Hornets Approaching 6,500 Season-Ticket Sales In New Orleans

Hornets Closing In On 6,500 Season-Ticket Base

The Hornets are "approaching 6,500 season-ticket equivalents sold," below their goal of 10,000 season tickets, but NBA Commissioner David Stern "remains optimistic about the franchise's potential for success in New Orleans this season," according to John Reid of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Stern said he wants the Hornets "to shatter any notion that it will be worse than it was before." Stern: "They are in a better position economically [than] before Katrina hit, and that to me is the best case and that's very exciting to me. They have moved back and embraced the community." Stern indicated that the Hornets are "seeking to attract fans from various parishes in the metro area," which represents over 1 million residents. Stern: "There's some strange reporting that says New Orleans used to be 400,000 and it's only 200,000. That may be true, but that's not the base as to which the Hornets draw at." Stern will attend Wednesday's Kings-Hornets season-opener at New Orleans Arena. Hornets Dir of Corporate Communications Michael Thompson said that the game is not sold out, but that the team  "plans to make a strong push early next week to get more tickets sold." Meanwhile, the club has sold 54 of 57 suites.  Stern said the NBA is "going to participate in what we think is going to be a terrific rebuilding year for the city," including holding the All-Star Game in New Orleans in February (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 10/26).