How the Charlotte Hornets’ co-owners are developing a ‘premier franchise’

[jayboogieman]

This is a Boone piece for the Observer. If you're not subbed to the paper, you can open the link in an incognito/private browsing browser to read it.

Some highlights:

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Since taking controlling interest of the franchise from now-minority owner Michael Jordan last August, Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, the Hornets’ other co-owner, have almost been as visible as the guys in uniform. The duo is ever present by design.

 

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“It’s a huge part, a really important part of our culture because we want to show the players that we care, that we see them and we are aware of everything that’s going on here and it matters to us,” Schnall told The Observer in an interview alongside Plotkin. “We love the game, we are passionate about the game. And so in many respects there’s a direct line of reporting and we are not in that direct line. We play a support role. We want to support our players.

Take note Tepper. Your job is support, not making coaching/GM decisions.

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“We want them to understand that we care about them as players and as people because as an organization, we want them to feel the sense that, ‘Hey, this is a special place, the owners are visible, they love the game.’ And that’s extremely important to us as owners, and I think we have the ability to do that. That’s pretty unique because we are around.”

 

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“First, is you are committed to long-term sustainable success. So, you have to set the culture expectation that that’s what you are trying to achieve, and then you have to bring in the people. At the end of the day, this is a people business. There’s no competitive moats beyond the people you have in place.

 

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“I think when you look at organizations in sport that have been successful over time, it’s been anchored in culture, it’s been anchored in people that have been there for a long time. And we hope the hires we’ve made — and we truly believe that — they’re going to be with us a long time. And so they’ve set the agenda, they’ve brought in a lot of talent.”

 

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“To be good on the court, you need great players, you have to invest in your facilities, you have to have trust in the organization,” Plotkin said. “We are investing a lot obviously across the organization. In sports, in performance, in the practice facility. And so there are many elements. Obviously, the arena renovation. And so it’s not just one thing. I think it’s kind of everything.

 

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I think the common denominator amongst the really good owners is they are very committed and passionate, resourceful at the same time they know how and when to stay out the way and not be too involved. That, to me, makes a great owner.”

A shot at Tepper?

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Schall and Plotkin, a pair of avid hoopers, will have a world-class facility to play their pick up games in prior to the start of the 2026-27 season. It will feature more than 100,000 square feet to be utilized for practice, training and recovery, plus another 35,000 square for the team’s business operations thanks to an adjustment from the original architectural design.

 

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“We think it will be the best in the league or among the best in the league. It’s a beautiful building. We are investing a lot of our own money in it. The city is contributing $30 million, the building is going to cost a lot more. But it’s really important that is state of-the-art, that players come in and it’s a really exciting experience for them and our whole staff.”

 

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“And we are now up in the top five or six teams with assets. Now that Jeff came in we gathered a lot of second-round picks and we have an abundance. Maybe not an overabundance. You never can have an overabundance, But assets that can allow us to build something great.”

That, again, is where Peterson comes in.

“There will be a time where it’s going to be go time and it’s time to use those assets to convert them into a team that can be a championship-caliber team.

 

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Just recently, the Hornets donated 1 million dollars to the relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Helene in Western Carolina. Along with team employees packing 10,000 emergency food kits for Second Harvest of Metrolina, the team is selling t-shirts with “Carolina Strong” emblazoned on it with the net proceeds going directly to hurricane relief.

 

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“We understand how special the fan base was here when the team was good in the old arena,” Schnall said, “and we think the environment that will be created here when we are competitive will be among the best in the league. We have fans that are just waiting for a winning team to cheer for. And this is a community that has brought into their local sports teams.

Another shot at Tepper?

 

There's much more in the article. It's a good fluff piece.

[BIGH2001]

I don’t think it’s a shot at Tepper as much as it is an ownership group that has a clue how to run a franchise. I’m looking forward to what they can do and expect the Hornets to be relevant again well before the Panthers if the Panthers ever make it back to that status.

[Jackie Lee]

New internal interview

 

[MechaZain]

The biggest thing I can give them so far is getting Kemba back as coach. I think that's going to do more for team culture and Melo especially than people realize. It's like if Panthers had Luke or Cam in the locker room right now. 

Edited October 25 by MechaZain

[Wolfcop]

2 hours ago, MechaZain said:

The biggest thing I can give them so far is getting Kemba back as coach. I think that's going to do more for team culture and Melo especially than people realize. It's like if Panthers had Luke or Cam in the locker room right now. 

Melo mentioned that after the game. Great idea!