Some folks filing in to Wednesday night's Hornets game hadn't heard the news.
Those who had said it's just the latest play in a game they're sick of watching.
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced just hours before the 7 p.m. game that he'd support the Hornets move to New Orleans if they sell enough high-priced tickets.
Roxanne Perregaux was in the Coliseum lobby with her husband, Tom, and their children, Krista, 12, and Remington, 11. The Lake Norman family, attending games for three years, was devastated to hear the team could be leaving and are sick of the turmoil they say has been dragging on too long.
"They need to make a decision," Roxanne said. "We're sick of watching Wooldridge and Shinn play games."
"Ever since we moved here, this is how I grew up," said Krista. "This is our team."
Harry Seidman said he and his friends are fed up. "David Stern is playing along with the game because he is trying to expand the NBA," he said.
Nora King's family has had season tickets from the beginning. Trading cards and posters fill her sons' rooms and Thomas, 7, knows every player by heart. They'd be sad to see them go.
"I hate it for my kids," said King. "It's going to be hard for them. They don't understand why they have to go away."
Boo Coo Cuthbertson also said he would hate to see them go, but he understands that it's a business, and needs to make money. "Hopefully we'll get another team," he said. "This city is ... slow as it is. Instead of going forward, it's going backwards."
"I'm heartbroken," said Helen Hamilton, who has had season tickets with her husband, Bill, since the Hornets started.
Bill Hamilton doubts the team would be successful very long in New Orleans.
"The NBA would be stupid to give up this market to those two idiots," he said. "They've done everything to screw up this franchise.
"There's nothing to replace this," he said, looking out at the court.
"I guess there will be 43 nights we'll stay home."