The Hornets have chosen Greensboro, N.C., "as the host city" for their NBA D-League franchise, which will begin play next fall, according to Jeff Mills of the Greensboro NEWS & RECORD. An official announcement is expected tomorrow. Greensboro "beat out" Asheville and Fayetteville to land the team. Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield said that the team "will play its home games" in the Pavilion at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, although the building "will need significant renovation including a permanent roof, new locker room facilities and retractable seating for 2,500." The team’s front office staff "will be housed in second-floor offices at the recently renovated Convention & Visitors Bureau" adjacent to the Coliseum. Details on renovation costs, who will "do the work and how long it will take remained unclear Saturday, although hotel tax money is expected to pay for the Pavilion project." Whitfield: “We’ve hired a team president who will manage the day-to-day business operations. We plan on introducing him on Tuesday. And we plan to have a staff on the ground in the market and selling tickets in January.” Greensboro’s team "would be the 20th in the D-league, and it would be owned and operated by the Hornets" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 10/25). Hornets coach Steve Clifford said that setting up a D-League affiliate within driving distance of Charlotte "could have big benefits." Clifford: “The opportunity to build continuity for young guys so they can play. They can both be here with us practicing and get game time (with the D-League team)" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/26).
