Report: Hornets tentatively agree to play at Ford Center

[Intrepid]

Dean Blevins also mentioned this on the Ch. 9 newscast this evening. However, he made it sound like all the Hornets' home games would be played in OKC. He also stressed that the initial lease would be a 1 yr deal only, but that anything could change.

Looks like the spotlight is going to be on OKC. I sure hope the people show up.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2165840


Updated: Sep. 18, 2005, 11:05 PM ET
Report: Hornets tentatively agree to play at Ford CenterAssociated Press


OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City has reached a tentative agreement with the New Orleans Hornets to play at least part of the NBA team's upcoming season at the Ford Center, The Oklahoman reported on its Web site late Sunday.

Mayor Mick Cornett said a proposed lease is being drafted and he was not sure the public would have a chance to review it before the city council is asked to approve it on Wednesday.

Cornett said he expects a formal announcement before then by the NBA and team owners that the Hornets will play at least part of its 41-game home schedule at the Ford Center, which seats 19,675 when configured for basketball games.

"Everything is going well, but we still have a few details to work out," Cornett said.

The Hornets have been searching for a temporary home since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, making it unfeasible for the team to play its season, which starts in November, in its hometown.

NBA representatives toured the Ford Center and met with Oklahoma City officials on Sept. 9.

It is still not known how many games, if any, might still be played in Louisiana. The Times-Picayune reported Sunday the team would establish most of their base operations in Oklahoma City, but would also keep a smaller office in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge.

If the team moves to Oklahoma City, the team is expected to relocate 100 employees from Louisiana and also hire 50 people locally to do a "rapid ramp-up" of telemarketing and ticket sales promotions.

Combined with the players, the team would bring an approximate $50 million payroll to the state -- an incentive, Cornett told The Oklahoman, for the state to share in providing support for the team's expenses.

Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, has said he plans to file legislation that would provide state money to the city to help pay for the team's relocation costs.

Oklahoma City is not the only city that has offered the team a new home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Others include Nashville, San Diego, Kansas City, Louisville and Las Vegas.

[Intrepid]

This from www.newsok.com




City nears deal with Hornets


By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma City has reached a tentative agreement with the New Orleans Hornets to play at least part of the upcoming season at Ford Center, Mayor Mick Cornett confirmed Sunday.
Cornett, when asked, confirmed both sides have agreed they want to see the Hornets play at Ford Center.

Cornett also said Sunday the lease is still being drafted, and couldn’t assure that the public will get to look at it before the council is asked to approve it in a special meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Cornett also said he expects an announcement to occur before then by the NBA and team owners that the Hornets will play at least part of its home season in Oklahoma City.

“Everything is going well, but we still have a few details to work out,” Cornett said Sunday. “I am confident everything will be completed by Wednesday.”

The Hornets have been searching for a temporary home since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, making it unfeasible for the team to play its season, which starts in November, in its hometown.

The agreement between the New Orleans Hornets NBA Limited Partnership and the city will set out all the conditions of the relocation.

Cornett previously said the agreement will include some undisclosed expenses that the city and state will be asked “share” in as part of the team moving to Oklahoma City.

The last time the city council was asked to approve a lease with less than a week to review it was in 1997, when Mayor Ron Norick pushed one through between the city and Oklahoma RedHawks for the SBC Bricktown Ballpark.

One uncertainty Sunday remained how many games, if any, might still be played in Louisiana - possibly Baton Rouge. The Times-Picayune on Sunday reported that the team would establish most of their base operations in Oklahoma City, but would also keep a smaller office in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge.

If the team moves to Oklahoma City, the team is expected to relocate 100 employees from Louisiana and also hire 50 people locally to do a “rapid ramp-up” of telemarketing and ticket sales promotions.

Combined with the players, the team would bring an approximate $50 million payroll to the state - an incentive, Cornett told The Oklahoman, for the state to share in providing support for the team’s expenses.

Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, told The Oklahoman Friday he plans to file legislation that would provide state money to the city to help pay for the team’s relocation costs.

Oklahoma City isn’t the only city that has offered the team a new home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina devastating New Orleans. Other cities offering their arenas include Nashville, San Diego, Kansas City, Louisville and Las Vegas.

Those cities, however, do not have what Oklahoma City has: A relatively new NBA-ready arena with an open schedule able to accommodate all the team’s home games. The city has already secured a commitment by the Oklahoma City Blazers to play any overlapping dates at the Cox Convention Center arena across the street from Ford Center.

The council will meet in its third-floor chamber at City Hall, 200 N Walker.

[Karried]

Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, told The Oklahoman Friday he plans to file legislation that would provide state money to the city to help pay for the team’s relocation costs.

It would be nice if some of that money was to be applied so tickets could be discounted initially - at least until we acquire a strong fan base that will be willing be spend a lot of money on tickets.

Apparently, a group of investors will be in town this week checking out Bricktown - might be time for a night out in Bricktown this week

[mranderson]

It would be nice if some of that money was to be applied so tickets could be discounted initially - at least until we acquire a strong fan base that will be willing be spend a lot of money on tickets.

Apparently, a group of investors will be in town this week checking out Bricktown - might be time for a night out in Bricktown this week

Any idea what kind of investment they are considering?