New Orleans had its chance to lobby NBA Commissioner David Stern and the owners' relocation committee.

Now Charlotte wants the same.

Stern said Wednesday he'll support a Hornets move to Louisiana if the team meets ticket sales targets there. Charlotte business and political leaders responded they have no plans to sweeten the city's offer of a new arena -- but they'd like to make their case in person.

"We'd certainly like to do that, but I just don't know what the protocol is. It's entirely up to (the NBA)," said Nelson Schwab, the businessman leading the private-sector effort to keep the team.

Mayor Pat McCrory sent a letter to the league last week "inviting all the owners to come in. ... If they want to come, we welcome them with open arms."

McCrory said he was told the NBA believes it knows the Charlotte market well and that the relocation committee did not think it necessary to make a visit.

"All the feedback we've gotten is they're not coming because they know of our very positive track record," he said.

A representative of the Charlotte business leaders' effort delivered a package of information about Charlotte and its market to the NBA's New York offices Monday.

City Council member Lynn Wheeler, who has supported the effort to keep the Hornets, also believes an in-person presentation is needed.

"I would like to see Charlotte take a more active role in lobbying the NBA owners," she said. " ... I don't think Charlotte can put our best foot forward without either the relocation committee coming to Charlotte for a face-to-face presentation or the business leaders taking it directly to the NBA owners. That allows owners to ask questions and get them answered.

"It concerns me a lot that we don't have that scheduled."

Muggsy Bogues, an original Hornet and co-chair of the "Let's Take Back the Game" campaign to save the NBA in Charlotte, said he still believes it will be tough to sell league owners on New Orleans.

"It's mind-boggling to think that Charlotte wouldn't have an NBA franchise," he said. "Charlotte has already proven that this is a basketball city capable of supporting any NBA team. ... David Stern knows that the reason behind the low attendance right now is the current owners."

"Let's Take Back the Game" spokesman Steve Luquire said he believes Stern's statement is only the beginning of the maneuvering before NBA owners vote on the move. That could come as early as April 8-9, when owners meet in New York.

"Rarely would I take what (Stern) would say at face value," Luquire said. "My expectation was that the statements that would be made today would be very positive in response to New Orleans' presentation. ... I think there's still a lot of water that has to cross the dam before a decision is made."

Wheeler drew a ballot box analogy.

"I always say in an election that it's not over until the last vote is counted. If what Stern is saying is a true indication of the inclination of the relocation committee, obviously it does not look good for Charlotte," she said. "I don't know why he said what he said, but until the owners vote, it's not over."

As he has throughout the last-ditch effort to keep the Hornets, McCrory emphasized that "we're not going to get into a bidding war" to keep the team in Charlotte.

"From my perspective, this is what our offer is," he said.

Last month, the City Council approved a tentative plan to build a $231 million uptown arena, with Bank of America, Wachovia and Duke Energy to underwrite $100 million. The companies are to get their money back with a combination of city-owned land and by marketing arena assets such as naming and beverage rights and premium seat licenses.

If the Hornets leave, McCrory said, Charlotte's offer to build a new arena is open to any pro team willing to sign a long-term lease. "We need someone who's willing to pay the bills, and somebody who's able to pay the bills without substantial subsidies."


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