Phil Jackson Punks Hornets Fans For Non Support (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: neighborhood, casinos)

[imaterry78259]

I don't see why the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Biloxi area cannot support the Hornets. This is a crying shame the fans don't support them. I know times are hard but they should get some corp sponsorship. Makes Phil Jackson, Laker's coach eat his words

[annie_himself]

I grew up with my allegiance to the Saints but I don't really care for the Hornets because I feel a lesser connection to them. I always figured they had good support for an area without a NBA team since the Jazz. I wish there was more support but how exactly does a team gain support?

[aab7855]

We are the least populated city with an NBA franchise, for starters. Many cities love one sport and have a like for another.. take St. Louis, which likes the Rams but worships the Cardinals. I hope they stay here and it's important to go to the games and support them, and I hope people continue to do so. Another factor to consider is that the Saints have much regional support, from the FLA panhandle to the Texas border and all in between. Those folks can pony up and drive in a few times a year to watch the games.. to ask the same support sometimes several times a week on weekdays is too much. However, if in the coming years the numbers aren't where they need to be, they may have to re-locate. It would suck, but so does capitalism sometimes.

[mhounit]

If the interest is not there , so be it . I wouldn't walk across the street to watch an NBA game if you offered me box seats . Apparently a lot of people here feel the same . Phil Jackson's opinion means nothing to me .

[imaterry78259]

I thought the franchise was doing ok, business wise but just seeking an owner. I think Phil Jackson is tring to steal the Hornets star players. I wish there was more support for the team. Maybe they could have busses from Biloxi Gulfport/Pensacola -Lafayette/Baton Rouge to the games and tie it in with the casinos and other NOLA attractions. I would hope a local corp could sponsor some inner city kids to the game plus the Hornets could get with the neighborhood associations and hospitals to help out the community

[mhounit]

Corporate sponsors need to have a return on their investment . If the crowds aren't there , then their money was wasted , and they will spend it elsewhere .

[annie_himself]

With the growth of NO as a whole post-storm, I hope to see the support of the Hornets grow with the city.

[imaterry78259]

I agree that supporting the Hornets could multiply into corporations relocating to NOLA

[Pook77]

No offense, but how on Earth do you propose that supporting an NBA team will bring corporations into the city? It really has little relation. Growth of the city ALONE could bring in more NBA support from people moving here who love the NBA but the NBA itself isn't going to bring in corporations.

Think of LeBron James and Cleveland. LeBron brought the Cavs new support but Cleveland itself was and still is a dead city. No corporations were beating down the door when he was there. I don't think it would be any different for us.

I'm not saying that New Orleans and Cleveland are even CLOSE to comparable, just an example of how a big NBA franchise doesn't equal a new, booming economy.

[mhounit]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

I agree that supporting the Hornets could multiply into corporations relocating to NOLA

Corporations choose their locations based on monetary considerations , a trainable workforce , logistics , etc. NBA teams usually don't figure into the equation .