New Orleans Hornets receive support from both fans and sponsors during the NBA Lockout
One of the main concerns for teams during the NBA lockout is that of revenue generation from ticket sales. People have no clue whether the season will take place or not and it is expected that most fans will turn their attention
towards either the NFL or the NHL. However, things seem to working differently in New Orleans at least.
Despite the lockout, the fans and businesses have offered full support to the New Orleans Hornets. Money has been pouring in constantly as the fans buy tickets and the sponsors sign deals; even thought the NBA season is far from
confirmed.
Team president Hugh Weber was very optimistic about the future and stated that the franchise was on the verge of signing more sponsorship deals in the coming few weeks. The major encouragement however, has been from the fans who
have stuck by the team in these uncertain times.
"Momentum is our most valuable commodity, and at a time when no one is talking about basketball, we're still making progress," Weber said. "That speaks to how the community feels about the team and how important they feel it is
for the team to have a long-term legacy here in New Orleans."
As it currently stands, the New Orleans Hornets is owned by the NBA. The ownership transferred last year when the National Basketball Association bought the team from founder George Shinn. However, NBA Commissioner David Stern
has emphasized that it is the top priority of the governing body to improve the income streams of the club so that a buyer dedicated to functioning the team should take charge.
This year, against all odds, the Hornets have been able to sign five seven figure sponsorship deals, which is something that has never happened in the history of the club. The story does not end here, as the Hornets are on the
lookout for a sixth and want to maximize their profits.
The tally for the season tickets has already reached 8,900 whereas last season it was only 6,300. This is a remarkable increase given the current conditions. It must be said that last season’s playoff show by Chris Paul and his
Hornets has certainly instilled a wave of belief and enthusiasm in the fans, who can’t wait to see their team back in action.
Weber stated that the club was also on the lookout for a new TV deal. The purpose of such a deal will be to arrange for the broadcasting of games on much wider scale, so that more and more households can enjoy the action live from
their homes.
New Orleans was hit by a disastrous flood some six years ago. The economic effects of Hurricane Katrina were so massive that the area is still recovering. This positive news is certainly going to help the situation to some extent.
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