Top 20 Moments in New Orleans Pelicans History
Apr 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; A view of the New Orleans Pelicans logo during the game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 121-114. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
16. Pro sports return to New Orleans following Katrina
by Nathan Heck
March 8th, 2006 probably seems like an eternity ago for most people, but for the people of New Orleans and the surrounding areas (I grew up in Meraux, if you are interested), the years following August 29th, 2005 dragged on for the length of a lifetime and still feel just like yesterday. On that March evening, only 189,000 of the city’s approximately 465,000 had returned, according to an article published by ESPN at the time.
So why is March 8th, in particular, so important? The New Orleans Hornets played not only the first professional basketball contest in New Orleans post-Katrina but the first professional sports game, period. To outsiders, it may seem like something silly to celebrate. C’mon, why did it take almost seven months to bring the Hornets home?
Locals, however, will politely inform you that it only took seven months. The destruction that occurred in August was devastating, and the recovery that followed moved as quickly as possible. However, one thing was certain, this was going to take time. To have something so normal as an NBA game happen on that March evening was about more than just entertaining the sold out crowd. The game was, and continues to be, a symbol for the rebuilding effort of America’s most unique city.
Even though the Hornets lost to the Lakers, they won. In a town scraping money together to put roofs over everyone’s heads, the Hornets sold out a basketball game. Chris Paul, who had not played a regular season game in New Orleans prior, became the new face of the franchise and a symbol for the rebuild. Some things are more important than basketball, and that is why the March 8th home game, a game truly played at home, is a top moment in the team’s history.
Next: The first game