Shreveport To Officially Submit For Pelicans’ Minor League Team
The Shreveport City Council made it official yesterday when they voted 6-1 to pass the following: "A resolution that expresses support for the City of Shreveport, Louisiana’s response to the Request For Proposals issued by the New Orleans Pelicans for the purpose of becoming the flagship community for the New Orleans Pelicans G League team beginning in the 2018-2019 season and to otherwise provide with respect thereto." What it's saying in essence is that the City Council is okay with the City of Shreveport submitting a proposal.
So that has cleared the way for the proposal to be created which will include a plan to build a $25 million sports complex that could be used year round. Money for the complex would come from riverfront development funds.
As part of their proposal strategy the City is holding a "Pelican Pep Rally" at 6pm on Thursday at the new YMCA. The pep rally will be filmed and a video produced in an effort to show Pelicans owner Tom Benson that Shreveport is the best choice for its new G-League basketball team. In an official statement Mayor Ollie Tyler urged residents to show up at the rally dressed in "their best Pelican or NBA gear". She said that those who show up might be included in the finished video.
Shreveport is one of five cities still in the running for the new NBA Gatorade League team. Proposals must be submitted by June 7, 2017.