The Kenner City Council is set to vote on a resolution that would back an effort to bring the New Orleans Pelicans’ NBA G-League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, to the city’s Pontchartrain Center, according to the agenda for the council’s Thursday meeting.
The Squadron, which serves as a developmental squad for the Pelicans, has been playing games at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2021 after making the move from Erie, Pennsylvania.
The Pelicans did not immediately offer a comment on the matter, but the resolution indicates that the Squadron has already shown interest in making the move to Jefferson Parish.
“The Birmingham Squadron has expressed interest in moving its home base to the Kenner Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center,” the resolution states, adding that “the City of Kenner is in support of the relocation.”
The resolution, which was submitted by Kenner mayor Michael Glaser, would support giving the mayor authority to enter into negotiations with the Squadron about relocating to the arena, which is located less than a 15-mile drive from the Smoothie King Center.
Often the home of trade shows and conventions, the Pontchartrain Center has a capacity of 3,600 for sporting events. The Squadron’s current home in Birmingham can hold up to 17,654 fans for games.
The Squadron, which drew a crowd of close to 5,000 for its inaugural game in Birmingham in 2021, had an official attendance of 1,483 for the team’s last home game on Jan. 28.
Several NBA G-League teams have moved to arenas closer to their NBA parent clubs in recent years. One example is the Memphis Grizzlies’ Hustle that plays its games in nearby Southaven, Mississippi.
Trey Murphy and Jose Alvarado, who was traded to the New York Knicks on Thursday, are among the Pelicans standouts who have spent time in Birmingham.