FORESHADOWING? The Hornets defeated the Lakers 103-90
last night before a capacity crowd of 16,994 at New Orleans
Arena (L.A. TIMES, 10/12). In Charlotte, Leonard Laye
writes that Hornets co-Owners George Shinn and Ray
Wooldridge "were given a tour" of the one-year-old arena,
which "would like to attract" an NBA team. Wooldridge: "We
took a tour of the building. But we're not negotiating with
anyone." The arena will seat about 18,500 for basketball.
It also has 44 skyboxes, with 21 more under construction,
plus 2,800 club seats (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/12).
WELCOME BACK: Raptors VP/Sales & service Chris Overholt
reports a 97% renewal rate for season-ticket holders, the
"best figure" in team history. In Toronto, Mary Ormsby
writes that new season ticket sales are also "upwards" of
25%, more "reason to believe the team has outgrown the
novelty stage" (TORONTO STAR, 10/12).
FAN FRIENDLY: In Providence, Kevin McNamara writes that
the Celtics "apparently will try to reach out to their fans
this season," as most of the team "left the locker room" an
hour before last night's game against the Bucks and "were
dispatched to various entrances" in the FleetCenter. The
players "greeted some startled fans for about 15 minutes"
before returning to the floor level (PROV. JOURNAL, 10/12).
