The Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday the effort to secure naming rights for a new downtown Norfolk arena for the Hornets has hit a snag.

Barry E. DuVal, the former Newport News, Va., mayor who is pursuing the naming rights for Norfolk, said a Virginia corporation he declined to name is taking longer than expected to decide whether to sign on as a sponsor.

"There are two serious contenders reviewing this naming rights opportunity," DuVal told the Virginian-Pilot. "One of those corporations we thought was closer to making a positive decision. That corporation?s decision model has slowed down."

The snag comes two weeks after Hornets management sent Norfolk officials a letter specifying how the team would be able to relocate there.

It?s also one of the reasons the Hornets pushed back their self-imposed Jan. 1 deadline to decide where they would play next season.

The Virginian-Pilot reported a Hornets official said Friday such a decision may not come until early February. The Hornets have until March 4 to inform the NBA of its plans to relocate.

Norfolk officials had hoped to announce a naming rights deal, for $60 million or more over 20 years, shortly after Christmas. Now they say an announcement is weeks away.

The officials also acknowledge without a naming rights deal the city can?t compete for the Hornets, who also have discussed relocation with Louisville, Ky., New Orleans, St. Louis, Anaheim, Calif., Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City.