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Source: New Orleans The Likely Front-Runner To Host Relocated '17 NBA All-Star Game

The NBA on Thursday pulled the '17 All-Star Game from Charlotte over the state's controversial HB2, and New Orleans is the "front-runner to host the event," according to a source cited by John Reid of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The source added that Pelicans Owner Tom Benson on Monday met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in N.Y. to offer his "full support on assisting with hosting" the game. New Orleans last hosted the game "under rave reviews" in '14 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/22). Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President & CEO Jay Cicero said that the organization is "going to do everything possible" to assist the NBA and Benson "in their efforts." New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu also "issued a statement about desiring to host NBA All-Star Weekend" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/22). In New Orleans, Brett Dawson notes there are "logistical issues" for the city over the Feb. 19 weekend, which is the first of Mardi Gras. Parades and the ASG "both require crowd management and a police presence, for example, and there would need to be enough staff to handle both" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 7/22). THE VERTICAL's Adrian Wojnarowski, who first broke the story of the game leaving Charlotte, cited sources as saying that the NBA had "discussed moving the All-Star Game to the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ... but scheduling conflicts at the facility became part of the reason the idea never advanced past high-level league conversations during the Las Vegas summer league this month" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/21).

OTHER CITIES VYING TO HOST: The DALLAS MORNING NEWS notes North Texas could "be a suitable replacement venue." It would "take an extended set of dominoes to fall, but Dallas has all the necessary framework in place that would make it a legitimate option for the league, most notably hotel and convention space." Dallas city councilman Philip Kingston has been "active on Twitter" lobbying the NBA and Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban for Dallas to host the game (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/22). In N.Y., Fred Kerber notes Mayor Bill de Blasio "welcomes the opportunity" for the city to host the game. The mayor tweeted, "If you want an inclusive city, respectful of all gender identities ... NYC welcomes you back" (N.Y. POST, 7/22). But in Atlanta, Chris Vivlamore notes the city is "an unlikely destination" to host. The Hawks and Atlanta are "planning major renovations to Philips Arena." A source said that that is the "major issue facing a move of the game to the city." Securing the necessary hotel rooms "may also be an issue" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/22).

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