Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Franchises

Hornets' Sperling Making Progress On Securing New Owner, Long-Term Lease

The Hornets' search for a team owner “continues on a somewhat smooth path with the possible announcement of a new caretaker, as well as a long-term lease extension, coming within the next few months," according to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Hornets Chair Jac Sperling said that he “foresees no difficulties reaching that goal.” Sperling: “I think we’re making excellent progress in connection with the sale of the team. One thing I want to note is that the team is being sold on the condition that there’s a long-term lease here with the New Orleans Arena and the state. That’s being made clear to all the potential purchasers.” Sperling said, “We have had excellent interest from a number of different potential purchasers." He added, "I don’t want to get into the number, just to say that there’s significant interest from a good number of groups.” Sperling also has been “engaged with the Superdome Commission in negotiating a 10-year lease extension -- with no escape clauses -- that would bind the Hornets to New Orleans Arena for the next 12 to 13 years.” Sperling has been in New Orleans “full time recently after splitting time between here and his home in Minnesota.” He plans on remaining in New Orleans "until the deal is consummated" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/12).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/01/12/Franchises/Hornets.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/01/12/Franchises/Hornets.aspx

CLOSE