Oklahoma City Exile
A temporary home that forged resilience across two cities during recovery.
The Oklahoma City Exile refers to a pivotal period in franchise history when the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated their home games following Hurricane Katrina. From 2005 to 2007, the team operated out of Ford Center while maintaining their Louisiana identity and working toward returning to New Orleans.
- Franchise Name
- New Orleans Hornets
- Home Venue
- Ford Center (Oklahoma City)
- Relocation Period
- 2005–2007
- Reason for Move
- Hurricane Katrina Infrastructure Damage
- Return Season
- 2007-08
- Key Draft Pick
- Chris Paul (2005)
- Status
- Temporary Relocation
Lore & Background
This era is defined by survival and community support rather than geographic permanence. Although the team played in Oklahoma City, they remained the New Orleans Hornets on paper and in spirit. The relocation allowed the franchise to continue operations while the city rebuilt its arena and surrounding infrastructure.
Fans from Louisiana traveled long distances to support their team, creating a unique atmosphere at Ford Center that blended Southern hospitality with Midwestern grit. This period also marked the beginning of the Chris Paul era, as the future star was drafted in 2005 and developed his game during these displaced seasons.
In Their Own Story
The arena lights hummed over the hardwood, casting long shadows across the green and gold jerseys. A fan clutched a ticket stub that said 'New Orleans,' even though the scoreboard announced Oklahoma City. The crowd cheered for a layup, but their eyes were on the horizon of homecoming.
Reader's Guide
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, forcing the NBA franchise to seek a temporary home for the upcoming season due to infrastructure damage. Management chose Oklahoma City as a neutral ground where they could play without abandoning their identity entirely or losing revenue.
The 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons saw the Hornets playing at the Ford Center. This period coincided with the arrival of rookie sensation Chris Paul, whose emergence kept morale high despite the displacement from the Gulf Coast. Fans from both cities rallied behind the team, creating a unique cross-regional support system that defied typical NBA rivalries.
By the 2007–08 season, renovations at the New Orleans Arena were complete enough for the franchise to return home permanently to Louisiana. The Oklahoma City chapter closed, leaving behind memories of resilience rather than permanent affiliation with the state capital. This era is remembered not as an abandonment, but as a survival strategy that preserved the team until Hurricane Katrina's recovery allowed them to reclaim their city and stadium.
Did You Know?
- The franchise retained the New Orleans Hornets name throughout the Oklahoma City stay.
- Chris Paul was drafted by the franchise during this relocation period in 2005.
- This move preceded the arrival of the Seattle SuperSonics as the Thunder in OKC.
- Home games were played at Ford Center, now known as Paycom Center.