Katrina was directly related to the controversial National Basketball Association Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City. New Orleans' NBA franchise was forced to move temporarily; the Hornets (now known as the Pelicans after Saints owner Tom Benson purchased the team in 2013) chose a mix of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, and the Ford Center in Oklahoma City while New Orleans Arena was being rebuilt. The success of the Hornets in the Ford Center (which the Hornets had a deal where the team would split its games for two years) directly led to Oklahoma City interests purchasing the Seattle SuperSonics, which was for sale, and move to become the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.