As the New Orleans Hornets ready themselves for their third season, its status as a bonafide NBA city remains unclear. Last year attendance dropped by 5 percent, as nearly 1,000 season ticket holders did not renew.
In attempts to remedy the decline, the franchise's marketing department has worked to assist the city embrace the Hornets. They have run more TV and radio commercials targeting a youthful demographic recently, and implemented a network of regional sales offices aimed at fans from Biloxi, Miss., to Baton Rouge.
"This is a key season for us," Hornets COO Jack Capella said. "We know the league is watching. I don't know that they are looking at it to see whether basketball can make it in this city, but they are certainly expecting us to perform better than we have in the first two years."
There is reason to be optimistic as the Hornets will shift into the Western Conference, meaning more games with high profile teams such as the Lakers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Kings and Spurs.
Originally posted by KawshenThere is reason to be optimistic as the Hornets will shift into the Western Conference, meaning more games with high profile teams such as the Lakers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Kings and Spurs.
Unfortunately, that also means more losses to high profile teams such as the Lakers, Nuggets, T-Wolves, Rockets, Kings and Spurs. If the Hornets struggled in the East last year, what chance do they have in the Western Conference, let alone the Division of Death? Mexico City Hornets has a nice sound.
(edited by redsoxnation on 31.8.04 1153) The Public Demands: Replace the Star Spangled Banner with Brass Bonanza.
I think Tim Floyd gets a bum rap because he was the guy who followed Phil Jackson into the United Center. In no less than two games against the Pacers, Floyd's expert coaching gave the Hornets a shot directly underneath the basket in crucial game situations-- including one that would have won the game. It's not Floyd's fault that both of those shots missed.
I think the real problem is their freakin' owner, eh?
“Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey-- which of course is illegitimate because as we all know, donkeys have four legs.”
--Lance Storm, WWF RAW, 1/21/02
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RSN: Minor detail. Who WOULDN'T struggle in the NBA with Tim Floyd as your coach?
Phil Jackson wouldn't have been able to do anything with that team that Floyd got.
As the New Orleans Hornets ready themselves for their third season, its status as a bonafide NBA city remains unclear. Last year attendance dropped by 5 percent, as nearly 1,000 season ticket holders did not renew.
In attempts to remedy the decline, the franchise's marketing department has worked to assist the city embrace the Hornets. They have run more TV and radio commercials targeting a youthful demographic recently, and implemented a network of regional sales offices aimed at fans from Biloxi, Miss., to Baton Rouge.
I don't know what the numbers are across the board, but the NBA is really pricing themselves out of their target demographic. I certainly can't afford to go to more than one or two games a year if that.
Move 'em to Virginia Beach. That's where I'm moving in about two weeks, and I need to have an NBA team around me or I'll go mad.
Of course, my love will always be with the Pacers.
“Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey-- which of course is illegitimate because as we all know, donkeys have four legs.”
--Lance Storm, WWF RAW, 1/21/02
Two-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02)
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
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The Sacramento Bee has reported that after losing the bid to purchase the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle as the new SuperSonics, Valiant Capital's Chris Hansen donated $100,000 to Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP)