New Orleans has a problem and this time it's not the levee system. The Hornets are a surprise team this year but that hasn't exactly placed people into the seats at the arena. A month ago the Hornets signed a new lease agreement with the state that on paper would keep them around until 2014 but if attendance doesn't avg. 14,735 fans over the next year the team if it chooses to do so may relocate. Something that will be bad for the city and possibly a blackeye on the Hornets owner George Shinn.
It's been a few years since Hurricane Katrina and yes for the most part the city and it's central bussiness district is up and running. What most people do not realize is that hasn't changed the fact that there are quite a lot of people still trying to rebuild their homes and their lives.
So what we have here is sort of a catch 22 with people having to make a decision to spend money on a team we have grown to love or putting everything else aside to continue to repair your home and feed your children. Most choosing the latter because that's what's most important.
The city and state though says that the Hornets organazation isn't doing enough to market the team especialy outside the city. Something I tend to agree with. The other professional sports team the New Orleans Saints has sold out every home game since returning after Katrina. That's because with cities such as Alabama and Miss. not having any pro sports the organization has done what I believe is the right thing by marketing to the fans in those states. You could go anywhere in southern Miss. and find Saints items as well as a HQ's. More importantly they are just Saints fans. The team even holds it training camp in Jackson Miss. Something I'm sure has turned out to almost guarantee ticket sales during the season.
The Hornets however have not taken that approach. Dallas Mav's owner Mark Cuban agrees with the city and state that not enough is being done. He said "whatever it takes to fill seats you do it". In New Orleans and it's Metro area there is an estimated 1.3 million people as of this writing. However only 300,000 of those people live in the city itself. Not everyone is a sports fan either.
Coach Byron Scott says if the team moves again it would mean that the organization has failed. I however would see it as both the fans and the Hornets have failed. There is one other block that has hurt the Hornets as well. That's the fact that they are hardly seen on T.V. outside the metro area. It's partnership with Cox cable and it's local sports channel has hurt this team. A bad bussiness decision on the part of the Hornets
Make no mistake this city can support two pro sports franchises for being such a small market. The fact remains at this time it's not being done. Regardless of how hard life is right now in the "Big Easy" we as fans have to be the first to step up and do our part. If not we will lose more than just a basketball team. We'll lose just a little more of our spirit and pride that Katrina tried it's hardest to destroy.
Gambitxxx...thanks for bringing this to light. The Bay Area teams sometimes struggle for attendance unless they are doing well because we are so saturated here with pro teams. It would be very sad for you all to loose the Hornets but I cant argue with people needing to fix up their homes and reestablish their lives rather than attend a game. Bummer of a situation either way.
Hey, gambitxxx! I hate to futher add bad news, but this would not be the first time Shinn has alienated his team's fans; he did everything he could to leave Charlotte for NO in 2002. I agree that this team could do more to appeal to fans right outside the city, but the conspiracy theorist in me sees Shinn doing everything but sell the team to move to another 'grass is greener' pasture.
If it were up to me, the Hornets would stay in NO through whatever trials lay ahead. The city deserves some loyalty for what they've been through. And Shinn and all owners like him need to get the f out of the business. Period.
klvalus,
Thx for visiting me even though this isn't your sport of choice. Yeah it's hard for the majority of people to sacrafice what is for the best to attend something that will not improve their lives.
Downs,
I know all about Mr. Shinn and what he pulled off in Charlotte. He did that city just wrong and I hate people like him. Sometimes I think Shinn is just going through the motions when it comes to the city and is just full of ####! The players on the other hand are genuine and honest good guys. Shinn certainly hasn't done all he can to promote his team and fill the seats. We'll see how it all turns out.
Gambit: Much as it will hurt for all y'all down there, if the City of Seattle prevails against "Cash Us" Clay Bennett and he is forced to keep the Sonics here through the end of the 2010 season, I think Shinn moves the team right back into the Ford Center. OKC wants a team, and they want them sooner than now, and I don't think Clay is going to be able to pull it off for them.
Not every city of size can support an NBA franchise. That's reality. I was surprised when the Hornets, or whatever, relocated there. Ownership needs to milk the local populace. N.O. isn't known for its deep pockets.
At least the team isn't going back to OKC, where it should have stayed.
sleepless,
I hope you do keep your team there. I'm no fan of spoiled rich ####s leaving fans high and dry because they didn't get their way. You could be right but hope you are not.
slshusker,
Reality??? So you telling me we can support a football team but not an NBA team. Dude with all due respect you haven't a clue what you are talking about. 1. The Hornets have the lowest ticket prices in the NBA.
2.Saints tickets are sky high
3.the city and state can afford any pro team, it's the fans that are not going to the games.
New Orleans isn't known for it's deep pockets? What do you know about this city other than the garbage the media feeds you? The fans have no problem spending money, the city officials are corrupt but that's not the problem we are talking about. The city and state isn't the problem here. It's the fans being able to attend. Like I said though in the post. The Hornets front office isn't doing all it can. Bad T.V. Deals and bad Markiting strategy has as much to do with it as Katrina.
As for staying in OKC, Yeah right. Do you have some kind of hate for all that is Louisiana? You consistantly bash anything to do with this state. Dude you need to leave the farm someday and come see for yourself what people are like here and a great city it is.
The burden on the Hornets fan base is tougher than most cities. Dallas is the corporate home to 10,000 companies. Companies buy season tix for employees and customers. New Orleans doesn't have the luxury of corporate sponsorship.
Many a time I've made last minute plans for a Dallas Stars game. The only tickets available are the very top of the upper deck. Yet when the puck drops, the lower bowl is almost completely empty! Officially it's a sellout. Most of the rich corporate seats stay empty till playoffs.
No citizens in the USA are more aware of the value of the dollar than those stricken with deaths and property loss along with jobs lost in New Orleans. Once again it's a great burden to put on the fans. The city should basically GIVE AWAY free office space to corporations. Dallas drew corporations here for 20 years doing just that. And hold corporations to paying only 10% property tax.
Sounded silly years ago, but the job market is solid and strong. The Cowboys, Rangers, Stars and Mavericks prospering is a bonus side effect.
Midnite,
thx for the comment and what you say goes along with what Mav's owner Mark Cuban says. Whatever needs to be done to put #### in the seats then you just simply do it. The Hornets Org. and the NBA is asking a lot from fans who are still trying to put together their lives, homes and businesses. You are right though there is only 1 maybe 2 fourtune 500 companies here in New Orleans. It's a city who survives on tourism and it's import/export ability from the Miss. River.
The perfect breakfast as I see it.
You’re sitting at the table and your son is on the cover of Wheaties, your mistress is on the cover of Playboy, and your wife is on the back of the milk carton.
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