NEW ORLEANS -- Basketball fans, politicians and civic boosters here eagerly awaited today's vote by NBA owners that was expected to move the Hornets from Charlotte, N.C., to New Orleans.

"I think it's exciting. I think it's a great asset to the city and the state," said former governor Edwin Edwards.

Edwards had pushed for constuction of the New Orleans Arena, an NBA-quality facility that the Hornets' owners cited as one of the reasons they picked New Orleans for the team's new home. At the time, critics called it a needless, pork barrel project.

"I was absolutely certain this would come to pass. I could not have told you when we built the arena if it would be two years or 10, but I knew if we had the building already constructed it would come to pass."

A committee of seven NBA owers last week unanimously approved the Hornets' proposed move. The Hornets still need final approval from a majority of the league's 29 owners in a vote scheduled for Friday.

New Orleans has tried to attract an NBA team since the Jazz left for Utah in 1979. After missing out on the Grizzles and the Timberwolves, the city and state went all out to land the Hornets.

Business leaders spearheaded an effort to sell season tickets and suites, eventually exceeding the league's guideline of 2,400 club seats, which require a three to five year agreement. Fifty-five suites were also sold on the same three to five year basis.

Construction on a practice complex will begin in New Orleans this summer and is scheduled to be complete next summer.

Gov. Mike Foster last month signed a bill that would give the sports franchise $1.75 million in one-time state cash to cover the costs of moving expenses if the team gets permission to head to Louisiana.

The Hornets led the league in attendance a decade ago, but the relationship among the fans, owners and local politicians soured and the team was last in the NBA in attendance this season. The team lost $15 million in Charlotte last season and could lose $20 million this season, Wooldridge said.