NBA looking at Alternate Cities for 2017 All Star Game

[Cavaliercards]

The NBA has taken the step of reaching out to multiple alternative host cities as it considers its options for the 2017 All-Star Game next February in Charlotte, sources told ESPN.com.

The league hadn't made a final decision as of Thursday morning but was moving closer to pulling out of Charlotte because of its objection to North Carolina House Bill 2, which limited anti-discrimination protections in the state.

The Vertical reported Thursday the league was on the verge of pulling out of Charlotte and that New Orleans had emerged as a front-runner to land the game.

Several other NBA cities have become options if the league takes the step, including Chicago and New York/Brooklyn, sources told ESPN.

After the owners' meetings earlier this month, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the league was mulling its options and said "the calendar is not our friend." That was a reference to the North Carolina legislature being on summer hiatus and unable to make changes to the law as NBA has requested. It also applied to the time pressure of planning a large-scale event like All-Star Weekend.

[asujbl]

As they should

[dasiegel]

Love that the NBA has some balls

[LeonfromNC]

Uh I was planning on going this year as Charlotte is like my 2nd home. This sucks.

[inopethflames]

i doubt it ends up moving, who knows, i doubt anyone on this site can explain that bill without looking it up either.

[Jasondr91]

As a lifelong resident of NC, this type of stuff kills us fans. But at the same time, when bands decide at the last minute that they aren't playing here.....they are hurting their fans. The fans didn't write this HB2 bill.

Some musical acts play it smart and donate their earnings directly to LGBT causes here. Meanwhile, people will move through the crowd passing out flyers on how to also help the LGBT people. This is how it should be done. Perform your act, please your fans and help the cause.

The media really ran with this. I totally understand the fight people have with the law, but trust me. This state has plenty of conservatives that have absolutely NO CARE if a transgendered person decides to use the bathroom of their choice! I mean, how are people to tell....or enforce this?

If our governor will amend the law, everybody wins. Nobody cares where people piss.....and this is coming from a conservative. The media really pushed this crazy notion that a bunch of Bible Belt folks are monitoring where people drop a douce. The governors excuse/reason for signing the bill does carry weight, but not enough to make this silly idea the law.

Sadly, all of us NCers are losing out.

[SteveO21]

Originally Posted by inopethflames

i doubt it ends up moving, who knows, i doubt anyone on this site can explain that bill without looking it up either.

From what I remember, at least a part of it was the same as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Mike Pence tried to enact here in Indiana, which allowed businesses and employers to discriminate based on "religious freedom".

[asujbl]

According to Woj the game has been pulled - he just updated it

NBA pulls 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, focuses on New Orleans

[LeonfromNC]

Oh well. I bet Jordan is pissed about this...

[Cocheese45]

I feel bad for NC residents who are going to miss out on the AS game and other events as it's not their fault. It's the legislature's fault for pushing these laws...they're really hurting their state.

[Cavaliercards]

NBA is smart they swap cities and allow Charlotte to get it in two years if NC changes their ways.

[asujbl]

Tom WithersVerified account
‏@twithersAP
#NBA officially announces it will move 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte "with the hope of rescheduling in 2019."

[BostonNut]

How about Boston? I mean it has only been since 1964 since they got to host one...

[AbraCalabro]

I'm surprised this thread hasn't been deleted yet.

[IronMonkey415]

Bring it back to the Bay Area.

[tacoma34]

Pee standing up= mens bathroom
Pee sitting down= womens bathroom

It's not that hard.

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by tacoma34

Pee standing up= mens bathroom
Pee sitting down= womens bathroom

It's not that hard.

Insert "thejokerdarkknightandherewego.gif"

[Brobocop]

Originally Posted by IronMonkey415

Bring it back to the Bay Area.

You guys got Durant, can't you just be happy with that??

[tacoma34]

Originally Posted by Brobocop

Insert "thejokerdarkknightandherewego.gif"

[xavieronly1]

If we only have family bathroom in the mall, the line will be so long as people doing extra stuff in the room. Not good.

[JMys55]

Does anyone else think Adam Silver has done everything right since he was appointed commissioner? I am not thrilled about the jersey advertising, but he has stepped up every time on the most important issues and he has done the right thing since his tenure began in 2/2014.

One of his first tasks was to address the Donald Sterling incident, which was a horrendous event for the NBA and its fans. I remember watching his response live and his announcement to apply the max fine and lifetime ban made my eyes water as he said it. It was important to me since I knew I could never feel the same about the NBA if Sterling was let off easy. I felt like he was Papa Bear taking charge of an ugly situation to protect his league, players, and fans.

I love the guy.

[tnvolfan16]

I do not understand if this law is so bad that they cannot hold the ASG in Charlotte, why can the Hornets keep playing there? if this was REALLY a big deal and the nba wanted to send a message, they would relocate the Hornets immediately

[CardsCollector]

I personally don't understand what is so bad about this law that everyone avoids North Carolina. It literally effects less than 1% of the population too, people need to just get over this

[the27guy]

I don't want my league making political statements. Maybe that's just me.

[atoaz12]

But hey we love all the money we get from communist China!

Bullied into a decision on a matter they don't care about