Charlotte Hornets looking to cash in as fan interest grows

Last season the Charlotte Hornets missed the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. But the team left fans hopeful for the future with an up-tempo style spearheaded by Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball.

Team executives believe the much-needed improvement on the court and an appearance in the play-in game set the table for increased ticket and sponsor sales.

[Hornets slam-dunk to help students who need school supplies]

Those predictions are beginning to pan out. Charlotte continues to rank among the top five in the 30-team NBA for new season-ticket sales this summer and recently saw a spike in demand with the start of single-game ticket sales.

NBA teams released their 2021-22 schedules earlier this month. On Aug. 21, the Hornets held a priority pre-sale for single-game tickets and set a franchise record for tickets sold and revenue. The following day, individual tickets went on sale to the public. And, while those sales did not break records, they did trend higher than in recent years.

“We think that’s an indication that our fan base is excited,” Hornets President Fred Whitfield told CBJ during an interview. Hired as team president in 2006, he said this is, by far, the most anticipated season for the franchise during his tenure.

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(BUZZ CITY: Hornets select UConn’s James Bouknight 11th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft)

BUZZ CITY: Hornets select UConn’s James Bouknight 11th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft

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