The move is also an effort to isolate the team and pull the members together after a disappointing end to last season, Weber said.

"Definitely, it was about building team unity," he said. "We knew building that type of camaraderie was critical."

The Hornets will practice about three hours daily at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4.

The practice sessions are closed to the public, but the team is scheduled to play a scrimmage Oct. 3 at ULL's Earl K. Long Gym.

Full details of the event have not been released.

Team officials also announced a public appearance by the Hornets on Oct. 2 at Downtown Alive!, a weekly music performance on Fridays.

Lafayette City-Parish Joey Durel, clutching a new Hornets cap, said he is pleased the team "is reaching out to its fan base in Acadiana."

Durel said he expects the presence of the Hornets will attract at least some regional and national media attention to the city and the university.

"It's just another way to promote Lafayette and Acadiana and our university, especially when you say you're getting it for free," Durel said.

While city-parish government is not paying any money to bring the team here, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission have agreed to cover about $10,000 of the team's expenses while in Lafayette, LCVC Executive Director Gerald Breaux said.

Breaux said the potential attention from outside media and other sports franchises will be worth the money.

"We've already talked about doing an exhibition game next year if this is successful," Breaux said.

Hornets owner George Shinn said having training camp here is part of overall effort to better connect with fans outside of New Orleans. "We want to reach out every way we can to this community," he said.