NBA votes to allow Charlotte Hornets to move to New Orleans

Jet, May 27, 2002

National Basketball Association owners recently voted to approve the Charlotte Hornets' move to New Orleans at the conclusion of the season, ending the team's 14-year run in North Carolina.

After a referendum to finance a new arena was defeated last year, the Hornets' owners, George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge, said they needed to relocate to avoid millions of dollars in annual losses, in part from drastically declining attendance (the team was last in the NBA in attendance this season).

The move to Louisiana came after an unprecedented effort by city and state officials, members of Congress and civic leaders to convince NBA officials that Louisiana's economic future is bright and that New Orleans could support a second pro sports franchise in addition to the NFL's Saints.

At the news conference announcing the move, a giant purple and teal New Orleans Hornets jersey was unveiled.