Hornets Owner Tom Benson said yesterday that President Hugh Weber, the man who "helped hold the Hornets’ franchise together during the 17 months it was owned by the NBA, is leaving the team," according to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Saints President Dennis Lauscha "will hold the same title with the Hornets, overseeing both of Benson's professional franchises." Benson said, "It is important to note that if it were not for [Weber's] leadership in running the Hornets during a very difficult time, this sale would have not happened." Weber said, "They have a very specific business plan and model that has proven to be successful. I didn’t quite fit into the model and plan. Instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, they decided to look at other options. That’s the nature of this business. It was very amicable and very good." He added, "I don't have any plans to rush into the next thing" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/18). The AP's Brett Martel noted the NBA retained Weber "after buying the Hornets from George Shinn in December 2010, and Weber played a leading role in boosting the Hornets' season ticket base to more than 10,000 as part of the league's plan to make the team more attractive to potential local buyers." Weber became a "common sight at team-sponsored social gatherings at the homes of business leaders around New Orleans in an effort to deepen the roots of the Hornets in the Big Easy and end a cycle of lackluster attendance for the club since it moved to Louisiana from Charlotte" in '02 (AP, 6/18).
