Shinn calls on fans to make Hornets' opener a sellout

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn appeals to fans to buy the remaining tickets to the team's home opener in Louisiana this week. <br/><br/>About 3,500 tickets are still available

Monday, October 30th 2006, 5:41 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn appeals to fans to buy the remaining tickets to the team's home opener in Louisiana this week.

About 3,500 tickets are still available for the November 5th game at New Orleans Arena, but Shinn said those are located in the upper deck of the facility.

The opener will be one of six games the Hornets play in New Orleans this season. The remaining 35 home games will be played in Oklahoma City, the Hornets' temporary home after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

Two of the team's three games in New Orleans last season sold out, and the other came up about 400 fans short.

Shinn said yesterday he'd been close to an agreement with potential investors seeking a minority stake in the team but officials have had to restart negotiations.

He says the NBA has helped identify corporate sponsors in New Orleans, but no one has been signed.