New Orleans, LA- Saints owner Tom Benson now owns an NFL and an NBA team. Friday he officially became the owner of the New Orleans Hornets. Sports fans see it as another win for the city.
"It definitely cements it, you know in the city, and it's going to be hard to catch up with the Saints popularity, but it's a good start," said Hornets fan Sam Beane from Lafourche Parish.
"It's not kind of in limbo anymore, we don't have to wonder if the team is going to be moving elsewhere, or they're going to be here, I feel like you can really get behind the team knowing that they're going to be here for the long run now," said Jonathan Fox.
"We really have found the perfect owner," said NBA Commissioner David Stern back in April.
Benson and Commissioner Stern announced back in April, that Benson agreed to purchase the Hornets from the league, at a sale price of about $338-million. The NBA bought the Hornets from club founder George Shinn in Dec. 2010, and spent 16 months looking for a buyer who would keep the team in Louisiana.
"I think it's great, I just don't want them to get lost in the Hornets, and forget about the saints," said Sharon Hirsch from New Orleans.
"You've seen what the saints have done for the community, imagine doubling that with the hornets turning their franchise around," said Joe Meyers.
Tom Benson said in a statement released by the Hornets, "I'm thrilled to have become the owner of the Hornets," Benson said. "There is a lot of excitement in the region about the franchise, especially after winning the #1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. We have been successful with the Saints and I know we can translate that success to our NBA team as well. We have the best, most dedicated fans in the world and will need them along the way as we work as an organization to make them proud. Championship performance is tied to fan support and the passion of the New Orleans sports fan is second to none. We look forward to joining up with all of our valued current fans and also introducing this great team game to many more residents of our city and region."
Benson also has agreed to the terms of a recently negotiated lease keeping the Hornets in the New Orleans arena through 2024.
The Hornets V.P. of ticket sales says they're already ahead of sales goals at this point. Last season, the team sold 10,000 season tickets.
