Oklahoma City – With the bomb tragedy his city endured 10 years ago embedded in his mind, the last thing Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett wants to do is kick New Orleans when it is down.
The New Orleans Hornets relocated to Oklahoma City this season after Hurricane Katrina and flooding left New Orleans in shambles. For now, Oklahoma City has its first major pro sports franchise in its 116-year history. Even so, Cornett maintains his city is not trying to steal the Hornets. The 1995 bombing that killed 168 people leaves him unusually sympathetic.
“The NBA decides where the Hornets play,” Cornett said in a recent phone interview. “If they can’t return, they have a place to play. But we are a city that also experienced a disaster 10 years ago and was in disappointing straits. So, we’re highly sensitive to what the people of the Gulf Coast are going through.”
The Nuggets (5-1) ruined the debut here for the Hornets (1-4) and nearly blew a 26-point lead en route to a 97-93 preseason victory Sunday night at the Ford Center. There were 14,475 boisterous fans, and those remaining at the end clapped in approval. Numerous NBA executives also were on hand to evaluate the venue and event.
“It’s wonderful, because we’ve been trying to get an NBA team here for 25 years, even if it’s part-time,” Oklahoma City native Leroy Richardson said.
Hornets guard Chris Paul, who scored a game-high 26 points, said: “The brand-new court is great, and there seems to be a buzz around the place.”
Almost 10,000 regular-season tickets have been sold, not including mini-ticket plans, for the 35 contests here. The Nov. 1 home opener against Sacramento in the 19,675-seat NBA-ready venue is expected to be sold out. The Hornets had an NBA-worst average attendance of 14,221 last season.
“It’s not just the city but the entire state that’s talking about the Hornets,” Cornett said.
The Hornets are using the Ford Center for free this season. Oklahoma City provided the team with temporary housing for up to 100 employees and furnished office space. The Hornets also are guaranteed to earn between $30 million and $40 million in revenue this season, no matter the attendance.
If the Hornets’ revenue falls short of $40 million, the city and state of Oklahoma, as well as a group of businessmen, will pay up to $10 million to the team, according to The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. The Hornets also have an option to play the 2006-07 season here.
“They don’t have a pro team, and they’ve been trying to get one for years,” said Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera, a former University of Oklahoma star. “They’ve found a great opportunity, so they have to make it work.”
Although New Orleans had limited corporate dollars, Cornett says Oklahoma City has the needed revenue to succeed. Oklahoma City has three of the world’s largest energy companies, and Dell Inc. opened a 62-acre business service center this year.
“We are large enough, and our businesses are, (too),” Cornett said.
The Hornets’ lease with New Orleans Arena is through 2012, according to The Times-Picayune, which reported Sunday that if the Hornets leave, they must pay a $10 million exit penalty in keeping with the contract signed when the team relocated from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002.
An arena official said last week the venue could be repaired by February. If so, three remaining games scheduled for Baton Rouge, La., including a March 18 game against Denver, could be moved back to New Orleans. Although Oklahoma City has embraced the Hornets, Hornets owner George Shinn and NBA commissioner David Stern recently said the franchise will return to New Orleans. The NBA must approve a move back to New Orleans.
“We’re planning to have a team in New Orleans,” Stern said. “That’s the plan. This is a temporary, interim solution in Oklahoma City. And George Shinn feels that way and has expressed that on the record publicly.”
Although the Hornets may not be here long-term, Cornett hopes a good showing can get the city a permanent NBA team.
“We got to support this team with all we got and prove we’re a major-league city,” he said. “If we can do that, the NBA will get us a team.”
Footnotes
Nuggets forward Bryon Russell missed the game with a left knee strain and is scheduled to be evaluated by a doctor today. “It’s been bothering me since we left to go on this road trip,” he said. … Teammate Marcus Camby has missed five straight games with a plantar fascia strain in his left foot, but said he will play in the final two preseason games. … Nuggets coach George Karl said he expects at least one of the rookies, Julius Hodge or Linas Kleiza, to join Austin of the NBA Development League when its training camp begins Nov. 6.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
