Hornet Owner Meets With Pond Executives

The co-owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a team searching for a new home, met Monday with representatives of the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, an arena searching for an NBA tenant.

Ray Wooldridge, one of the Hornets’ two owners, met with executives from Ogden Corp., the company that manages the Pond. The Hornets also have toured Louisville, Ky., Norfolk, Va. and St. Louis, but the first two cities have yet to complete arrangements to finance proposed new arenas and a move to St. Louis would require the Hornets to share an arena with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.

In June, voters in Charlotte rejected a referendum to pay for a new arena, and prospects for a new plan are uncertain.

The Pond opened in 1993 without the NBA franchise the building was designed to attract. The Clippers played an annual series of games at the Pond from 1994-99 but resisted overtures to move there full time.

The Vancouver Grizzlies, the only other team to consider moving to the Pond, included Anaheim among four finalists this year before relocating to Memphis, Tenn.

Tim Ryan, general manager of the Pond, said he could not comment. Hornet officials could not be reached for comment.