04/26/24
May 22, 2006
New Orleans to host 2008 NBA All-Star Game: The NBA confirmed Monday that its 2008 All-Star Game will be played in this beleaguered but rebuilding city, an announcement local officials seized upon as a sign the Hornets also will be playing here full-time in the 2007-08 season.
posted by STUNNER to basketball at 06:17 PM - 9 comments
I wonder what the backup plan is? There will be two more hurricane seasons before that game and they'll have to do an awful lot to bring the hotel quality/capacity up to the normal NBA standards. Or do they? Is New Orleans being given a pass? Sacramento has never hosted an All-Star game; the NBA has cited a shortage of quality hotels. Whatever that means.
posted by geekyguy at 06:32 PM on May 22, 2006
is there even gonna BE a city of new orleans then? in all seriousness, the whole place might be 20 ft down. i guess they'll just move the game to okla city.
posted by tommybiden at 10:12 PM on May 22, 2006
The All-Star Game should be in 2007
posted by houston2006 at 10:44 PM on May 22, 2006
they'll have to do an awful lot to bring the hotel quality/capacity up to the normal NBA standards. I don't think the hotel situation will be a problem at all. Most of the big hotels, and the nice ones, are in the french quarter. The french quarter, garden district, etc were barely affected by the hurricane. Add the extra time before the game and it's really not an issue. is there even gonna BE a city of new orleans then? It's because of comments like this I'm kinda glad they chose new orleans.
posted by justgary at 11:18 PM on May 22, 2006
is there even gonna BE a city of new orleans then? justgary: It's because of comments like this I'm kinda glad they chose new orleans." Thank you for saying that justgary. I am also glad that N.O. will be getting the All-Star game. In my mind, they really do need it.
posted by STUNNER at 11:59 PM on May 22, 2006
is there even gonna BE a city of new orleans then? Even though comments like that sound cold and heartless, that is a legitimate question many decision makers have to face. We shouldn't shoot a person who says what many are thinking. It's a fact, unfortunately, that hurricanes are becoming more and more dangerous (and numerous) each and every year, and I forget what the prediction is for this current hurricane season I just read. With the levee system in that city that was ignored for so long and, ultimately, destroyed, if another horrific storm SHOULD hit that area, it will be beyond disaster. I pray this never happens, but what can really be done with a below-sea level area that has suffered such devastation? Not that sports are the main concern, not by a long-shot, but every single one is considering those very possibilities as we speak.
posted by dyams at 11:30 AM on May 23, 2006
Even though comments like that sound cold and heartless I don't care if they're cold and heartless. I care if they're ignorant, and they are. I can answer that question. Yes, there will be a city of new orleans. Next question. that is a legitimate question many decision makers have to face No, it's not. We shouldn't shoot a person who says what many are thinking. Who said anything about shooting anyone? And many people are thinking "will there be a new orleans"?. Then many people are clueless. what can really be done with a below-sea level area that has suffered such devastation? Well, one, only part of the city is under sea level (45 percent, I think), and as bad as it was, the sections most people think about when they think of new orleans were not flooded. Also, saying "oh no it's under sea level" isn't really the story here. It was a tragedy, and it's complicated, and this really isn't the site to discuss it. But asking if the city will exist, if the city will be 20 ft. under water, are worthless. Will the city be able to support an nba team, or the all star game, those are legitimate questions. This: is there even gonna BE a city of new orleans then? in all seriousness, the whole place might be 20 ft down. i guess they'll just move the game to okla city. Is not.
posted by justgary at 07:33 PM on May 23, 2006
I wasn't saying the questions asked, in the exact way they were phrased, were correct. But someone would have to be naive to think every business or corporation, not to mention sports franchise, isn't extremely concerned about this issue. Add to that the way the city ranked when it came down to disaster relief? It was, is, and will continue to be, a huge nightmare. Ignoring the potential devastation a storm like Katrina would likely do to that area was one gigantic, unforgiveable oversight by the current president, as well as those before him.
posted by dyams at 07:00 AM on May 24, 2006
It's hard to trust any vote of confidence in the sports world.