BloodAtFirstBite Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Hornets have requested an option that would allow the team to spend a third season in Oklahoma City as a contingency plan if it is unable to return to New Orleans in 2007-08 as planned. The request is being handled as part of a negotiations to resolve a disagreement over the amount of revenue from last season the team must share with the city. "Any smart business is going to put a contingency plan together, and that's all this is," Hornets spokesman Michael Thompson said Thursday. After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina last August, the Hornets were left without a home only about two months before the NBA season started. They ended up playing 36 of their home games in Oklahoma City and one in Norman. "A year ago on Aug. 29 we didn't have a contingency plan and we got very, very lucky that we landed in Oklahoma City," Thompson said. The request was first reported Thursday by The Oklahoman on its Web site. "It's not something we're focused on," Thompson said. "Our focus is on a successful return to New Orleans in '07-'08." The Hornets aren't the first team to seek a backup plan. Earlier this week, the New Jersey Nets agreed to extend their lease at the Continental Airlines Arena for five years, even though they expect to be in a new arena in Brooklyn within that time frame. NBA commissioner David Stern has repeatedly said the Hornets will play all of their games in New Orleans in 2007-08 -- including last month as the U.S. prepared to play at the world championships. "It will happen," Stern said at the time. "We ultimately decide where their games will be scheduled. The following years, our plans are for them to play 41 games in New Orleans." Thompson and Tom Anderson, Oklahoma City's special projects manager, said negotiations between the Hornets and the city are still ongoing. Any agreement would be subject to approval by the City Council. "I think we're real close," Anderson said. Also Thursday, The Oklahoman and three other Oklahoma-based businesses -- MidFirst Bank, Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Devon Energy Corp. -- agreed to be the Hornets' primary sponsors for their second season in Oklahoma City. The Hornets will play 35 home games at Oklahoma City's Ford Center this season and the other six -- including the season opener -- in New Orleans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac the Knife Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 It doesn't get mentioned much if at all, but all four major sports have semi-secret contingency plans in place for certain types of disasters (for example, if a charter plane carrying the San Diego Padres were to crash, killing all on board).I'm surprised more teams don't have their own contingency plans for events that wipe out their playing facilities (terrorist attack, hurricane or other natural disaster, etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Yeah, they're staying. ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCap Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 OKC Hornets all the way. The city's shown them more support then NOLA ever did. PotD 26/2/12 1/7/15 2020 BASS Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Regular Season Champion 2021 BASS NFL Pick'em Regular Season Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 And besides, nobody really wants the Supersonics to move, especially Oklahoma City fans. "Thanks for supporting the Hornets. But we're taking them away now. Here, have the crappy Sonics." ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leedsunited Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 OKC Hornets all the way. The city's shown them more support then NOLA ever did. And that says something. NOLA residents know crap when they see crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 Good for OKC. They go from no NBA franchises to two in a matter of a couple of years. Amazing. 1 hour ago, ShutUpLutz! said: and the drunken doodoobags jumping off the tops of SUV's/vans/RV's onto tables because, oh yeah, they are drunken drug abusing doodoobags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 Should the unthinkable happen, when was the last time a team in the NBA Finals relocated? It would be 1996 if the Supersonics moved, but I can't think of which would have been before that. (San Francisco Warriors don't count.) ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 The present-day Kings won a championship in Rochester, NY as the Royals in 1951. Did the Fort Wayne Pistons ever win anything?Besides the Warriors, what other movement in the NBA has there been? I can think of the Clippers/Braves (were the Braves ever in a Final?), the Jazz, and Grizzlies. 1 hour ago, ShutUpLutz! said: and the drunken doodoobags jumping off the tops of SUV's/vans/RV's onto tables because, oh yeah, they are drunken drug abusing doodoobags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclopsis Joe Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 The Hawks haven't been seen in Atlanta since like, the early 90s. I don't speak for democrats, democrats don't speak for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 So: '91 Minnesota North Stars'83 Los Angeles Raiders'71 Baltimore Bullets'56 Brooklyn Dodgers ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCap Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 OKC Hornets all the way. The city's shown them more support then NOLA ever did. And that says something. NOLA residents know crap when they see crap. So team loyalty/the fact that went to the playoffs in their first few years in NOLA mean nothing? PotD 26/2/12 1/7/15 2020 BASS Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Regular Season Champion 2021 BASS NFL Pick'em Regular Season Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I say if teh Sonics move they shoudl go to NOLA and the Hornets stay in OKC. OKC deserves a team no matter what. www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logodawg Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I say if teh Sonics move they shoudl go to NOLA and the Hornets stay in OKC. OKC deserves a team no matter what. Wouldn't be easier just to move the Sonics to OKC? And IF the Hornets to end up moving out of New Orleans, would someone who had just spent hundreds of millions of dollars to buy a NBA team want to move them to a city that just showed that it is not the best market for a basketball team? I once had a car but I crashed it. I once had a guitar but I smashed it. I once, wait where am I going with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac the Knife Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 So: '91 Minnesota North Stars'83 Los Angeles Raiders'71 Baltimore Bullets'56 Brooklyn Dodgers The Baltimore -to- Washington Bullets, at least in NBA eyes, wasn't technically a move. Teams can move their playing site/offices within a 75-mile radius of their previous location under the NBA's constitution. The move from Baltimore to Landover, MD (when they briefly became the "Capital" Bullets) was later followed to the move to their current playing site.The Lakers, I think, would take the Bullets slot on the list, or perhaps the St. Louis Hawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Oh, okay. Still, sucked for the original Dodgers and Stars fans. ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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