NBA pulls 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, focuses on New Orleans

[brooklynite]

Source: Yahoo

Without any movement by state legislators in North Carolina to change newly enacted laws targeted at the LGBT community, the NBA is pulling the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte, league sources told The Vertical.

The NBA is focused on the New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center as the host for All-Star Weekend and the All-Star Game on Feb. 19, league sources told The Vertical.

For now, there are still other cities trying to lure the All-Star Game, sources said.

A formal announcement on the NBA’s withdrawal out of Charlotte is expected as soon as this week, league sources said Thursday.

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-pulls-2017-all-star-game-from-charlotte-focuses-on-new-orleans-190148437.html

[dhill926]

1. excellent...

hitting them in the pocketbook can work. I do feel bad for the workers in Charlotte who will lose out....maybe convince folks to vote those assholes out of office...

[msongs]

2. is New Orleans safe for black players? nt

[irisblue]

5. ummmm what do you mean?

[dakota_democrat]

6. Everyone seemed to survive the ASG when it was there in 2014.

[chillfactor]

3. well done NBA.....

I wish all events scheduled to take place in North Carolina would do the same.....this event is a huge financial loss for a bigoted state.

[George II]

4. Good job. If I were going to the game I'd have more fun in NO than Charlotte anyway.

[StanP50]

7. Couldn't be happier

As an NC resident who is fed up with the Re-thug political legislature and Governor of this state I couldn't be more thrilled by this. This will be, if not the pivotal, one of the pivotal points in making sure that McCrory is gone, gone, gone in November.

[OldHippieChick]

8. I'm very happy the NBA has shown

some balls - sorry had to say it. This is being reported on local news stations and it looks like New Orleans may be the new selection.

[jpak]

9. Good - hope more businesses do this

[Panich52]

10. Louisiana not exactly an lgbt-friendly place either.

[olddad56]

11. why not pull the franchise out of Charlotte?

[Blue_Tires]

12. And the governor's response is just as tone-deaf as you'd imagine

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Good for them.

[OverBurn]

14. I'm very impressed, I didn't think they would follow through. Adam Silver Rocks!

[minnesota_liberal]

15. Charlotte is fairly progressive

... but it was the right move for the NBA to send a message to North Carolina and other states that have - or are considering - similar discriminatory and hateful legislation.

[CRK7376]

16. Thank you NBA!

This North Carolinian is thrilled to see the NBA stick a big old finger into McCrory's eye. He can go stuff the HB2 where the sun don't shine! I hate it for my state and the workers all over the Charlotte area that will lose out, but it truly shows NCGOP that they have made a mistake. I wish more would pressure McCrory and the NCGOP to get rid of HB2. Thank you NBA!

[GOLGO 13]

17. The NBA proves it has significant "political testicles" to defy all manner of hate.

We will redirect your intolerance when we deny you the ability to profit from it. Their worship of $$$ will bring them to heel.

[B2G]

18. Uh, Lousiana is one of 11 states suing Obama

over the restroom issue.

Seems kind of an odd choice given that's the only reason they pulled out of Charlotte.

[riversedge]

19. great news.