NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called for changes to House Bill 2 -- now law in North Carolina -- but said there has been no discussion of moving the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Silver called the law "problematic for the league," and said the NBA would work for change.
The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce released this statement following Silver's remarks:
We appreciate and are grateful for the NBA's decision to keep the All-Star Game in Charlotte. We recognize that they, and others, have an expectation that more work needs to be done. Therefore we continue to encourage our representative leadership at all levels to continue to engage in efforts to assure our citizens that they will have the ability to defend their rights related to discrimination in all forms.
The Charlotte Regional Visitor Authority told WSOC that $86 million is up in the air after HB2 was made law. About $60 million of that is from the All-Star Game.
The All-Star Game is set to tip-off at Time Warner Cable Arena next February and the CRVA estimates the event would pump up to $100 million into Charlotte's economy.
The league has expressed concerns after Gov. Pat McCrory passed the non-discrimination law last month.
The NBA has expressed concerns about the bill, which critics say unfairly limits LGBT rights.
The Charlotte mayor also released a statement on the NBA commissioner's remarks:
We appreciate the support of the NBA for its belief in the people of Charlotte and North Carolina. Charlotte shares the NBA's commitment to equal rights for all and we look forward to working with the NBA and with all of our partners toward constructive change. The NBA and its fans should know that everybody is Always Welcome in Charlotte! We are honored to host this exciting event, and working hand in hand with the NBA, we will do all we can to make this the most successful All-Star Game ever!
NBA statement regarding 2017 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte
“During a media availability earlier today following the NBA’s Board of Governors meeting, Commissioner Adam Silver clarified that the NBA remains deeply concerned about its ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, in light of recent legislation that discriminates against the LGBT community. At no time did Adam affirm that the league would not move the All-Star Game; rather he stressed repeatedly that the legislation is problematic, that we feel it is best to engage with the community to work towards a solution, that change is needed and we are hopeful that it will occur.”
While the NBA said they are keeping the game in Charlotte for now, Cirque du Soleil announced it has canceled all shows in North Carolina due to HB2.
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