Now that the NBA is "officially" returning to New Orleans for the 2007-2008 regular season, all eyes will be on the local market and the way the community responds in the Hornets' season ticket and suite sales for the upcoming season. 

The proposed practice facility, still in limbo, is the key to the Hornets remaining even in the short term.  As a concession to leave Charlotte, the city pledged $6 Million for building a practice facility.  Shinn said he expects the city and state to make good on that pledge, though he has preliminarily agreed to a proposal to build the facility on top of the loading dock at the New Orleans Arena.  It likely will cost more than $15 Million, and you can bet Shinn expects the state and city to pay for it.

Season ticket sales are tepid at best, but you can excuse New Orleanians for being less than excited considering the team has called Oklahoma City home since Hurricane Katrina.  Corporate partners are also waiting on the sidelines and reviewing their options.

Just how much all the uncertainty around the team's future clouds the minds of potential season ticket holders remains to be seen.  There is no question in my mind that the area can support both the Saints and the Hornets, even post-Katrina.  But, the NBA likely will never draw 17,000 a game here, and I suspect in terms of average attendance, New Orleans will always be somewhere between Orlando, Indiana and Atlanta.  That will only be good enough for Shinn if the state of Louisiana sweetens the pot with concessions on rent, food & beverage sales, and of course, a free state-of-the-art practice facility.

One prediction: it won't be three home games back in New Orleans before the national media points out the disparities in average attendance between OKC and New Orleans.  Shinn mortgaged the house last season in OKC bringing in Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler, and this season has already stated he will not go on a similar spending spree.  Anticipating a short stay, perhaps?

Post Script: New Orleans was last in the NBA in average attendance the season before Katrina primarily because of the team's 18-64 record, not the lack of support of the market.  Remember that this is a town that has watched the Saints lose much more often than win.  Watching a losing team can become hateful.  The Hornets, at one point, were 2-29.  How many fans are going to pay to watch that team?  The Atlanta Hawks averaged just 200 more fans per game that season and had four times the pre-K population of New Orleans.  The constant?  Atlanta had the worst record in the league.