The city of Charlotte "no longer [seems] engaged" with
the Hornets, according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, who reported that a crowd of "just over" 9,000
turned out for last Wednesday's game against the Bulls. The
team has had a "bizarre and tragic" season, which has
included the death of Bobby Phills, and the franchise has
lost around 7,000 season-ticket holders over the past four
years. Paid home attendance has dropped from an average of
over 24,000 in '97 to fewer than 18,000 this season.
Bonnell wrote that now is the time for the Hornets "to
recapture their magic" in the community by increasing ticket
sales, re-signing G Eddie Jones after the season and
"ultimately selling Charlotte city government on public
support for a new arena." Hornets co-Owner Ray Wooldridge
said the team has "a credibility problem." Although
Wooldridge said that he's "committed" to getting a new
downtown arena and keeping the Hornets in Charlotte, the
team "could break its lease" on December 31 "without
financial penalty if city government doesn't approve an
arena financing model." Potential suitors could include New
Orleans and Las Vegas (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/19).
Wooldridge, on Wednesday's attendance: "I obviously would
like to see a lot more people there. What are they waiting
on? Football? March Madness? Or are we still suffering
from (last season's) lockout?" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/18).
