Are the Hornets having a bad time putting people in the stands? I notice they are like 5th from the bottom in the league in attendance. I also see that they are giving away 2 tickets for the price of one at the Atlanta game tonight. On different internet sites, I have read that Shinn is giving away up to 2000 tickets per game to school kids in the NOLA area and I have read that season ticket sales were down about 2500 from an already low 8500. What gives? Guys this is a winning team in a new market. This should not be happening, if indeed the things I have read are true.
They are true, to a large degree. The Hornets are suffering from attendance problems, for a couple reasons: 1. They're a basketball team in football territory. This was a problem for Houston before they started winning in the late 70's. Fans in New Orleans are more interested in the Saints than the Hornets. 2. They're in a small market Charlotte may have been small, but its bigger and has a more basketball-interested population than the Big Easy. Paired with number one, the bottom line is that New Orleans is a town that can only support one pro sports team, and the people choose the saints. Both of these reasons were known when Shinn decided to move the team from Charlotte to NOLA, but he ignored them because of his and Ray Woodridge's pride. They alienated the fans in Charlotte, so they decided to leave instead of repairing that relationship. Most people predicted that the Hornets would face these problems, if not right away then after a couple years. The Hornets may very well have to move again, and if that happens, don't be surprised if David Stern and the league force George and Ray to give up the team.
Worst owners in the league = George Shinn and Ray Woolridge. Give it a few more seasons and the Hornets may once again be at the bottom of the league in fan support. The league should have known this beforehand and force Shinn and Woolridge to give up the team before they moved to New Orleans. I thought it was such a ridiculous decision to move to a smaller market like New Orleans. But Stern promised that Charlotte would have another basketball team. And now here come the Bobcats. Also, the Hornets lead the league in attendance for a couple years and were in the top 5 a number of years while they were in Charlotte. It just goes to show you the greed and stupidity of the owners. Hence why they are the worst owners in the league, imo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting starman85:</div><div class="quote_post">1. They're a basketball team in football territory. </div> I think starman solved this mystery. It's either the football issue or ignorant fans. Why else would people not be paying to go see Baron Davis Play?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">Worst owners in the league = George Shinn and Ray Woolridge. Give it a few more seasons and the Hornets may once again be at the bottom of the league in fan support. The league should have known this beforehand and force Shinn and Woolridge to give up the team before they moved to New Orleans. I thought it was such a ridiculous decision to move to a smaller market like New Orleans. But Stern promised that Charlotte would have another basketball team. And now here come the Bobcats. Also, the Hornets lead the league in attendance for a couple years and were in the top 5 a number of years while they were in Charlotte. It just goes to show you the greed and stupidity of the owners. Hence why they are the worst owners in the league, imo.</div> So sayeth the alienated Charlotte fan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">So sayeth the alienated Charlotte fan.</div> Do you doubt him? What he said is absolutely correct, and even the league has agreed with that assessment. Stern seriously considered forcing Shinn/Woodridge to give up the team, but figured they'd learn from their mistakes, so he avoided a nasty league-ownership squabble. But if they make the same mistake, and it appears they are on that path, even the other owners in the league will side against Ray and George.
I don' doubt him in the least way. In lives right thurr, and he's a great online friend of mine for around 3 years now. And I brought him hurr. Gotta love that country grammar. Oh, and the Hornets better move again. The Jazz did way back when.
No prob, i was just surprised cuz i thought you were doubting, my bad. Yeah, I have a feeling they will move, but to where I'm not sure. One thing they should move is the name, in a three way trade. I know its been mentioned, but Utah should give their name to Nawlins, Nawlins should give theirs to Charlotte, and Utah can get the new name. There are probably more Bobcats in Utah than NC anyway.
