George Shinn, owner of the New Orleans Hornets, predicts they will sell out all 35 of their home games in their temporary home this season in Oklahoma City.
"This is a wonderful market," Shinn said in a Rotary Club speech Tuesday. "It is just ripe for what we're trying to do."

More than 6,500 deposits have been placed on tickets since the team announced last week it will play this season in the 19,675-seat Ford Center, because the New Orleans Arena, where the Hornets normally play, was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and could take months to repair. Single-game tickets have not gone on sale yet.

Shinn said he was so shaken in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he hadn't contemplated relocating the team until NBA commissioner David Stern asked where the Hornets games were going to be played. Stern suggested Oklahoma City, Shinn said.

"I said, Oklahoma City? Are you kidding me?" Shinn recalled. "I'm serious. I didn't really think this would be a good market."