Tim Whitmire of the Charlotte Observer reports: The Charlotte City Council voted 9-1 Monday to remove from its new arena plan a clause demanding that the Charlotte Hornets have new owners if they are to play in the building.

The ultimatum was a late insertion on Feb. 11, the day the council voted 8-3 in favor of the $231 million arena plan.

After that vote, NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said the city's declaration that it would only build an arena for new owners -- and not for current Hornets owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge -- could alienate owners of other NBA teams, who will vote next month whether to approve the team's application to move to New Orleans.

Though Mayor Pat McCrory initially said he saw no reason to remove the clause, he told council members Monday it could needlessly expose Charlotte to a lawsuit by Shinn and Wooldridge if the move is turned down.

"The fact is, it could draw a suit -- a suit we would win -- and I don't want to give any rationale for a suit," said McCrory, who did not vote.

McCrory said he also sees no reason to needlessly antagonize the NBA.

"I don't want to give any excuse to the NBA for rejecting Charlotte as being the best city for an NBA team," he said.

Seven owners who make up the league's relocation committee are to visit New Orleans Wednesday, along with Granik and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The committee's recommendation is expected by the end of the month, with a vote of the league's full Board of Governors expected at meetings April 8 and 9 in New York.