GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1250

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Sponsors: Senators Plyler, Odom; Conder, Winner of Mecklenburg, Smith, Plexico, Sherron, Hyde, Tally, Ward, Blackmon, Edwards, Speed, Shaw, Carpenter, Codington, Hartsell, Richardson, Soles, Martin of Pitt, Hoyle, Parnell, Hunt, Perdue, Kerr, Cooper, Kincaid, Winner of Buncombe, Lee, Forrester, Allran, Cochrane, Warren, Jordan, Harris, Ballance, Marshall, Folger, Kaplan, Gulley, Johnson, Walker, Martin of Guilford, Basnight, Albertson, Daniel, and Sands.
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Referred to:  Rules and Operation of the Senate.
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June 24, 1993

A JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS FOR THEIR ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT AREA, THE COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG, AND THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.
Whereas, many believe that basketball is North Carolina's favorite spectator sport; and
Whereas, the Charlotte Hornets since their inception in 1988 have developed and earned fan loyalty across the State; and
Whereas, the popularity of the Charlotte Hornets is evidenced by the attendance at their games; and
Whereas, since their first season in 1988-89, the Charlotte Hornets have led the NBA league four out of the last five seasons in attendance; and
Whereas, with a seating capacity of 23,698, the Charlotte Hornets have sold out 198 straight games in the Charlotte Coliseum; and
Whereas, a study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte after the Hornets' first season estimated that the Hornets had added 110 million dollars to the local economy; and
Whereas, it has been estimated that the Charlotte Hornets have brought in an excess of 750 million dollars to the economy of the State of North Carolina in their first five years; and
Whereas, the Charlotte Hornets have also brought special recognition to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, to the Southern Piedmont, and to the State of North Carolina from television and other media exposure; and
Whereas, the members of the team seek to provide positive role models for the youth of the community; and
Whereas, this spectator sport has provided five years of good family entertainment; and
Whereas, this NBA franchise has become a North Carolina institution; and
Whereas, the team finished its 1992-93 season with a record of 44-38, and for the first time, the team achieved seeding in the NBA play-offs; and
Whereas, during the first round of the 1993 play-offs, the Charlotte Hornets achieved the second round of the play-offs by defeating the Boston Celtics three games to one; and
Whereas, the Charlotte Hornets became the first of the most recent expansion teams to advance to the NBA semifinals and played the New York Knicks; and
Whereas, it is with great pride and appreciation that the General Assembly pays tribute to the Charlotte Hornets, a North Carolina institution;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly wishes to recognize the Charlotte Hornets for their economic contributions to the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the Southern Piedmont, and to the State of North Carolina.  The General Assembly further wishes the team continued success in the future.
Sec. 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to George Shinn, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Head Coach Alan Bristow, and members of the team.
Sec. 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.