Louisville looking to bring in an NBA franchise...
Per Mike Wells, Indy Star
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101213/SPORTS04/12130318/Louisville-hopes-to-snare-NBA-team?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
I personally think it would be fantastic if Louisville could get a team,
and especially if the Pacers/Colonels rivalry could be resurrected!
Per Mike Wells, Indy Star
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101213/SPORTS04/12130318/Louisville-hopes-to-snare-NBA-team?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
Imagine Chris Paul, one of the NBA's most thrilling young players, only 115 miles away, rekindling a once-fiery Indianapolis-Louisville pro-basketball rivalry.
It could happen if Louisville officials succeed in their latest attempt to lure an NBA franchise.
The push is on, with the city seeking an ownership team and suitable playing venue, and with Paul's New Orleans Hornets and the league-owned Sacramento Kings as the top two relocation prospects.
J. Bruce Miller, an attorney hired by the Louisville Metro Council to bring in an NBA team, told The Louisville Courier-Journal that a majority investor -- "among the richest people in the world" -- is interested in buying a franchise and moving to the city, and that 15 to 25 minority investors are also interested.
"There's only two ways to get this done: Acquire an existing franchise or get an expansion franchise," Miller told the Courier-Journal. "You don't get either one if you don't have a behemoth investor. What's different this time is we have our own billionaire."
Miller declined to name any of the potential investors.
Invoices between the city and Miller, acquired by the Courier-Journal, show Miller has had conversations with several unnamed NBA teams, as well as potential investors throughout the U.S. and in China and Russia. He also had an hourlong phone call with NBA Commissioner David Stern.
However, NBA insiders see a team in Louisville as no sure thing. Kansas City, with a new arena, and Seattle, which recently lost its SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, are generally regarded as the top two suitors for new or relocated teams. Plus, Miller has failed in four previous attempts to lure a pro basketball team to Louisville, with the Houston Rockets, Vancouver Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets and Buffalo Braves.
Met twice in ABA finals
It was in the American Basketball Association that the Louisville-Indianapolis rivalry flourished.
The Kentucky Colonels, featuring stars such as Dan Issel and Southport High School graduate Louie Dampier, and the Pacers, with the likes of Roger Brown and George McGinnis, battled from 1967 to 1976, with each beating the other in a championship final. When four ABA teams, including the Pacers, merged into the NBA in 1976, the Colonels folded.
Landing a new team "would depend on what type of commitment from the city of Louisville and the state in terms of financial commitment," said Patrick Walsh, an Indiana University assistant professor of sports management. "The financial commitment will have to be better this time than what it was in the past.
"The NBA may turn their heads to (Kansas City or Seattle) first."
Another issue is the playing venue.
Louisville has the dazzling new $238 million, 22,000-seat KFC Yum! Center, home to University of Louisville men's and women's basketball, but the school oversees event scheduling and is not interested in losing that control, athletic director Tom Jurich told the Courier-Journal.
There's also Freedom Hall, the Cardinals' former arena. It seats 19,000, plenty for an NBA team, but was built 54 years ago and would require renovation.
Impact on Pacers
As for whether there would be a risk of a Louisville team eating into the Pacers' fan base, Walsh was dubious.
"There would be a novelty effect where you might see a little drop at the start in terms of casual fans, and there may be a little drop in TV ratings," Walsh said. "Overall, though, I don't think there would be a huge impact on the Pacers, particularly with their core fan base."
Pacers officials say they could benefit from a rival located just two hours away.
"We know that Louisville is a great basketball market, which is evident by the University of Louisville's men's and women's programs. We have many Pacers fans who come up from down there to watch our games," said Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports and Entertainment chief operations office, who declined to provide specific numbers.
Former star McGinnis thinks it would be ideal if the old rivalry were resurrected.
"I think back to the ABA days, and Louisville was a terrific pro town for the Colonels," he said.
"Louisville is on the move as a city. They just built that Taj Mahal that Louisville plays in. I think having a team down there would create a pretty good rivalry with Indiana. We've always had a dislike for anything Kentucky. It would rekindle that ABA rivalry."
It could happen if Louisville officials succeed in their latest attempt to lure an NBA franchise.
The push is on, with the city seeking an ownership team and suitable playing venue, and with Paul's New Orleans Hornets and the league-owned Sacramento Kings as the top two relocation prospects.
J. Bruce Miller, an attorney hired by the Louisville Metro Council to bring in an NBA team, told The Louisville Courier-Journal that a majority investor -- "among the richest people in the world" -- is interested in buying a franchise and moving to the city, and that 15 to 25 minority investors are also interested.
"There's only two ways to get this done: Acquire an existing franchise or get an expansion franchise," Miller told the Courier-Journal. "You don't get either one if you don't have a behemoth investor. What's different this time is we have our own billionaire."
Miller declined to name any of the potential investors.
Invoices between the city and Miller, acquired by the Courier-Journal, show Miller has had conversations with several unnamed NBA teams, as well as potential investors throughout the U.S. and in China and Russia. He also had an hourlong phone call with NBA Commissioner David Stern.
However, NBA insiders see a team in Louisville as no sure thing. Kansas City, with a new arena, and Seattle, which recently lost its SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, are generally regarded as the top two suitors for new or relocated teams. Plus, Miller has failed in four previous attempts to lure a pro basketball team to Louisville, with the Houston Rockets, Vancouver Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets and Buffalo Braves.
Met twice in ABA finals
It was in the American Basketball Association that the Louisville-Indianapolis rivalry flourished.
The Kentucky Colonels, featuring stars such as Dan Issel and Southport High School graduate Louie Dampier, and the Pacers, with the likes of Roger Brown and George McGinnis, battled from 1967 to 1976, with each beating the other in a championship final. When four ABA teams, including the Pacers, merged into the NBA in 1976, the Colonels folded.
Landing a new team "would depend on what type of commitment from the city of Louisville and the state in terms of financial commitment," said Patrick Walsh, an Indiana University assistant professor of sports management. "The financial commitment will have to be better this time than what it was in the past.
"The NBA may turn their heads to (Kansas City or Seattle) first."
Another issue is the playing venue.
Louisville has the dazzling new $238 million, 22,000-seat KFC Yum! Center, home to University of Louisville men's and women's basketball, but the school oversees event scheduling and is not interested in losing that control, athletic director Tom Jurich told the Courier-Journal.
There's also Freedom Hall, the Cardinals' former arena. It seats 19,000, plenty for an NBA team, but was built 54 years ago and would require renovation.
Impact on Pacers
As for whether there would be a risk of a Louisville team eating into the Pacers' fan base, Walsh was dubious.
"There would be a novelty effect where you might see a little drop at the start in terms of casual fans, and there may be a little drop in TV ratings," Walsh said. "Overall, though, I don't think there would be a huge impact on the Pacers, particularly with their core fan base."
Pacers officials say they could benefit from a rival located just two hours away.
"We know that Louisville is a great basketball market, which is evident by the University of Louisville's men's and women's programs. We have many Pacers fans who come up from down there to watch our games," said Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports and Entertainment chief operations office, who declined to provide specific numbers.
Former star McGinnis thinks it would be ideal if the old rivalry were resurrected.
"I think back to the ABA days, and Louisville was a terrific pro town for the Colonels," he said.
"Louisville is on the move as a city. They just built that Taj Mahal that Louisville plays in. I think having a team down there would create a pretty good rivalry with Indiana. We've always had a dislike for anything Kentucky. It would rekindle that ABA rivalry."
and especially if the Pacers/Colonels rivalry could be resurrected!
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