what is the status of the D league team?

I heard an offhand comment about 1-2 months ago quoting Demps that the GLeague team wouldn't happen next year as planned. There weren't any details and I think it was from the telecast because if it was from an article I'd have posted it. That's the only place I've seen/heard mention of it, but if I didn't dream it, it was a legit source and a story that has slipped through the cracks.

I thought there was an arena ready to go?
unless I’m thinking of someplace else

My understanding is that after the Pels decided on Pensacola, the Escambia County Commission did not pony up the funding necessary for the facility.

Pels Waiting on Escambia County (January 2018)

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A representative of the New Orleans Pelicans told the Escambia County Commission on Thursday that the sports franchise likes Pensacola and the team is waiting for the county to decide on the future of the Bay Center before it chooses where to locate its new NBA G League team.

Stephen Pate, director of governmental affairs for the Saints and Pelicans teams, was in the audience at the commission's Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday during a discussion on a proposal for a new $65 million to $90 million arena and youth sports field house when commissioners asked Pate to come forward and address the board.

Pate told commissioners a discussion on the team's plans and where the team will play can begin once the county makes a decision on how to move forward.

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After that meeting the County Commission basically iced the vote on financing the arena and did so again last week (May 2018):
Proposed PEnsacola Center on Life Support

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The Escambia County Commission decided not to vote Thursday night on an agreement to build a proposed $80 million arena and youth sports complex, leaving the proposal, as the chairman of the commission said, "on life support."

Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh told the News Journal before the meeting Thursday that if the commission decided not to vote he thought it would be dead.

"If we can't come together and say let's do a financial analysis, let's sign this very protective letter of intent that gives us eight ways out if we decide to change our mind, if we can't do that much for these guys (Pensacola Arena Development Partners) and for the citizens and for the Triumph board, I think Triumph is going to look at our application and it's going to go in the round file," Bergosh said. "… I do think for all intents and purposes it will be dead, so I hope that doesn't happen."

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The Commission brought the Arena up last week likely at the Pels request, but without any movement I think the Pels are redirecting their search for a G-League city:

Escambia Commission Needs to Find a Solution for Bay Center Proposal (May 2018)

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In two public meetings, morning and night, held Thursday by the Escambia County Commission, the thorny arena issue was again the agenda albatross.

There were a combined hours of discussion, input, debate, and unease when this item hit its turn. Because, well, this is sort of a big deal.

But when it became vote time, the commissioners voted to do nothing. Again.

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That last article really lays out the process so far in getting funding approval for the Arena.

WTF is wrong with the bay center?
doesnt the hockey team already play there?

a new arena for a minor league basketball team is insanity. they are not gonna draw more than 5K or so anyway

is it the pels/NBA pushing for this?

They've been having trouble getting the Dixie Beer stand ready.

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Lack of suites, not lack of seats?

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suites...for a D-league game...
does not compute

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WTF is wrong with the bay center?
doesnt the hockey team already play there?

a new arena for a minor league basketball team is insanity. they are not gonna draw more than 5K or so anyway

is it the pels/NBA pushing for this?

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Developers in Pensacola have been pushing for the new arena to house the hockey team, attract G-league, and boost conventions. They apparently have been losing a lot of convention business for years because of the outdated Bay Center which has issues with plumbing and HVAC in addition to no amenities (no video board, poor concessions...etc.). The cost of upkeep of the Bay Center is increasing as the revenue generated keeps decreasing. The new arena would theoretically increase revenue from the hocket team, add a basketball team, and attract more conventions, concerts, trade shows, poltiical rallies...etc. while also adding a youth sports component to attract youth sports tournaments.

They have $20-$25M in funding available from BP funds that will be directed elsewhere (not Pensacola) if not used. On top of that some proposals would also be eligble for $20M in market tax credits.

Good this GLeague team needs to happen.

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The city

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what city are we talking about

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He mentioned the Barons and they play in Birmingham, but I understood Birmingham to be smaller than New Orleans and Memphis.

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Yes Birmingham. According to Nielsen, the Birmingham market is 45, New Orleans is 50, Memphis is 51.