The Hornets won't be leaving New Orleans after this season as the team was able to meet attendance benchmarks that voided an escape clause in their lease of New Orleans Arena.

"Today's a great step forward but we're not done yet," Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a news conference at the New Orleans Arena on Monday.

"We cannot become complacent. ... We've got to continue to be vigilant in supporting the Hornets and keeping them here."

The team's lease runs through 2014, but if attendance falls below an average of 14,735 for a two-season period, the Hornets may opt out.

The period for calculating the two-season average closes at the end of each January.

A surge in attendance has coincided with the Saints being eliminated from the NFL playoffs, a recent winning streak and the urging of political leaders.