[外電] Hornets tentatively agree to play in …
From: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2165840
Hornets tentatively agree to play in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City officials are drafting a proposed lease
agreement that will bring the NBA's New Orleans Hornets to the Ford Center to
play at least part of their 41-game season, authorities said.
An announcement is scheduled as early as Monday on plans to temporarily
relocate the Hornets to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina devastated New
Orleans, making it unfeasible for the team to play its season, which starts
in November, in its hometown.
Mayor Mick Cornett said a city council meeting will be scheduled Wednesday
morning to review the proposed contract. He said he is not sure the public
will have a chance to review it beforehand.
"We're calling a council meeting as soon as we can," Cornett told The
Associated Press late Sunday. "Everything is going well, but we still have a
few details to work out."
NBA representatives toured the Ford Center, which seats 19,675 when
configured for basketball games, and met with Oklahoma City officials on
Sept. 9.
"If the games can't be played in Louisiana for whatever reason, I'm anxious
for Oklahoma City to have a chance to prove that it's a major league market,"
Cornett said.
Cornett previously said the agreement will include some expenses the city and
state will be asked share as part of the move.
It is still not known how many games, if any, might be played in Louisiana.
The Times-Picayune reported Sunday the team would establish most of their
base operations in Oklahoma City, but would also keep a smaller office in
either New Orleans or Baton Rouge.
Cornett said the number of games to be played in Louisiana will be decided by
the NBA and Louisiana authorities.
If the team moves to Oklahoma City, it is expected to relocate 100 employees
from Louisiana and also hire 50 people locally to do a "rapid ramp-up" of
telemarketing and ticket sales promotions.
Combined with the players, the team would bring an approximate $50 million
payroll to the state -- an incentive, Cornett told The Oklahoman, for the
state to share in providing support for the teams expenses.
Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, has said he plans to file legislation that
would provide state money to the city to help pay for the teams relocation
costs.
"This is not just a good thing for Oklahoma City to host this team while
their facilities are rebuilt," Dorman said in a statement. "It also is a
promotion for the entire state with teams and fans that would travel here for
games and, in turn, a strong boost to our economy."
Oklahoma City is not the only city that has offered the team a new home in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Others include Nashville, San Diego, Kansas
City, Louisville and Las Vegas.
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