There’s a been a lot of chaos surrounding the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, and for good reason. After the North Carolina legislature tried to push forward an anti-LGBTQ bill earlier this year, the league offices put political and economic pressure on the state house by threatening to relocate the event, which was slated to be hosted by the Charlotte Hornets.
But lawmakers ultimately refused to cave, and commissioner Adam Silver made good on his promise to move the game elsewhere, along with the windfall of cash that would’ve accompanied it. But the question of where, exactly, has been lingering ever since. New Orleans quickly emerged as an option, and there are plenty of obviously good reasons for that, several of which are documented here.
Now, it looks like it’s one step closer to a reality, and an announcement could be forthcoming as early as next week. Via Scott Kushner and Brett Dawson of The New Orleans Advocate:
The Pelicans are working with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, SMG, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to make the final push. It’s a cooperative infrastructure that gives New Orleans “a decided advantage over other markets” in its pitch to land the game, [New Orleans Pelicans President Dennis] Lauscha said.
“It’s a very short time frame,” Lauscha said on the podcast. “I mean, this is going to be on us very quickly, so I know they want to get that decided and we want to know so we can start shifting resources and assets to make this a successful game.”
As by far the most progressive of the four major American sports leagues, the NBA as an entity has not only been consistent in its support of the LGBTQ community; numerous players, assorted league personnel, and owners (including Hornets owner Michael Jordan) have stood in solidarity behind the decision to move the game. Silver has said he hopes to give Charlotte another chance at hosting All-Star Week again in 2019, but he’s also proven beyond a doubt that the moral and ethical implications will remain the overriding factors in such a decision.
