Asheville is once again in the running as a possible location for an NBA Development League team, according to a report by Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Keith Jarrett.
Jarrett writes that Asheville is one of several municipalities being considered across North and South Carolina by the Charlotte Hornets as a host city for a NBA D-league team, which the Michael Jordan-owned Hornets currently lack.
If chosen, this would be Asheville’s second go-around with the NBA’s developmental league: the Asheville Altitude were one of the original eight NBDL teams launched in 2001, and played in Asheville until 2005, when the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma due to poor attendance numbers here.
According to the Citizen-Times report, Asheville is back on the NBA’s radar due in part to its blossoming reputation as a national tourist destination, in addition to its proximity to Charlotte and renovations made to the U.S. Cellular Center since the Altitude left town.
City officials will meet this week to gauge interest in the Hornet’s proposal, which they must respond to before Friday, May 15 in order to remain in consideration.
Read more on the proposal and Asheville’s chances from Keith Jarrett and the Asheville Citizen-Times here.
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