Shortly after the NBA pulled the All-Star game and festivities out of Charlotte due to the controversial H2 bill in North Carolina, New Orleans was named as a favorite to host the weekend. Chicago and New York made bids as well, but after some deliberation, the association is indeed going with the Big Easy.
The Associated Press broke the news this morning:
The NBA has decided to hold the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Friday because the decision hasn't been announced. An announcement was expected within the day, the person said.
A couple weeks ago, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported that the NBA had chosen the New Orleans, and that it was only a matter of time for the announcement to be made. As the AP notes, we can expect it sometime today.
A big factor in the decision was reportedly the fact that Louisiana, unlike some other southern states, has not used legislature to pass laws similar to those in North Carolina. Governor John Bel Edwards was vocal about this as New Orleans lobbied to host the festivities.
From the AP:
“We embrace our rich cultural heritage and see our diversity as a virtue,” Edwards wrote in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in late July. “Should the NBA choose to bring the All-Star Game back to New Orleans in 2017, it will strongly reaffirm its commitment to communities that value fairness and inclusion.”
This is the third time that New Orleans has hosted the NBA All-Star game since 2008, most in the league during that span.
The 2017 All-Star weekend begins on February 17th, which is the first weekend of Margi Gras in NOLA. Compared to the ensuing weeks of the event, the AP reports that the first weekend won't be much of a logistical problem.
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