Katrina forces Hornets to Oklahoma City for 2005-06

Oklahoma City, OK (Basketball News) - Due to the damage sustained to the New Orleans Arena from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the New Orleans Hornets will play a majority of their 2005-06 home schedule at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

On Wednesday it was announced that Oklahoma City Council members approved a lease that would allow the Hornets to play 35 of their 41-game home schedule and all playoff games at the 19,675-seat arena.

"I want to thank this community for extending your arms and embracing us. We are grateful, grateful, grateful. Thank you so much for giving us this wonderful opportunity," said Hornets majority owner George Shinn. "The next step is up to us. We have to do an incredible job selling and reaching this market and we will do that...That I will promise you."

The agreement reportedly states that Oklahoma City could have to pay up to $10 million to the Hornets if the club doesn’t reach the revenue marks set last season. On the other hand, if the Hornets surpass last year’s numbers by five percent, the team would be required to share 80 percent of its profits with the city.

In addition, Oklahoma City will make sure the team has use of a practice facility, office space and housing.

"Few American cities have experienced the level of tragedy as Oklahoma City," Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said. "I think for that reason our community has a heightened sensitivity for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. We accept that we are the best solution to solve one of the many problems and pledge our best efforts to support the Hornets."

With the new move, the Hornets will be referred to as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The club’s home jersey will feature "Hornets" across the front with the away jersey displaying "New Orleans."

The Hornets will play their six remaining home games at the Pete Maravich Center on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.

"It was important to the Hornets and the NBA that we maintain a presence in Louisiana in anticipation of a return to New Orleans next season," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a release.

The Ford Center currently is the home for the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL. That hockey team said on its Web site that it would need to move some home games to the Cox Convention Center, but is more than willing to make the concession. The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs, an arena football team that plays in af2, also call the Ford Center home. Their season is already over and will not be affected until the 2006 campaign starts.