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Atlanta Hawks home games in New Orleans (84-85)?
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:17 am
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:17 am
I hated Larry Bird and the Celtics but my algorithms prove I like watching his highlights. He was truly one of the greatest for a 5-7 year peak.
The game he scored 60 against the Hawks in New Orleans comes up often. Apparently the Hawks played 12 home games in New Orleans that year. Only the Celtics game drew a decent crowd.
Anyone at that game or remember the failed experiment? As I was typing this, I recall going to an exhibition (Preseason?) game Hawks/76ers that may have been in the Cajundome around this time in mid-80s.
The game he scored 60 against the Hawks in New Orleans comes up often. Apparently the Hawks played 12 home games in New Orleans that year. Only the Celtics game drew a decent crowd.
Anyone at that game or remember the failed experiment? As I was typing this, I recall going to an exhibition (Preseason?) game Hawks/76ers that may have been in the Cajundome around this time in mid-80s.
8
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:20 am to litenin
quote:
The game Larry Bird scored 60 against the Hawks in New Orleans comes up often. Apparently the Hawks played 12 home games in New Orleans that year.
Very cool story. Local moment forgotten to time.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:22 am to litenin
I went to the Hawks games vs the Jazz and Celtics at UNO that year.
Stadium was brand new, seated 10,000, and was packed for both games.
Didnt go to any of the other Hawks games.
Been to some Jazz games as a kid and some Hornets/Pelicans games over the years, but none were as historic as that Hawks/Celtics game at UNO. It was like there was a magnet in the basket for Bird.
Stadium was brand new, seated 10,000, and was packed for both games.
Didnt go to any of the other Hawks games.
Been to some Jazz games as a kid and some Hornets/Pelicans games over the years, but none were as historic as that Hawks/Celtics game at UNO. It was like there was a magnet in the basket for Bird.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:24 am to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
Stadium was brand new, seated 10,000, and was packed for both games.
I wonder why they thought UNO back in the day needed that many seats
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:31 am to litenin
I also just noticed Jordan scored 34 as a rookie in a 2OT win over Dominique that year in New Orleans. Doc Rivers had 30 and Dominique 26.
That must have been fun to watch.
That must have been fun to watch.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:33 am to chalmetteowl
I think they were hoping to draw another NBA team? It was certainly not needed for UNO hoops.
They used to get all the big concerts that werent big enough for the Superdome til the New Orleans Arena was built.
Having that new arena next to the Dome and being downtown sorta killed it as a major local
venue.
They used to get all the big concerts that werent big enough for the Superdome til the New Orleans Arena was built.
Having that new arena next to the Dome and being downtown sorta killed it as a major local
venue.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:34 am to chalmetteowl
quote:
I wonder why they thought UNO back in the day needed that many seats
I assume it was a venue intended for multiple uses like concerts, etc. Not just UNO games.
Is this the Lakefront Arena? Because I've seen a bunch of concerts there and love it honestly. It's a more intimate venue than Smoothie King but bigger than most smaller venues like House of Blues.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:35 am to chalmetteowl
The year it opened I saw Mother Theresa speak there and it was packed for that.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:39 am to litenin
Were the building the Omni at the time?
Posted on 3/20/24 at 9:45 am to mattz1122
The Omni opened in the early 1970’s.
This was in 1984-85.
The owner of the Hawks was looking to move the team and thought New Orleans might be a good place.
It was an experiment to test the NBA fan barometer in New Orleans.
This was in 1984-85.
The owner of the Hawks was looking to move the team and thought New Orleans might be a good place.
It was an experiment to test the NBA fan barometer in New Orleans.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 10:23 am to chalmetteowl
quote:
I wonder why they thought UNO back in the day needed that many seats
It was built to be the major local arena. What at the time was a good area, lots of on-site parking etc.
But then the area went downhill, and it turned out they didn't build it big enough.
Thus, by the time the 90s rolled around, we lost out on all the bigger attractions to the PMAC or the arena in Biloxi, until the New Orleans Arena was built.
It also didn't help that in the years after it was built, the LSU system (which UNO was part of) started to starve UNO of resources as they went big into building up the "flagship" at LSU.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 10:37 am to WaterLink
Never forget ECW November to Remember 1998 with Sunny while she was still hot and Bam Bam Bigleow, RVD, and Sabu on the main event
Posted on 3/20/24 at 11:22 am to litenin
I was there. Got tickets from my dad
Posted on 3/20/24 at 11:23 am to litenin
quote:
The game he scored 60 against the Hawks in New Orleans comes up often. Apparently the Hawks played 12 home games in New Orleans that year. Only the Celtics game drew a decent crowd.
Even the Hawks were Cheering
This post was edited on 3/20/24 at 11:24 am
Posted on 3/20/24 at 12:19 pm to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
The owner of the Hawks was looking to move the team and thought New Orleans might be a good place.
Ted Turner?
Posted on 3/20/24 at 12:23 pm to GoGators1995
Was there for Bitd. It was unbelievable, the array of shots was incredible. The Hawks kept running good defenders at him and it was almost unfair.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 12:25 pm to WPBTiger
Omg mate that is the great John Sterling ("ballgame over, Yankees win... theeeee Yankees win!") calling the Celtics / Hawks game in NO.
Mind. Blown.
Mind. Blown.
This post was edited on 3/20/24 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 3/20/24 at 12:26 pm to litenin
They played 13 games there that season. The Hawks were having trouble drawing in Atlanta. And Lakefront Arena had just opened the season before that (According to Wikipedia, there was a doubleheader to open the place, and LSU beat UNO that night in Nov. 1983).
Posted on 3/20/24 at 4:51 pm to chalmetteowl
It was really designed as a concert arena because all NOLA had at the time was the Dome and it was missing out on some pretty big acts that couldn't fill the Dome, but could pull 12-13,000.
Remember seeing Rush there in 1984
The Cure in 86?
Remember seeing Rush there in 1984
The Cure in 86?
Posted on 3/21/24 at 8:52 am to GoGators1995
quote:
Ted Turner
Yeah I don’t think Ted was looking to move them out of Atlanta, the Hawks got paid $1.2 million by Barry Mendelson to move those games there.
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