last week in NOLA

**hsheffield** · 10-14-2019, 06:15 PM

visited New Orleans last week and got a chance to speak to many natives (mostly Lyft drivers

) and came away with the following impressions:

1. they don't care much about the Pelicans
2. they care a LOT about the Saints
3. they only vaguely know who Zion Williamson is (his 20 ft likeness projected outside the Superdome may help)
4. they have no clue that a large chunk of their team comes from Duke
5. there were an alarming number of Kentucky bball fans

turns out that Brandon Ingram lives in the hotel I stayed in-I saw him in the lobby and called his name. got a quick head turn then a bolt out the front door with his entourage.

never knew I could so easily scare off a 6'9" man...btw, he really is that skinny in person.

**CameronBornAndBred** · 10-16-2019, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by hsheffield

visited New Orleans last week and got a chance to speak to many natives (mostly Lyft drivers

) and came away with the following impressions:

1. they don't care much about the Pelicans

Hard to care about a team that has only been to the playoffs once. (And got swept out.)

**HereBeforeCoachK** · 10-16-2019, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by CameronBornAndBred

Hard to care about a team that has only been to the playoffs once. (And got swept out.)

Zion will change everything in New Orleans. He changed everything about Duke nationally, to a degree.

**JimBD** · 10-16-2019, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by hsheffield

visited New Orleans last week and got a chance to speak to many natives (mostly Lyft drivers

) and came away with the following impressions:

1. they don't care much about the Pelicans
2. they care a LOT about the Saints
3. they only vaguely know who Zion Williamson is (his 20 ft likeness projected outside the Superdome may help)
4. they have no clue that a large chunk of their team comes from Duke
5. there were an alarming number of Kentucky bball fans

turns out that Brandon Ingram lives in the hotel I stayed in-I saw him in the lobby and called his name. got a quick head turn then a bolt out the front door with his entourage.

never knew I could so easily scare off a 6'9" man...btw, he really is that skinny in person.

I live in the New Orleans area. A Pelicans practice which was open to the public drew over 10,000 fans. The Pelicans only home preseason game was sold out. Preseason ticket sales are by far at the highest level ever. Zion Williamson has made a huge impression in New Orleans, not only for his basketball skills, but also for his numerous appearances at charitable and civic events, and just showing up at numerous playgrounds and interacting with kids. He has stated numerous times his love for New Orleans and that love is being returned to him. This is by far the most enthusiasm for basketball I have ever seen in the New Orleans area.

**AZLA** · 10-16-2019, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by hsheffield

visited New Orleans last week and got a chance to speak to many natives (mostly Lyft drivers

) and came away with the following impressions:

1. they don't care much about the Pelicans
2. they care a LOT about the Saints
3. they only vaguely know who Zion Williamson is (his 20 ft likeness projected outside the Superdome may help)
4. they have no clue that a large chunk of their team comes from Duke
5. there were an alarming number of Kentucky bball fans

turns out that Brandon Ingram lives in the hotel I stayed in-I saw him in the lobby and called his name. got a quick head turn then a bolt out the front door with his entourage.

never knew I could so easily scare off a 6'9" man...btw, he really is that skinny in person.

Unibrow didn't care much for the Pelicans either and that definitely rubbed off. But change is in motion. There's a new generation in town and even if only the Uber drivers know it (and not Lyft drivers

, the city knows it to the tune of record season ticket sales, even before Zion's pre-season showing: 'It's phenomenal': Pelicans sell 12,000-plus season tickets for Zion's rookie season.

Even opening night, probably for the first time in NBA history (I'm guessing), they're featuring the Pelicans as the feature game!

When does the NBA season start?
The 2019-20 campaign will tip off Tuesday, Oct. 22 on TNT with marquee matchups featuring the Pelicans, Raptors, Lakers and Clippers. No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson will make his regular-season debut against the defending champs in the early game (8 p.m. ET), and the Clippers' new dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will challenge Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the battle for Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET).

Also, you have to look at the real power of media today and that's social. Last March he was at 2.5 million followers. He's already up to 4.5 million today, BEFORE the season even starts. Curry is at under 27 million and Lebron is at +50 million. I guarantee that the kids in New Orleans are all hyped about Zion.

**CameronBornAndBred** · 10-16-2019, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by HereBeforeCoachK

Zion will change everything in New Orleans. He changed everything about Duke nationally, to a degree.