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It is shameful that the Hornets are successful and the attendance isn't reflective of that; however, take into consideration the following:
1) IMO, the Baton Rouge and Gulf Coast Mississippi metro areas are a little too disconnected to be a part of the Hornets' consumer/fan base. So that 3 million number should be downsized to about 1.3-1.4 million (the pop of the 10-parish [which is very forgiving, considering that Washington Parish is included and that feels very distant from New Orleans, but I digress] metro area I think). The base is smaller than what you're giving credit for, imo.
2) The accessibility and coverage of the Hornets in the local media could be a lot better, especially when taking into account that people in Northshore have trouble watching the Hornets games because a dispute between Cox and Charter cable. I think St. John Parish have Comcast and Ascension(sp?) Parish has EaTel as their primary cable carriers, so they probably don't see the Hornets hardly at all.
3) This region in particular is more recognized for football. The Saints held the city (and the region) down on a professional level ever since its inception in the 60's. LSU is the state's staple school for collegiate athetics (football's very successful, basketball's struggling). The Jazz left this city YEARS ago and the Hornets just filled that void only a few years ago.
4) Hurricane Katrina
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New Orleans Metro and Baton Rouge Metro.Biloxi metro
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