Why Charlotte Hornets would be wise to cash in on opening atop city’s sports landscape
It’s right there for the taking.
Anyone familiar with the struggles of the two major professional sports teams in Charlotte understands the current circumstances. The Carolina Panthers finally dented the win column after knocking off the Houston Texans & CJ Stroud on Sunday, likely temporarily quieting those questioning if the NFL team took the right quarterback with the No. 1 overall selection in April’s draft.
But how long will that last?
Think about it: If ever there was a time for the Hornets to seize the city’s sports spotlight, it’s now. Like, immediately. And if they were wise, the last thing they would do is, to use a football term, fumble the ball.
Getting back to the days when the Hornets’ fervor was palpable throughout the city might be more important than ever under new ownership, and the desire to restore that level of excitement drives the person at the end of the bench who witnessed the team’s last postseason appearance.
“More than anything,” coach Steve Clifford said Sunday. “More than anything.”
Among the Hornets’ faithful, there’s skepticism Charlotte can pull out of the franchise’s long-term malaise, as evidenced by the attendance figures during the first two games. The Hornets averaged a shade under 16,000 fans during the initial two outings of a three-game homestand, which concludes Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.
Now, that’s not bad. But Wednesday’s season-opening win over Atlanta wasn’t sold out. There were still hundreds of tickets remaining and the same could be said for Friday’s loss to Detroit Pistons, leaving the arena shy of its capacity of 18,500.
That gives off a vibe of “show me first before these hard earned dollars are pried from these hands.” It’s the result of the franchise’s futility since pro basketball returned to Charlotte, something the Observer took a closer look at with this being the franchise’s 35th anniversary season.
Mind you, we are talking about the team mired in the NBA’s longest postseason drought, having not experienced the thrill of a postseason home game since “Purple Shirt Guy” riled Dwyane Wade in Game 6 of the 2016 Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against Miami.
In their modest 10 playoff appearances in franchise history, the Hornets have made it beyond the first round only four times, and Charlotte has never advanced past the conference semifinal round. Other expansion franchises have enjoyed more success.
Those who follow the teal and purple are yearning for something greater, near begging to get behind a winner. Even those who experienced the early golden years of the Hornets can only dream of what could be if the city’s pro basketball landscape ever boasted a perennial playoff team, conjuring up scenes that mirror what went down at Charlotte Coliseum.
“Those 24,000 fans, they are still here,” said Kenny Gattison, who played for the Hornets from 1989-95, lives in Charlotte and hosts an annual camp. “They’ve sort of moved on, but they are still here to replace them. The Panthers and the Hornets were two expansion franchises, so you tolerate the losing because it’s expected.
“But when you get used to them being good and being in the playoffs and everything, that’s expected, too. So, the excitement and the fan base is still here. But you’ve got to start winning. They are baby stepping in the right way with LaMelo Ball and the Panthers with Bryce Young.”
As long as the Hornets stay healthy, they have enough talent to at least be among the teams vying for one of the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Their main battle over these next six months is going to be all about one thing: fighting inconsistency.
“I think we are all playing hard,” Gordon Hayward said. “I think sometimes we aren’t out there playing as smart as we could be, playing to each other’s strengths. Some of it might be losing concentration because of the crowd in the first two games, so all that stuff is something we’ve got to take care of.
“But I don’t think it’s a playing hard thing. I think it’s just mentally getting locked in.”
They’re on the clock, and time has a way of expediting itself. But should the Hornets find some positive steadiness, perhaps it will lead to the occasion when, possibly, they can share the victor’s spotlight with the team that resides on Mint Street.
Who knows? Both sides — and starved fans — can dream.
“Once the Panthers, once the Hornets get back to their winning ways, the best fans in America are right here in the Carolinas,” Gattison said. “So, there’s not a doubt in my mind they are not going to go out and support. Especially with the Hornets. This is the second time around.”
