Hornets owner George Shinn said Friday night that a new, publicly financed practice facility, which was promised to him when he moved his NBA team here in 2002, will now cost as much as $20 million.

"We have a contract. We've honored our end of the contract and we fully expect the state to honor theirs," Shinn said shortly before the Hornets hosted the Seattle SuperSonics. "We're putting up the money to get our people back here and get this thing going and do our part to rebuild this city."

The city has put aside a little more than $6 million, which has sat in escrow since the move. That money will not be disbursed until the team has agreed with city and state officials on a location and design for the building.

Before the storm, delays stemmed from differences over where the building should be built. Shinn initially agreed that it should be in the eastern part of the city on land that was to be donated by the city. But, he later changed his mind, saying it made more sense to put the building on state-owned land next to the New Orleans Arena, where the team will once again play a full home schedule next season.