What’s up: NBA commissioner David Stern announced last week that the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets will return to Oklahoma City to play 35 home games during the 2006-07 regular season. They’ll also play six games in New Orleans. The NBA anticipates having New Orleans back home for the entire 2007-08 season.
“For now, our collective interests are best served by having the team play the bulk of its 2006-07 schedule in Oklahoma City,” Stern said. “However, we are hopeful that the team will be in a position to return to New Orleans full time beginning in the 2007-08 season.”
What’s new: Stern also announced the league will enter exclusive negotiations with city and state officials to hold the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans. In January 2007, New Orleans will also serve as the host city for the NBA’s midyear marketing meetings, the largest annual gathering of league and team officials.
“The permanent identity of New Orleans as an NBA city is important to the image and the economy of our entire region,” Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco said.
Said Stern: “From everything we have seen and heard, we have little doubt that New Orleans will soon regain its place among the world’s premier cities for hosting major sporting events.”
What’s next: Oklahoma City got its wish of getting a major pro franchise with the arrival of the Hornets, who entered weekend play 11th in the NBA in attendance with an average of 17,335 per game. But once the Hornets depart in 2007, it’s back to the drawing board for Oklahoma City.
Spears’ take: Kudos to the NBA for not turning its back on New Orleans. Considering I have strong family ties to New Orleans, I must admit I am partial to the NBA staying in the Big Easy. But I also admit New Orleans will need to do a better job of supporting the Hornets once they come back, or rumors of their potential departure will resurface. Hopefully, New Orleans will be strong enough by 2007 to have the Hornets back. Oklahoma City is deserving of another team, and hopefully the NBA, NHL or both gives it one.
