A person with knowledge of the league?s negotiations told ESPN.com that it is very likely that some of the Hornets games will be played in the state of Louisiana -- in Baton Rouge -- but Oklahoma City is the clear front-runner if the team needs to play somewhere else.  The Ford Center in Oklahoma City, opened just three years ago, holds a capacity of 19,675 and was built to host NBA/NHL events.

Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett said he believes his city is the first option if all the games can't be played in the state of Louisiana. "They made it clear that they liked what they saw and that our arena was appropriate for NBA games," Cornett said. The mayor would not divulge any other details of a proposed lease such as some sort of ticket guarantee.