The National Basketball Association will be invading the Tri-Cities on Oct. 16, inside the MSHA/ETSU Athletic Complex when the New Orleans Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason matchup. This is a chance to see some of the best players in the NBA, like Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets and Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks. “This will be an exciting event,” said Jo Anne Paty, associate athletic director for development at ETSU. “We are hoping that there will be a big turnout.”

It will have the same atmosphere of a regular NBA game, Paty said. Members of the New Orleans Hornets business team have already been to Johnson City to check out the facility.

The money raised from the game will be split between ETSU Athletics and the International Storytelling Festival Center located in Jonesborough. The idea for the event started when the owner of the Hornets George Shinn purchased a home in Telford.

There will be an event before the game, entitled Tales and Tailgates. It will include food, an open bar and tales told by people that have been around the game of basketball for most of their lives.

This event will take place at the Carnegie Hotel from 4-6 p.m. Tickets will be sold separately for $75 before Oct. 13 and $100 after that.

People expected to talk at the event are NBA Hall of Fame inductee Willis Reed, who played for the New York Knicks from 1964-1974. Also in attendance will be National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Gene Bartow, father of ETSU head basketball coach Murry Bartow. There is also the possibility that another Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will speak at the event, but nothing has been finalized.

Tickets are still available for the game. Affordable options are available for people – like most college students – who are strapped for cash. Most of the courtside and mid-level seats are sold out, however, there are still tickets in the price range of $47 to $50. General admission tickets for seats located behind the baskets on either side are $27. The doors open at 6 p.m. with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. For ticket information contact the ETSU Athletics ticket office at 423-439-3878 or visit ETSUBUCS.com

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