Oklahoma City Hornets?

[Amphatoast]

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Hornets will hold at least the first two weeks of this year's training camp at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., general manager Allan Bristow said.

The NBA team opens its preseason schedule Oct. 13 at Denver's Pepsi Center against the Denver Nuggets.

"As of right now, that's our only option," Bristow said Thursday from his vacation home in Marco Island, Fla. "We'll look for others. But right now that seems to be the best."

Bristow said no decision had been made on where the team would play its home games following the devastation to New Orleans brought by Hurricane Katrina.

All of the team's players and employees have been accounted for and are safe, but family members of several team employees are still unaccounted for, Bristow said.

"There's just no communication," Bristow said. "It's very tough."


On Wednesday, some members of the team's front office relocated to Houston and were working out of the Toyota Center as guests of the Rockets.

The NBA has sent a memo to teams telling them to prepare for the possible relocation of the Hornets.

"Even if the arena is operable, it still may be impossible to play games in New Orleans for some time," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik wrote in the e-mail message, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.

Officials have estimated that it could take months to pump all of the water out of New Orleans.

Oklahoma City is willing to host the team this season, Mick Cornett said Friday. The team opens its preseason schedule Oct. 13 at Denver's Pepsi Center against the Denver Nuggets.

Cornett said that the first choice for the Hornets would obviously be to find someplace in Louisiana to play their season, but he said that since Oklahoma City has an NBA-quality arena, the Ford Center, that does not now have a major league tenant, this could be an option.
"We could be the temporary home for the team and we're available if that makes sense to the city of New Orleans," Cornett said.

Baton Rouge, La., could be a strong option as a temporary location for the Hornets. The city is home to Louisiana State University's Pete Maravich Assembly Center, which holds 14,164.

Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said no decision had been made on where the team would play its home games.

[Doobie]

Hmmm , I would like them to go to Oklahome City , they might actually have alot of people attend their games since Oklahoma doesnt have an NBA team . It would be a smart move , moneywise.

[Indy]

Hmmm , I would like them to go to Oklahome City , they might actually have alot of people attend their games since Oklahoma doesnt have an NBA team . It would be a smart move , moneywise.

Haha, are you kidding??

There's a reason Oklahoma doesn't have a pro basketball team.

[Amphatoast]

haha no black people in the middle of the country

[John WB]

And that'd be?

Just curious.

[Anthony15]

wow...i guess they're moving to northwest division...lol

[rabbitx]

i want them to go to baltimore

[The Other Kevin]

We have a semi-empty arena up here, I think that the scedual can be re-accomidated so that the games don't intefere with the Islanders.

[[L3]1101]

vancouver hornets?

[Riot]

Hornets won't move that far away from New Orleans.

[Jugs]

I really want them to go to Las Vegas, it'll be good for them...

Oklahoma City sounds not bad either...

I want this team to stay in the NBA

[Indy]

And that'd be?

Just curious.

Well, for starters they have a population of around 500 thousand. Indianapolis is considered a small market and they have a population of about 800 thousand. Add on the fact that there is nobody in Oklahoma who cares about basketball. Don't bring up Oklahoma and Oklahoma States basketball teams, because the mass number of people who go to those games are people that attend the school, fans of the other team, or alumni. Plus, that there are no surrounding cities or towns anywhere near oklahoma where people are interested enough to move there for the season. (Believe it or not, that happens for often then you think.)

[Anthony15]

Yup, the Oklahome people don't really like b-ball, so not many will come to them. Actually it doesn't matter...nobody came to see them in New Orleans either!

[Fenix]

Las Vegas, here we come.

[Ataraxia]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... o_hornets/

Nashville Hornets sounds good

[Goldenstatewarrior]

I really want them to go to Las Vegas, it'll be good for them...

Oklahoma City sounds not bad either...

I want this team to stay in the NBA

That would be good. Plus, the all-star weekend will be there too.

[Doobie]

I really want them to go to Las Vegas, it'll be good for them...

Oklahoma City sounds not bad either...

I want this team to stay in the NBA

That would be good. Plus, the all-star weekend will be there too.

all-star weekend for 2007 will be in Las Vegas , I think NO will be home to the hornets by then...

[c0nr4d]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/37211/20050904/nashville_offers_nhl_arena_to_hornets/

Nashville Hornets sounds good

thats cool that'd be closer to my house too bad they couldnt do it all season...

[Null17]

lol c0nr4d, I always thought you were French hehe not from Tennessee

[Joe']

c0nr4d,
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Posts: 987
Location: Seymour, TN

[Null17]

You think I didn't see that yet? where do you think I got Tennesee from my last post?

It's just that I didn't bother looking his location until now.