Oklahoma City – Tears nearly came to the eyes of Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett when he reflected about the reality of saying goodbye to his New Orleans friends, with whom his city has fallen in love the past two years.
And when the buzzer sounds to end the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets’ final game here tonight, against the Nuggets, don’t be surprised if Cornett is joined by other Oklahomans wiping their eyes.
“It will be emotional,” Cornett said. “It will be more gracious than anything else. It will be a collective thank-you for the citizens of New Orleans and to (Hornets owner) George Shinn and the Hornets for two wonderful seasons.
“I’m tearing up thinking about it. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like.”
The NBA looked at several cities to relocate to after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005. The proximity, deep pockets and an NBA-ready arena made Oklahoma City the logical choice for a temporary refuge. After years of trying to lure an NBA or NHL team, Oklahoma City got the chance to prove it could successfully host a major-league franchise. The city believes it has delivered.
The Hornets played 36 home games here last season and 34 this season, and 31 of those 70 games were in front of wild, sellout crowds. The team has averaged 18,327 fans over those 70 games.
While the Hornets will be gone after tonight, Oklahoma City is optimistic the NBA will be coming back soon.
The 30-team league isn’t expected to expand any time soon. But there is speculation the Seattle SuperSonics, whose new owners are from Oklahoma, might move to Oklahoma City if a new arena plan isn’t reached in Seattle soon. Although Las Vegas, San Jose and Kansas City have also shown interest in acquiring an NBA franchise, Oklahoma City is optimistic it is the front-runner should a team move.
Cornett said there is a “real chance” Oklahoma lands a franchise in the next year or two. He said there will be upgrades to the 5-year-old, 19,599-seat Ford Center and a practice facility will be built soon to lure a team. He said interest in the NHL has died.
“I assume Oklahoma City is now at the top of that list,” Cornett said. “That’s what Commissioner (David) Stern says, that when someone looks to go somewhere else or threatens to go somewhere else, they are going to use Oklahoma City’s name.”
Said Stern in a teleconference Wednesday: “I don’t have a team to send and I can’t tell you a date, but it’s my expectation that the NBA has not played its last game in Oklahoma City.”
Despite many concerns about having the Hornets move back to New Orleans full time, due to the mammoth reconstruction efforts still going on, Stern said “there is nothing” that will keep the Hornets from returning to New Orleans for the 2007-08 season.
As for the Hornets’ experience in Oklahoma City, guard Chris Paul said: “It definitely will be something I’ll never forget. It’s been my home during my first two seasons in the NBA. The fans have been great. The city has been great to us.”
The Hornets were last in the NBA in attendance during the 2004-05 season and had zero corporate sponsors. But in six home games in New Orleans this season, they averaged 17,129 fans and had two sellouts, including a New Orleans Arena-record 18,535 for the Los Angeles Lakers game March 23.
The Hornets have two major corporate sponsors for next season and are expecting to sign more. Season-ticket sales are going well, too.
“You’re going back to a city that is rebuilding, that’s looking for that hope, that spark,” Hornets coach Byron Scott said. “The (NFL’s) Saints gave it to them last year, and hopefully we can do the same thing when we go back.”
Houston all-star guard Tracy McGrady and players union director Billy Hunter have expressed concern about security for the the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans. But New Orleans has hosted many major events since Katrina, including Mardi Gras, the annual jazz festival and the Bayou Classic (Southern vs. Grambling State in football).
“I know a lot of players are concerned with safety, security and things like that,” Lakers all-star Kobe Bryant said. “But this city will be fine by the time that comes around, I’m sure.”
Said Shinn: “They are working real hard to get things in place, and I’ve seen a lot of improvement. I think David Stern made the right decision. We’re going to make this work.”
While saying goodbye tonight, Oklahoma City can celebrate the fact it is now a proven major-league town.
“We’ve played Amarillo, Wichita and Lubbock and Fort Worth and been satisfied and pleased to support those (minor-league) teams,” Cornett said. “But now when you have an opportunity to be on a higher level and a bigger profile, it really helps. And this is from a mayoral perspective: It builds pride in your citizens.
“It’s one thing for your mayor to say you can support a major-league franchise. It’s another to do it. We’re not a city that thought it might be able to. We’re a city that can.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
BY THE NUMBERS
17,915
2006-07 average attendance for Hornets games in Oklahoma City (34 games); 15th in the league
18,717
2005-06 average attendance for Hornets games in Oklahoma City (36 games); ninth in the league
14,221
2004-05 average attendance for Hornets games in New Orleans (41 games); 30th in the league
14,332
2003-04 average attendance for Hornets games in New Orleans (41 games); 28th in the league
