The New Orleans Hornets temporary home in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will be the Ford Center in Oklahoma City for the 2005-06 season.
But the Hornets will also play six games in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Hornets six games in the PMAC are Dec. 16 against the Phoenix Suns, Jan. 13 against the Sacramento Kings, March 8 against the Los Angeles Lakers, March 18 against the Denver Broncos and March 21 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
LSU Athletics Director Skip Bertman said he is trying to get the Hornets’ Oct. 25 preseason game against the Miami Heat, which is currently scheduled for CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, to be played in the PMAC.
Bertman said he has not finalized any of the details for the preseason game, but he would like get former LSU center Shaquille O’Neal back in the PMAC.
“We can only work out what could be worked out among other programs,” Bertman said. “Not to mention the other 150 events that take place in the arena.”
Senior Associate Athletic Director Dan Radakovich said LSU will receive the recovery of cost for the games played at the PMAC.
NBA attorney Joe Litvin said the three March games scheduled for the PMAC could be moved to New Orleans if circumstances permit.
The Hornets will play the other 35 home games in Oklahoma City, including all of their matchups against Eastern Conference teams and are committed for all 35 games regardless of whether the team’s original home, the New Orleans Arena, is ready before the season ends.
“The devastation of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region has made it necessary for the Hornets to move to a temporary location for the upcoming season,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a news release. “Fortunately, the Hornets have received a gracious invitation from Mayor Mick Cornett and the business leaders and citizens of Oklahoma City to play their home games in the Ford Center, a first-class facility that we hope to fill with new Hornets fans this season.”
If the Hornets make the playoffs, games will be played in Oklahoma City, and they have an option to play in Oklahoma City for an extra year if they are unable to play the 2006-07 season in New Orleans.
“Like so many businesses and families uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets were forced to leave New Orleans while the city recovers from the tragedy,” Hornets owner George Shinn said. “We will play a majority of our games in Oklahoma City this season with great pride and gratitude but remain devoted to our home and have set our sights on returning to a rebuilt and vibrant New Orleans for the 2006-07 season.”
Contact Clinton Duckworth at [email protected]