Charlotte optimistic that NBA team will return

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Posted 2:51PM on Monday, October 7, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The future of the NBA in Charlotte hits a critical stage Tuesday at the Board of Gov.'s semi-annual meeting, with one potential franchise owner expecting the talks to rapidly advance the expansion efforts. Steve Belkin, one of at least three potential franchise owners, said he expects the NBA and its 29 team owners will be receptive to the league returning to Charlotte in 2004. "I know they are going to bring it up for discussion and we're quite optimistic that its going to be favorable," Belkin said Monday. "Our hope is that they might even consider voting on it at the meeting." NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik will outline Charlotte's progress to the NBA owners at the meeting in New York. But league spokseman Tim Frank said a vote on expansion, as well as the selection of an ownership group, is unlikely. "It's on the agenda, but I believe it's just sort of a discussion about what the next steps will be," Frank said. "There is no plan to vote on expanding that I know of." Charlotte lost its NBA team in June when the Hornets moved to New Orleans. Since then, at least three groups have said they would like to bring a team back to Charlotte, and city officials have negotiated with the league on a plan for a new arena. Belkin, a Boston-based businessman who has Hall of Famer Larry Bird in his investment group, said he's been told that significant progress has been made on an arena deal and that a new building would be ready for 2005. "We think we could have a team playing here in 2004 and have a new arena for them in 2005," Belkin said. "Things have progressed quite nicely and we're optimistic it can get done." Granik said the NBA could accept a new team playing one season in the Charlotte Coliseum, which lacks the luxury and club suites the Hornets needed to make money, while a new arena is built. "If the spirit is there, we'd rather not wait another year," Granik told The Charlotte Observer. "It's not like the coliseum has been a terrible venue for basketball. The problem was on the revenue side. Certainly for one year you could play there." But Granik doesn't think an ownership group will be selected at Tuesday's meeting, although if expansion is approved, he said one would be picked by the end of the year. There are three strong options right now - Belkin's group, Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson and Miami Heat minority owner Bob Sturges. Belkin's group has been the most visible in Charlotte. Bird, who would be the team's general manager, has visited with city and business leaders in Charlotte, and M.L. Carr, who would work in community relations, spent the summer here running the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. Former Celtics general manger Jan Volk is also part of the group. "We think the NBA would very much like to get Larry back in the NBA," Belkin said. " With M.L.'s involvement, and Jan Volk's and with a proven management team and one of the best basketball minds in Larry Bird, we think we're a tough group to beat." The NBA has yet to indicate what its expansion fee will be, but Belkin said he's expecting the owners to set it at around $300 million. "We keep hearing around the $300 million mark and that's something that barely allows us to make the numbers work," Belkin said. "But it's something we can deal with."