Legislation that will keep tickets to Oklahoma City Hornets games among the lowest in the league and complete the incentive package that helped lure the National Basketball Association team to the Ford Center earlier this year passed out of the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1022 is authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan. The measure exempts tickets to NBA and NHL games in Oklahoma from sales tax.

“One of the biggest reasons the Hornets have been one of the best draws in the NBA, averaging 18,000 fans a game, is because tickets in Oklahoma City are among the cheapest in the league. This legislation will ensure that continues to be the case by exempting ticket sales from sales tax,” said Morgan, D-Stillwater.

Senate and House leaders, along with representatives of Governor Henry’s office, reached an agreement on the sales tax exemption last fall during negotiations to bring the team to Oklahoma from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Morgan said Tuesday that he doesn’t anticipate the legislation facing any hurdles when it reaches the House and is certain Governor Henry will sign it once it gets to his desk.

The Senate Leader said he doesn’t have any inside information about the possibility that the Hornets will stay in Oklahoma City past next season, but said like every other basketball fan he’s hopeful that support from state, the city, and, most of all, the thousands of Oklahomans who buy the tickets will make the decision easier for the team and the league.

“The Hornets are a great success story. Oklahoma has embraced the team. Hopefully, by putting incentives – like exempting tickets from sales tax – into law, we can send a message to the team ownership and league offices that we are serious about keeping the Hornets in Oklahoma City,” Morgan said.

The Senate leader said SB 1022 is expected to be considered by the full Senate Wednesday, where passage would send it to the House.

For more information contact:
Senate President Pro Tem's Office - (405) 521-5605