lost a lot of money. Something has to happen. He didn't say one way or the other," forward P.J. Brown said, adding that Shinn said he expected a resolution in the next several days. Coach Paul Silas said he and the players were trying to ignore the issue. "We would like to have some sort of closure, but who knows when that's going to be," Silas said. "I'm kind of tired of the whole thing. And I have no concern about that (the move). We've got to win ball games. That's what I want my players to concentrate on." The NBA must approve the Hornets' second attempt to move in 10 months. The team applied last spring to relocate to Memphis, Tenn., but withdrew the request after a strong playoff run that temporarily brought sellout crowds back to the Charlotte Coliseum. Shinn and Wooldridge resumed their search for a new home town after Charlotte voters in June rejected taxpayer support for a package that included a $200 million publicly financed downtown arena. The Hornets' owners have said they cannot survive economically in the Charlotte Coliseum, which has 23,698 seats but only 12 lucrative suites. The New Orleans Arena has a capacity of 18,500 with 44 suites and room to add 20. Chief executives of three of Charlotte's largest corporations last week pledged $100 million to help fund a $190 million downtown arena. Wooldridge said the proposal has never been presented to team officials. McCrory said the city will try to keep the Hornets in town, but won't significantly change its proposal. "We have a very sound proposal and we won't get into a bidding war," he said. "We think our argument is very strong with the NBA for their long-term needs." Under NBA bylaws, a committee assembled by commissioner David Stern to examine the proposed move would compare business conditions, fan support and facilities in the two cities. Twenty-two of 29 NBA owners would have to vote in favor of the move. In 1994, the NBA blocked a sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves that would have moved them to New Orleans. New Orleans has a smaller metropolitan population than Charlotte and a median household income of $38,800 a year, below the national average and Charlotte's median income of $51,000. New Orleans' TV market, ranked 43rd nationally, would be the smallest in the NBA. Charlotte's TV market ranks 27th. Last summer, the NBA approved a move of the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis, the league's first relocation in 15 years. New Orleans lost the Jazz to Salt Lake City in 1979. Also on Wednesday, the NBA said it wants to keep the Orlando Magic franchise in central Florida. "We love having a team in Orlando," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "It's been a great market for us and it's supported the Magic well. It's a little surprising that there's discussion about the team moving. I don't think that's in anybody's head right now." The Magic's owners announced Monday that the franchise is for sale, prompting speculation that any buyers would have to move the team to succeed. Magic officials have said they are losing about $10 million annually because their home court, T.D. Waterhouse Centre, lacks moneymaking amenities such as luxury suites and club seating. There are no plans to build a new arena in Orlando.