Source: Hornets to submit bid to host NBA All-Star Weekend

Post #1 » by **JDR720** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:12 am

The Charlotte Hornets plan to formally submit a bid Tuesday to host either the 2017 or 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend, a source close to the process said Monday.

The team and the Charlotte Sports Foundation have called a news conference for Tuesday morning. It’s expected that’s when a formal announcement of the Hornets’ pursuit will be made.

The All-Star Weekend was in Charlotte once before, in 1991, when the original Hornets played here.

While it’s been no secret the Hornets are interested in hosting the annual mid-February event at Time Warner Cable Arena, there are potential complications. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during a March visit to Charlotte that an All-Star bid would be contingent on the city agreeing to various upgrades to the arena.

“It’s part of the understanding here that the building remain state of the art,” Silver said in March. “Nothing dramatic is needed. But certainly an upgrade to the scoreboard, some things with the suites and the lighting.”

Under lease terms between the city and the Hornets, who manage the nine-year-old publicly-funded arena, the parties will intermittently review keeping the facility up to date. The team and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority compiled a list of potential improvements that would cost nearly $42 million.

While emphasizing those upgrades would be a key factor in Charlotte’s pursuit of an All-Star Weekend, Silver was otherwise encouraging on Charlotte’s chances in March.

“I’d love to bring the All-Star Game back here,” Silver said. “This is a wonderful community, a hotbed of basketball, not just pro but college as well.”

Silver was asked again about Charlotte’s All-Star prospects at his news conference during league meetings in Las Vegas in July. He said nothing significant has changed since his comments in March, reiterating both the arena upgrades and his encouraging the Hornets to make a bid.

The NBA awarded the 2015 All-Star Weekend to New York and the 2016 event to Toronto. A decision on 2017 and ’18 is expected sometime this coming winter or spring.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/0 ... -lbLPldX1F#storylink=cpy

Liver_Pooty · Post #2 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:40 am

Arena could definitely use a nice face lift.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #3 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:25 am

The arena was one of the major things that ticked folks off at the Bobcats. Bad card to play just before the name change season!

Post #4 » by **fatlever** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:47 am

assuming this is the reason for the press conf tomorrow

amcoolio · Post #5 » by **amcoolio** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:51 am

"arena must be state of the art" is crap. Didn't New Orleans host it recently with that not-so-great, 90's arena?

Post #6 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:01 am

On the one hand, seems like Silver might just be doing the FO a favor in trying to get renovations paid for.

On the other hand, it's working - I'd LOVE to get an All Star game in Charlotte.

Elden Payton · Post #7 » by **Elden Payton** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:17 am

Would be amazing if we landed this.

#COUP

Hornet Mania · Post #8 » by **Hornet Mania** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:28 pm

amcoolio wrote:"arena must be state of the art" is crap. Didn't New Orleans host it recently with that not-so-great, 90's arena?

I suspect New Orleans got a little bit of a pass on not being state of the art because of the NBA Cares angle of supporting the city in its diminished state. I remember the broadcast playing up rebuilding the community there, as they should. I think the arena got a few minor upgrades as well, but probably less than what would be required of Charlotte.

I would love to see the ASG in Charlotte. Charlotte is never getting a Super Bowl (since the Richardson family apparently has no interest in applying for one) so the ASG is the next best thing. I think the city would really rise to the occasion and make it memorable. And you know the fans would pack the house, especially if a hometown guy made the team.

Post #9 » by **JDR720** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:26 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/scott_fowler/status/499199671181783040[/tweet]

Thats a lot

Post #10 » by **JDR720** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:31 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/hornets/status/499199237952126976[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/hornets/status/499199039205027840[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/499203437708738560[/tweet]

TheKingofSting · Post #11 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:52 am

This would be huge for Charlotte and both Carolinas!

HornetJail · Post #12 » by **HornetJail** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:20 am

JDR720 wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/scott_fowler/status/499199671181783040[/tweet]

Thats a lot

How does a 10-year-old arena that is maintained pretty well NEED $43M in renovation???

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #13 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:35 am

Buzzkill.

This was literally one of the worst things they could have done this summer. All star game is neat, but winning fans back is priority 1.

Liver_Pooty · Post #14 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:00 am

Looks like it would be paid for by a rental car tax. I never rent cars so im fine with it. Upgrade away!

TheKingofSting · Post #15 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:02 am

I don't rent cars either, do your thang!

BeesWax · Post #16 » by **BeesWax** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:37 am

We have an arena and a shot at an All Star game. Go for it. Won't dampen anyone I knows attitude.

LofJ · Post #17 » by **LofJ** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:37 am

Rental car taxes are really lame, as are hotel taxes. It just passes on the bill to people who don't live in the city. All it does is cause inconvenience for visitors. Usually, I just take a cab to the closest town outside the city to avoid paying the extra tax.

Robot Rock · Post #18 » by **Robot Rock** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 4:14 pm

LofJ wrote:Rental car taxes are really lame, as are hotel taxes. It just passes on the bill to people who don't live in the city. All it does is cause inconvenience for visitors. Usually, I just take a cab to the closest town outside the city to avoid paying the extra tax.

Think of it this way, we're making Lakers fans pay for our arena upgrades!

Post #19 » by **yosemiteben** » Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:50 pm

Good piece in the Charlotte Business Journal about this today.

Some highlights (article is subscription only):

Targeting 2017 or 2018 AS game

Charlotte won the right to host the PGA championship in 2017, so would be awesome to get this too

The lease for the arena requires the city to pay improvement charges for the first seven years, but doesn't specify the amounts of those charges. Hornets asked for $34M in improvements, and the visitors authority asked for about $8M.

Improvements would be added over a 5 year period.

The city backed the bid and is required to make improvements, so high likelihood that funds are made available.

Post #20 » by **fatlever** » Tue Aug 26, 2014 12:58 am

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/0 ... _vay2OTFDQ

city willing to commit 33.5 mil for upgrades.