NEW ORLEANS – The governor's top aide said Monday that New
Orleans is one of two remaining candidates trying to land the
Vancouver Grizzlies.
"We are in the final two," Steve Perry, chief of staff for
Gov. Mike Foster, said during remarks to the Press Club of Baton
Rouge.
Perry, who has been involved in the state's negotiations, did
not elaborate or discuss why other cities apparently have been
eliminated.
He said Anaheim, Calif., was the other city still in the hunt
for the Grizzlies, who have been given permission to seek relocation after
heavy financial losses in Canada.
Grizzlies officials referred calls for comment about Perry's
statement to the NBA, which closed early Monday because of snow in
New York. A call Monday evening to team owner Michael Heisley's
Chicago offices was not immediately returned.
Heisley has said he'll lose $40 million operating in Vancouver
this year. He faces a March 26 NBA deadline to apply for relocation
for next season.
Heisley has visited Anaheim, Louisville, New Orleans and St.
Louis, all of which have buildings that could be brought up to NBA
standards. He also has visited Las Vegas, which does not have a new
arena plan in place. And the team reportedly has talked with
officials in Memphis, where the Pyramid arena would need
significant renovations.
Perry said Louisiana has something other cities can't offer –
the New Orleans Sports Arena, a new $114 million stadium that's
"ready to go."
And, he predicted, 72 hours after the Grizzlies decide to move,
the arena's 44 suites will be sold.
At a news conference in New Orleans, Doug Thornton, the arena's
general manager, said they surveyed half the current suite holders
to gauge NBA interest. "They want to come," he said.
Thornton joined Mayor Marc Morial, other politicians and
business leaders to discuss their plans to complete their proposal
for Heisley.
Morial said the New Orleans Regional Basketball Alliance has
been formed to encourage Heisley to choose New Orleans. The group
consists of businesses and fans who live in the metropolitan New
Orleans region as well as those in Baton Rouge and along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast.
"We are long-starved for NBA basketball, from the days when the
New Orleans Jazz lit up the scoreboard and brought joy to our
hearts in the 1970s," Morial said.
Over the next 10 days to two weeks, the group will poll local
firms and individual fans to identify potential season ticket
holders should the Grizzlies decide to move.
"This is New Orleans' chance really to get out and show their
interest," Thornton said.
Those who answer the survey will be first in line to get season
tickets if the Grizzlies move. The survey, approved by league
officials, will be mailed to those who have expressed interest in
professional basketball. Others can use the arena's website or call
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