La. seafood board may buy N.O. arena naming rights

[January 25, 2012]  NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board says it may use some of the $30 million it received from BP PLC after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill to buy naming rights for the New Orleans Arena, where the NBA's Hornets play.

Executive director Ewell Smith said Tuesday the promotional value would be part of a campaign to restore confidence in Gulf seafood. Many seafood grounds were closed during the spill.

Smith said the campaign could include setting up Louisiana seafood vendor booths at other NBA arenas around the country.

He said the board has spoken with the Hornets and is awaiting more information. The arena is state-owned. A deal, he said, could come within 90 days.

The naming rights proposal was first reported in The Courier of Houma.

[Associated Press; By JANET McCONNAUGHEY]

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