RealGM

Uh Oh looks like the Hornets maybe on the move.... Las Vegas, Louisville, St. Louis, Seattle, Kansas City, Anaheim/ San Diego, Mexico City (Yep, on the list!) , or Vancouver?

The News:
Check your tweet feed! The Internets are on fire this morning after Yahoo posted this...
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70434/20101206/nba_has_deal_to_buy_hornets/

The Word:
To some of you SoCal natives I know this is like old news. But it some seem to think the NBA has just thrown gasoline on this once smoldering topic. So far I have heard locals in OC and SD kick this topic around at the local bars when I am home on visits. Nothing real or confirmed but most native realize that LA doesn't have an NFL team and it seems the Lakers and Clippers are doing extremely well sharing the market. Heck even Nascar has moved in in recent years. The Raiders and Rams depatures have left a vacuum in SoCal sports. Millions of dollars are awaiting its return. But until then it seems that the NBA is looking to take up the void and soak up some cash in the meantime. What say you SoCal? What say you Vegas?! If this topic is to broad freely move it to the appropriate area.

The "Facts.."
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entr ... 4/26278923
http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/12/new ... s_city.php

My POV:
Not so fast SoCal, even all the way out in old Kentucky, Louisville is rumored to be ready to steal a franchise away from Anaheim or San Diego. Louisville just finished a multimillion dollar arena that is scheduled to be paired with Donald Trump's development company in building a state of the art sports and entertainment and gambling complex.

In fact after Katrina/ Rita Birmingham, AL and Louisville, KY were on the short list behind Oklahoma City to play home fields to both the Saints and Hornets as Oklahoma City only had the facilities to support only the Hornets. Louisville had 2 football stadiums and the new bball gym that was not finished at the time. So OK City won out over Bham and LVille for the Hornets.

Oh yeah then there is Las Vegas...

Just For Fun:
http://dimemag.com/2009/08/10cities-tha ... -nba-team/

Overkill to have that many teams in the LA area.

Overkill to you and me. But since it appears the NBA is considering, means that they only see dollar signs...

while i'd like to have a team in Anaheim just so there's more opportunity to go see NBA ball, the truth is any team there would never have a true fan base. socal is lakers country, las vegas is lakers country too.

I mean that's like the Lakers, Clippers, Bruins, Trojans and <new_franchise> competing for one slice of the fan base. Its not like the Clippers have had a good fortune either.

I am very curious is this a grand scheme to save the Hornets with in tact. Meaning that Stern feels very sure that Paul is going to bolt and his only way to save the value of the franchise is to move it to SoCal or Vegas... A big market... To satisfy CP3 and to retain the value of the team.
For instance Cleveland is a mess, its value has plummeted significantly.

Stern may want to keep the Kings in SAC. Cos the Maloofs are hell bent on getting them to Vegas.

I think unless KC or someplace like Louisville can pull a rabbit out the hat the same way OKC did. I think it will be Cali or bust for the Hornets.

I would vote for Seattle. But that's not going to happen, which is a shame, because they had great fans and didn't deserve to lose the Sonics.

Moving the Hornets to Kentucky is way too far East for a Western conference team.

If any team moves to Anaheim it should be the Clippers, they'd be the Angels of the NBA. They already are (though I am an Angels fan).

Kansas City is a great city, wouldn't disrupt the arrangement of the league at all. They probably make the most sense.

Vegas please! Would love to have an NBA team here. I don't really like Chris Paul, but I could grow to like the Hornets. I'm pretty sure the Lakers would have the homecourt advantage if they were to play the Las Vegas Hornets though. LOL this is laker territory.

I also wonder how soon could a move happen. The reports seem to point to the NBA maybe wanting for a move to go down before the possible Lockout.

Anaheim has really done major construction in and around the Honda Center. But i don't think Stern would be happy with Honda Center as permanent residence for the Hornets. Even though the Honda Ctr. is not extremely old, Vegas maybe one of the best options. Vegas being Vegas, a new arena could go up 6 months to a year there I am sure. Plus the economy is Vegas is begging for something like this. Louisville, SD, and KC aren't necessarily that bad off Economically but could KC materialize a sufficient venue in such a short time. I just the economic factor would just intensify the push to move the Hornets to Vegas the politicians would be all for it that's for sure. The NBA would be seen in a better light for moving. As a move from N.O. would be very hard.

More Facts:

Honda Center Anaheim
· Basketball Capacity = 17,608
Building Facts
· Construction start date: June 1991
· Opening date: June 19, 1993
· Building original cost: $103 million
· Building final cost: $123 million

KFC-Yum Center Louisville
Broke ground December 2008
Opened 10 October 2010
Owner Louisville Arena Authority
Construction cost USD $ 238 Million (estimated)
Capacity 22,000+ (Basketball))

Sprint Center - OKC
Broke ground June 24, 2005
Opened October 10, 2007
Operator Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
Construction cost USD $ 276 million
Capacity 18,555 (basketball)

Thomas&Mack - Las Vegas
Opened September 16, 1983
Owner University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Architect Ellerbe Becket[1]
Capacity Basketball: 18,776

Scott Trade Ctr. St. Louis
Broke ground 1993
Opened October 8, 1994
Owner City of St. Louis
Operator Sports Capital Partners
(parent of the St. Louis Blues)
Construction cost $135 million
Basketball: 22,612

Valley View Casino Ctr. San Diego
Opened November 17, 1966 - Too Old!!! New arena for NBA for sure.
Owner Arena Group 2000
Operator Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
Construction cost $6.5 million USD
Basketball: 14,500

**** yeah now we get to have even more traffic

Give me a Pittsburgh team.

They should go to Seattle

Jay From LA wrote:**** yeah now we get to have even more traffic

Yeah and there is that horrifying effect. What a better way to encourage public transport!

KB24_ILLMATIC wrote:They should go to Seattle

Stern wants a new arena... Seattle aint up for it. Unless there was a change of heart in Seattle I am not aware of.

A new arena would boost the value of the team to a prospective buyer. Especially if CP3 leaves, a new arena would make the sale less bitter. But much sweeter with CP3 certainly. But yeah I would love if the Sonics came back.

H00PDREAMS wrote:

KB24_ILLMATIC wrote:They should go to Seattle

Stern wants a new arena... Seattle aint up for it. Unless there was a change of heart in Seattle I am not aware of. But yeah I would love if the Sonics came back.

Yeah hopefully they build a new Arena, it would be cool if they got a team with CP3 as there franchise player

the franchise would be known as The Los Angeles Hornets of Anaheim..who also were in New Orleans and Charlotte once

This is sad news to the city of New Orleans.
I know it's not like the Saints are leaving town but still a big hit.
I don't think the Hornets would thrive financially in the Los Angeles or Orange County Area.

The Clippers revunue isn't that great itself.
It's not like their selling out every night.
You could get seats three rows behind the bench for 150 bucks on some games.
Clipper Home of Course.

Las Vegas would be something special and no they would not be using the Thomas and Mack.
Too much history in that arena it belongs all to the Runnin Rebels of UNLV.

They would build a new arena no doubt, and for investors you know Vegas got that on lock.

Hornets won't come to SoCal. The NBA will want a new arena -paid for with taxpayer money- and if the NFL can't get that...

Besides, there's already the Honda Center, the Sports Arena, and the For***THE HORNETS WILL NOT MOVE IN THERE***, so a new arena isn't likely.

Jase wrote:

KB24_ILLMATIC wrote:They should go to Seattle

F#%@ SEATTLE!

They killed Kurt Cobain!