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Thursday, March 22, 2001
New Orleans tries to keep up with bidding
Associated Press
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NEW ORLEANS – Trying to keep pace with competitors who want
to nab the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies, New Orleans officials have
talked with prospective naming rights sponsors to enhance the
city's bid for the team.
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley was expected to update NBA
commissioner David Stern on Thursday about his search for a new
home for the financially troubled team.
Major corporate sponsors have stepped forward in Louisville and
Memphis during the past week, while Anaheim also is making an offer
for the team.
"We haven't been told that we need a naming rights deal in
place," said Doug Thornton, manager of the New Orleans Arena.
"You always want to improve your position."
Mayor Marc Morial said there were limits on what could be
offered.
"We're not going to get into an open-ended bidding war, and
we're not going to overcommit," Morial said Wednesday. "We do
feel like we have already presented a good package and we will
continue to put our best foot forward."
Heisley has until Monday to tell the league where he wants to
move.
The Grizzlies are expected to become the first NBA franchise to
relocate since the Clippers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles in
1984.
Vancouver entered the league along with the Toronto Raptors in
1995 when the NBA expanded internationally, but the Grizzlies have
had little success financially or on the court.
The team, which never has won more than 22 games, already has
had three owners. The current owner, Heisley, built the team a new
practice facility after purchasing it in a deal that costs the team
$5 million in rent at GM Place and provides no revenue from
concessions, arena advertising or parking.
While there has been little corporate support for the Grizzlies
in Vancouver, Heisley has been courted heavily by all four of the
leading prospective cities.
Louisville officials told the Courier-Journal that Tricon
Global Restaurants, the parent company of Kentucky Fried Chicken,
has offered Heisley $100 million – $5 million annually for 20 years
– to move the team there, rename it the Kentucky Colonels and have
them play in a new arena called the KFC Bucket.
Anaheim's bid has been enhanced by the Walt Disney
Corporation's offer of financial assistance for terminating the
team's lease in Vancouver and enhancements for a sublease the
Grizzlies would have at The Pond, where the Disney-owned Mighty
Ducks of the NHL control the lease.
Memphis is the smallest market of the potential new cities,
although there is corporate support from AutoZone and FedEx, the
promise of a new $200 million arena and the allure of a captive
market.
New Orleans has a new arena waiting for a major tenant like an
NBA team, although there are concerns whether the city has a
sufficient economic base to sustain an NBA team. There already are
signs up at the Superdome advertising a number to call to order
season tickets.
Tulane sports law professor Gary Roberts said the Memphis and
Louisville proposals highlight the weaknesses New Orleans faces in
its pursuit.
"We just don't have anyone here with the ability to step up to
that level," Roberts said. "And any owner is going to be
considering what's best for him in the long term."
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ALSO SEE
FedEx joins effort to move Grizzlies to Memphis
Vancouver group pleads to NBA: 'Save Our Grizzlies'
St. Louis out of running in Grizzlies sweepstakes
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