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2017 NBA All-Star Game awarded to New Orleans

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By Doug Zanger, Americas Editor

August 19, 2016 | 3 min read

In a final move, and underlining the league’s disapproval of North Carolina’s controversial and discriminatory LGBT law, HB2, the National Basketball Association announced that it is moving the NBA All-Star Game to New Orleans. The Sunday, February 19th game will be played in the city’s Smoothie King Center, home of the league’s New Orleans Pelicans. ESPN reported that Chicago and New York/Brooklyn were also under consideration in July.

New Orleans set to host 2017 NBA All-Star Game

New Orleans set to host 2017 NBA All-Star Game

“New Orleans is a world-class destination for sports and entertainment and we are very appreciative that the city is once again hosting our All-Star festivities,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We are grateful to (Pelicans owners) Tom and Gayle Benson and the Pelicans organization and to Governor John Bel Edwards, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for inviting us back for what promises to be another exciting and memorable celebration of the game.”

The league also announced that they, along with the NBA Players Association, will join the Pelicans and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in providing financial and other ongoing support of the current flood situation in the state. Heavy rains have devastated the state, with The Guardian reporting that 13 people have lost their lives, 40,000 homes have been damaged and, at its peak, 12,000 residents were housed in temporary shelters.

“Even in the midst of a historic crisis, I am excited that the NBA has recognized how great the City of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana are,” said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.

It is estimated that the economic loss of the game to North Carolina cost the city and region around $100m. For its part, New Orleans has tremendous experience in hosting large-scale, world-class events, including the Super Bowl, and last hosted the NBA’s annual celebration of the league in 2014. The game coincides with the first week of Mardi Gras.

“When we learned that we had an opportunity to host next year’s NBA All-Star Game, we went straight to work to lay the groundwork for 2017,” said President and CEO of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Stephen Perry. “Our tourism industry is second-to-none at planning and accommodating massive events like this. Within three weeks, we were able to ensure the NBA that all the pieces were in place to make the 2017 NBA All-Star Game an unforgettable experience that will combine our world famous Mardi Gras with all the excitement that the NBA All-Star Game delivers.”

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