The decision by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to purchase naming rights to New Orleans Arena is drawing criticism from state legislators.
The arena is home to the New Orleans Hornets (NBA).
The board is using money from a $30-million settlement account relating to the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Some state legislators want to see the money spent outside the state to promote the state’s seafood industry, reports WWL-TV.
The naming-rights deal is tied into discussions of a long-term lease for the Hornets at the arena; if the Hornets walk away from a long-term deal, the board would not follow through with the purchase of naming rights.
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