It looks as though the NBA owners will not be voting on April 9 to allow the Hornets to move to New Orleans after all, an NBA spokesman told the Charlotte Observer.  While the NBA had hoped to settle this matter at an owners meeting in New York the Hornets are still around 700 seats short on their 2,400 club level sate requirement as of last Thursday.  The Easter break is said to have been a factor of a slow weekend, but the Hornets said Monday that sales were going well and they expected to meet their target by Wednesday.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said if the team can't meet those goals, the league should reject the Hornets' request.
"The (ticket) numbers wouldn't make sense for the long run, for the league," McCrory said Monday.

The NBA has been flexible, indicating that they would give the team more time if need be.

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer states that If the league delays the April 9 vote on whether to move the Hornets to New Orleans, league bylaws leave two options. Either hold a vote electronically, which would require a three-fourths approval. Or call another meeting, where a majority would still rule.  The league, however, is confident that a majority rules decision can be made either via organizing another face-to-face meeting between all owners or by organizing a conference call.

Under NBA rules, the relocation committee has to deliver a recommendation at least seven days before any vote. So if the recommendation isn't made by Wednesday, the vote won't happen on time.

Bonnell reported that Hornets owners Ray Wooldridge and George Shinn signed a deal with numerous perks, including tax breaks and cash incentives, which means that in the state of Louisiana the Hornets could be profitable even if attendance is disappointing.

"The numbers are a good deal for Ray Wooldridge and George Shinn, but for the league it makes no sense," McCrory said. "The value of the product lessens if it's so dependent on bailouts."

A majority vote could seal Charlotte?s fate.