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And how is that any different than the buyout clauses that the State and the Saints re-negotiate every couple years? IIRC, the Saints last buyout clause was for less than $100 million ($83 mill?) and TB makes hand over fist more money than the Hornets.
Like him or not, George Shinn has put up some serious money to deal with returning the team to New Orleans. I don't think there's anything "fishy" about him wanting to maintain stabilty for his investment. It's business. He's putting a hell of a product on the court, with proven leadership, with the serious backing of the NBA and the interest of the city and region in mind. Not to mention under extraordinary social and economic circumstance.
Anyway, I do agree with you that the support up to now does make it seem difficult that those numbers are attainable.
The Saints never got to that out clause because of Katrina and the ensuing league support and pushing for the team to return and stay for at least the short term future; Not to mention close to "free" stadium enhancements because of Katrina insurance money. Personally, and I hate to say this, but I think Katrina saved the Saints in New Orleans for at least the short-term. Not only from a civic pride standpoint or with the stadium upgrades. If Katrina doesn't hit, we probably don't go 3-13, we probably dont get Reggie Bush and season tickets probably don't sell out.
I do like the Hornets but something really rubbed me wrong during their OKC stay and I do not trust Shinn at all. I just dont think I should get excited about a new stadium lease that has an out in it after just 1 new season of play and an out clause that seems pretty easy to trigger. Its also an out that his side can influence moreso than you think. Selling 14K-plus tickets is not all on the fan base. The Hornets will have to make a big push marketing and sales staff wise to reach that number and I just said I will be interested to see how they attack it and even IF they will attack it.
The amount of money it takes to break it could be an issue of course, but I am sure if they were to trigger it, the city they planned to move to would help pay the bill.
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