George Shinn
George Shinn
George Shinnis the former owner of the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets as well the Charlotte Knights and Gastonia Rangers minor league baseball teams along with the Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football. He purchased the Hornets for $32.5 million in 1987. In 1997, he lost his bid for a potential National Hockey Leagueexpansion franchise to be called the Hampton Roads Rhinos...
bad best bottom everybody happen help later line three wants
I just want the best to happen to this city. Everybody politically or business-wise, whatever, wants us to come back, so that's good. But the bottom line is, it's got to make sense. What would be bad is ... if we come back and three years later have to leave. That doesn't help anybody.
deserve money people
These people deserve something with the money they're guaranteeing,
abandon coming federal hope money objective orleans plan pray ship support
Our objective is not to abandon ship here or to get out of dodge, ... Our plan is to hope and pray New Orleans rebuilds. And I think it will with everyone's support and the federal money that's coming in there. I think it will be stronger.
exact kidding knew oklahoma words
My exact words were, 'Oklahoma where?' ... I said, 'You've got to be kidding me, David. Do they have an arena?' I knew nothing about Oklahoma City.
arena fans feeling homes orleans past people playing quickly terrible
I was in New Orleans just this past week. It is a terrible, terrible feeling to see all the homes that, to me, look destroyed. It's not just the arena. If the arena is in playing condition, will there be fans there? I don't know how many people will come back and how quickly they'll come back.
ask bad david hit home knew nba rather tea tom
I see what Tom Benson is going through, ... I don't want to be the bad guy, OK? I'd rather the NBA be the bad guy. I ask David (Stern) every day, 'What should I do? What should I say?' I can't read the tea leaves, but the day of the announcement, I knew we had hit a home run.
arena convinced cushion dollars fans federal government oklahoma option orleans playing possible putting quickly rebuilding second sure year
It's not just the arena (being) in playing condition, but will there be any fans there. I don't know how many will come back, how quickly they'll come back. I'm convinced New Orleans will rebuild. With the dollars that the federal government is putting in, I can see it rebuilding and even being stronger. But how long is it going to take? This option (for a possible second year in Oklahoma City) was just a cushion just to make sure if it got to that point.
arena convinced fans maybe option orleans playing quickly sure touch
It's not just about if the arena is in playing condition. Will there be any fans? I don't know how many fans will come back, or how quickly they'll come back. I'm convinced New Orleans will rebuild. I can see maybe even being stronger. But how long it's going to take, I'm not going to touch that. This option was just a cushion, just to make sure if it got to this point.
cities close contact heard listening lots taking trying
I haven't heard from Louisville, ... Lots of cities have made contact through the league. I know we're taking a look and listening to a few. But we're trying to get something close to Louisiana.
fine gone hope line orleans people proud somewhat sure
This whole thing is somewhat bittersweet. I've got a fine line to walk. I want to be enthusiastic to the people here and let them know I'm proud and that we're going to make this thing work. I also want to make sure that people in New Orleans have hope because they've gone through a lot.
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There is no self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.
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You have been absolutely incredible and we are so grateful. Tonight is a celebration for Oklahoma City with what you have done for us. We will never forget this. We are so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
attendance fans gone last league sales stepped team year
We've gone from being last in the league in attendance last year to being a t op 10 team in season-ticket sales this year, ... The fans here have really stepped up and made it happen.
blessed city enthusiasm fortunate forward looking next oklahoma people proved stepped year
The people in Oklahoma City ... have stepped up and proved to the whole world that they are a major-league city. We are very blessed to be here, very fortunate to be here. We're looking forward to next year with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of excitement.