Months after seeing a new arena proposal fall short, Shreveport, LA is out of the running for a New Orleans Pelicans G League franchise.
Earlier this year, the Pelicans announced their intention to evaluate options for a city to host a team in the NBA Gatorade League. It eventually seemed that Shreveport and Pensacola, FL were the main contenders for the club, with Shreveport unveiling a plan to construct a new arena as part of a larger development.
In September, the effort stalled after the Shreveport City Council rejected a resolution relating to the proposal. The Pelicans are now confirming that Shreveport is out of the running for the team, and that they will continue to consider other options. More from ArkLaTexasHomepage.com:
Greg Bensel, vice president of communications for the NBA G League team, made the announcement.
“We have moved on and are talking to other cities,” Bensel said.
Last spring, Shreveport was one of six southern cities responding to the Pelicans Request for Proposals (RFP) for the NBA Development League. Baton Rouge, Jackson, MS, Mobile, AL, Pensacola, FL and St. Tammany Parish, LA also sent in its proposals to launch its own NBA Development League team beginning play in the 2018-2019 season.
In conjunction with the RFP, Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler’s administration created an elaborate plan to built a $30 million sports arena in downtown Shreveport, using $27.1 million in public revenue bonds to pay for it,
Pensacola officials have had their own discussions about an arena that could be constructed as part of a larger development, and potentially accommodate a Pelicans G League team. New Orleans is one of four NBA franchises that does not have its own G League affiliate for the 2017-18 season, though one of those teams–the Washington Wizards–has already announced a plan to establish a club for the 2018-19 campaign.
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