Hornets Riding All-Star Weekend To Jump In Ticket Sales

Hornets Seeing Increase In Ticket Sales Since All-Star Game

The Hornets have seen a "significant surge in attendance since the city hosted" All-Star Weekend in February, according to a front-page piece by John Reid of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Friday’s game against the Jazz marked the Hornet’s fourth sell out at New Orleans Arena in the team’s last six home games. It was also the first back-to-back sellout during a 41-game home schedule in New Orleans since the '02-03 season. And it made it "much more likely that the team will be in the Crescent City to stay."  In January, the Hornets amended a lease agreement with the state of Louisiana that "calls for the team to average 14,735 fans" from December 1, 2007 through the end of the '08-09 season before an opt-out clause kicks in. The Hornets for the last six games have averaged 16,258 fans, increasing the average in the 23 games since December 1 to 13,743, meaning the team needs to average 15,174 in paid attendance at remaining home games this season and next to "prevent the opt-out clause from kicking in." Hornets Owner George Shinn: "I've got to be pleased, but I really honestly didn't feel it would come this quick." With only 6,500 season-ticket holders this season, Hornets officials said that the team's "spike in attendance is attributed to strong walk-up sales and advanced tickets." The Hornets also have had "strong sales from some select ticket promotions" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/2).