NEW ORLEANS – The search for a new home for the NBA's
financially troubled Vancouver Grizzlies is down to three or four
cities, including New Orleans, the team's owner said Wednesday.
Chicago businessman Michael Heisley would not identify the other
cities, but said he had one left to visit, perhaps by the end of
the week.
During a news conference, Heisley said he expected to have a
decision within the next several weeks, but said he had not asked
for an extension of the league's March 1 deadline to apply for a
move.
"Quite frankly, New Orleans is a real possibility of where we
may move this team," Heisley said.
However, Heisley would not go into specifics about what it would
take for New Orleans to land the team. Asked what his major concern
was at this stage with the city, he said: "I need to go through
the process. I need to go through the process with other cities and
make a decision."
Heisley, who expects to lose $40 million this year in Vancouver,
met with Mayor Marc Morial, managers of the new $110 million New
Orleans Arena, city business leaders and the chief of staff to Gov.
Mike Foster.
Morial said he wanted to draw a broad base of support for an NBA
team, that would expand beyond the New Orleans metropolitan area,
which has about 1.5 million people, to the major Louisiana cities
of Baton Rouge and Lafayette and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
"We think there is a great possibility for a perfect match or a
perfect fit," Morial said.
New Orleans has been without an NBA team since the Jazz moved to
Salt Lake City after the 1978-79 season. The NFL Saints are trying
to negotiate a new Superdome deal with the state now. The governor
has said that without additional revenue, the Saints will be
chronic money-losers within five years.
Since the city's interest in the Grizzlies was announced eight
days ago, a waiting list has developed at the New Orleans Arena for
the 44 luxury suites for a possible NBA team, said Bill Heinz,
chairman of Metrovision, an economic development organization for
southeastern Louisiana.
"There is a definite appetite to support the Saints and bring
this team here," said Doug Thornton, general manager of the arena
and the adjacent Superdome.
Heisley toured the 18,500-seat arena, which opened in October
1999, and met with local business leaders to discuss possible suite
and ticket buys and corporate sponsorships.
Steve Perry, the governor's chief of staff, said the state
planned to work with the city and other regional governments, as
well as businesses, to draft a plan that would work for Heisley.
"There is no way I'm going into something that doesn't have a
high probability of working," Heisley said.
Among the cities that have shown public interest in the
Grizzlies are Louisville, Ky., St. Louis, Anaheim and Buffalo. A
Nashville-based group interested in the team said last week that it
was unlikely an arena lease could be obtained.
City officials in New Orleans have touted the city because of
the new arena and the fact the city does not have an NHL franchise.
St. Louis Blues owner Bill Laurie met Tuesday with Heisley, who
made his fortune by buying and rejuvenating failing companies.
Laurie, who purchased the NHL's Blues and their Savvis Center home
for $100 million in September 1999, bid once on the Grizzlies. He
pulled out of that $200 million deal after the league voiced
objections to moving the team to St. Louis.
Heisley purchased the team for $150 million last year on the
premise of leaving it in Vancouver. He said Wednesday that about
half of the cities that have been mentioned publicly had not
contacted him. He said there were "three, maybe four at the
outside" that were under serious consideration.
Heisley said he had received offers to sell the franchise, but
"the high probability is that we will move the franchise."
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