Charlotte was awarded the NBA All-Star game, but House Bill 2 passed in North Carolina in March led to the NBA's announcement the 2017 ASG will be moved to another city.

Following the announcement, the league released the following statement.

"Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change. We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.

"Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community - current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2."

As a result, New Orleans has emerged as a front runner to host the game on February 19th, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center, according to Adrian Wojharowski of The Vertical.

New York/Brooklyn and Chicago are also potential host cities.

The NBA will announce the new host city for next season's ASG in coming weeks.

If awarded the ASG, it'll mark the third time the Crescent City has hosted the game in the last 9 years (2008, 2014).

Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation board chairman David Sherman told Scott Kushner of The Advocate the city and team (Pelicans) will do whatever needs to be done to host.


In addition to the ASG, New Orleans would host the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Rising Stars Challenge, D-League Dream Factory Friday Night, D-League All-Star Game, Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, Skills Challenge and other various basketball festivities.

According to a study done by University of New Orleans’ Hospitality Research Center, the 2014 ASG generated $106.1 million for the New Orleans economy.

 

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