Thanks to JoeJoeJoe, my proposal for the Hornets to play a game or two a season in the Superdome is getting legs. Here it is on ESPN's TrueHoop Tuesday bullets.
Maybe we could get that Zirin guy to publicize it as well...
Update: I asked John Deshazier of the T-P what he thought, and here's what he said. Honest, but not optimistic:
My guess would be, "No." He'd have to receive permission from the Saints, I believe, which he isn't likely to receive, and it would be a nightmare if, say, only 12,000 people showed up for a facility configured to host 35,000. But that's just a guess on my part.
Dave Zirin also weighed in:
As for the Hornets, as I'm sure you know, Shinn inquired about moving the team to OKC only to be rebuffed. He is beyond sleazy. Expect anything from that guy.
Update 2: It gets even more legs. And yes, it is gimmicky. A gimmick that may keep the Hornets in New Orleans.
Wow! I know somebody that's famous!
Posted by: Howie Luvzus | 29 January 2008 at 02:10 PM
Who?
Posted by: ashley | 29 January 2008 at 03:11 PM
Yes, but do you find it depressing? :-)
Posted by: saintseester | 29 January 2008 at 04:24 PM
Why would the Saints have anything to say about it, unless it was during football season?
Posted by: mominem | 29 January 2008 at 04:57 PM
I don't understand why the Hornets need permission from the Saints.
SMG manages both the New Orleans Arena and the Superdome. The NFL season ends in January leaving February, March, and April to hold an NBA game. The Superdome holds many other events and you need a free date but do the Saints really have anything to do with booking the 'Dome after their season is over?
As for the prospect of "a nightmare", Mr. Shinn could pledge to give X,000 seats to New Orleans school kids and their families but only on the condition that the Hornets sell X number of advance tickets (say 45,000) to the game. If it's a marquee game I'm sure the visiting team will travel thousands of fans with the right promotion. Nobody wants to stick the Hornets with a game in an empty Superdome. Make moving the game conditional on pre-sales of a subtantial number of seats (say 30K+). Wikipedia says the Superdome seats 55,675 for basketball.
Posted by: joejoejoe | 29 January 2008 at 05:11 PM
For comparison, the Buffalo Sabres hockey team held a special outdoor game at Ralph Wilson Stadium and experiences a 380% increase in atttendance for the one game, from 18,690 to 71,217.
I have to believe the Hornets playing at the Superdome would see a similar effect. And if the team aimed for a 250% for-profit increase in attendance and gave the rest to charity under the NBA Cares program I guarantee the game would sell out.
Posted by: joejoejoe | 29 January 2008 at 05:19 PM
While I won't comment about the sleaziness of George Shinn, I do think that he is above all else a businessman. In the end, he won't stay in NOLA or try to move the team for the hell of it, he only wants to make money.
I also don't think they would need the Saints permission because of the SMG issue. They could certainly talk up the game, have it nationally broadcast, and against a good opponent. Not saying they'd draw 70,000 but 35,000 seems realistic.
Fantastic idea!
Posted by: JMA | 29 January 2008 at 09:13 PM
I love that this story is going places. More, More, More!
Posted by: Terp | 30 January 2008 at 10:20 AM
NHL playoffs soon, if after you recover from Mardi Gras.
Posted by: Marco | 30 January 2008 at 05:48 PM
I have posted a link to the blog that I just set up as part of a research project regarding the depth of parents' opinions and behavior regarding their children's participation in youth sports activities.
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