Nooooo!

GEC offers Hornets a home-court haven
Could host a dozen games; Vandy willing to help, too

By JOHN GLENNON
Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, 09/03/05 Gaylord Entertainment Center’s general manager has contacted the NBA to offer Nashville’s arena as a potential site for some New Orleans Hornets games this season.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets were forced from their home in New Orleans Arena, located next to the Louisiana Superdome, and are uncertain where they will play this season. The NBA has informed its teams there’s a possibility the Hornets will relocate.

Hugh Lombardi, general manager of the GEC, said like many Americans he’s been glued to the television, watching developments in New Orleans.

“We wanted to be sensitive to the whole issue and to see if we can help out if we could,’’ Lombardi said. “And also, if we could get some home dates here, it would be great for the city of Nashville.’’

Scheduling, however, could pose a problem.

The Hornets need 41 home games, and events already booked at GEC — such as Predators games, Nashville Kats games, college basketball and concerts — would leave room for only about a dozen of the NBA team’s currently scheduled home games.

Lombardi hadn’t heard back from the NBA as of early last night, but expects to talk to league representatives next week.

“Right now we’re trying to get a sense as to what the NBA is planning,’’ he said. “I don’t even know if they’d consider playing anywhere just partially. I assume they’d want to play in one place for the whole season and I know we couldn’t accommodate that.’’

The GEC seats a little more than 19,000 for basketball. New Orleans Arena seats 14,164.

Lombardi said Predators owner Craig Leipold, whose Powers Management controls day-to-day operations of the GEC, is being kept up to date on the situation. The arena will host an NBA preseason game between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks Oct. 24.

Should the Hornets look elsewhere in Nashville for a venue, Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs David Williams said Memorial Gym can handle an NBA game. Williams hadn’t been contacted by the NBA or team.

“If we can be of any help, we will help,’’ Williams said.

The NBA informed its teams the Hornets, slated to play their first home game on Nov. 4, may be relocating for this season. Oklahoma City has offered its Ford Center as a home site and Baton Rouge, La., is also a possibility.

The Hornets open training camp at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, beginning Oct. 3.


Published: Saturday, 09/03/05

 

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