One on one with ... Ray Wooldridge. (Inside: NBA).

On Monday, NBA owners will convene to decide a number of issues--none more significant than the relocation of the Hornets from Charlotte to New Orleans. There has been strong opposition to the move; as some owners have questioned the wisdom of deserting a willing market such as Charlotte--where the Hornets have had trouble convincing city leaders of the need for a new arena--for an uncertain smaller market. But if the Hornets can get 15 of 29 owners' votes, the move will be approved. TSN's Sean Deveney talks with Hornets co-owner Ray Wooldridge about why Wooldridge thinks the NBA can work in New Orleans.

TSN: The last time basketball was in New Orleans, there was support. It was a bad team, but they were drawing fans, right?

RW: If you look at the statistics, they were right near the top. The Jazz, pretty much in any way you would measure it, was successful. The football team has been (in New Orleans) for 31 years and has accomplished attendance of 61,000 (70,059 in 2001) with a winning percentage of (.401). It's a sports town. If you look at Charlotte, they say it's such a great sports town and supports the Panthers. The turnstile number on the Panthers I got was 49,205 (in 2001), not 72,000 (capacity is 73,250).

TSN: I understand that the suites and corporate sponsorships are vital economically. You have to have them in basketball--in all sports, really. But as a regular fan in Charlotte, isn't that enough to turn you off all sports? To think that I don't matter; my ticket does not matter?

RW: It matters a lot. Under no circumstances are you to interpret what I am saying as, "It doesn't matter." The wrath, who should you take it out on, it should be the business leaders and the political leaders (in Charlotte).

TSN: Whoever gets the wrath, though, it has to be hard for someone who buys regular, mid-priced seats to as many games as he or she can to look at this and not say, "All anyone cares about is corporate boxes, corporate suites."

RW: We have the second-lowest priced ticket in the league. So, we tried. And we have done everything .... I put a tremendous amount of money into the team for it to stay there. You cannot expect a privately owned business to go in there and experience financial ruin. You've seen me as a fan with my headband. I am there, man. I love this game, I love seeing the fans. There is nothing more important to me.