Newest update says Benson is trying to void the lease because the Superdome isn't able to host games right now. A friend of mine in San Antonio is excited about the chance to have an NFL team. I still think LA is the final destination. Nevertheless... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2198956 Officials: Dome likely OK for some Saints games in '06Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana Superdome officials said Thursday that the stadium should be largely cleaned up from Hurricane Katrina and ready for the New Orleans Saints to play at least some of their games there in 2006. However, the announcement came as San Antonio officials said they were working Saints owner Tom Benson to keep the team in Texas. The state must also respond to the team's assertions that its state-owned practice facility has been rendered unusable by damages caused by federal agencies in the weeks following the Aug. 29 storm. The Superdome, severely damaged by high winds, should have a temporary roof in place within 10 days, said Doug Thornton, regional vice president for SMG, which manages the Superdome. An environmental assessment of its interior -- damaged by rainfall through holes in the roof and its use as a shelter for evacuees -- should be finished by Dec. 1, he said. "We're working to make the Dome ready for the next season," Thornton said at a meeting of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District Commission, the state board that oversees the Superdome. The Saints have drawn criticism recently with shake ups in upper-level staff, as Benson apparently leans toward moving the team from New Orleans to San Antonio. On Monday, Benson fired Arnold Fielkow, the team's top business executive since 2000 and an advocate for keeping the Saints in Louisiana. Fielkow has said that stance led to his dismissal. On Tuesday, Conrad Kowal, senior director of marketing and business development, resigned. The team also sent a letter to the Louisiana National Guard and the stadium commission, saying their Jefferson Parish practice facility, leased from the state for $1 per year, has been damaged so badly by federal actions after the storm that the team cannot return "for some time [if ever]." "These actions have effectively terminated the Saints' lease for the facility and have caused great and continuing damage to the team," said the letter, signed by lawyers for the team. Tim Coulon, head of the stadium commission and the state's negotiator with the team, said Thursday that state officials planned to inspect damage at the practice facility next week. "If there's some damage to those buildings, we're going to rectify that," Coulon said. Asked it he thought the letter was Benson's first step toward leaving New Orleans, Coulon said he hoped not. "I don't want to speculate, because I haven't heard from him," Coulon said. "But it's not too late [for Benson] to step up to the plate and be the good citizen." Under the terms of the state's contract with the team, the Saints could argue that the storm has made the stadium unusable, move to another state and avoid paying an $81 million penalty, Coulon said. Coulon said the state would fight such a move, probably in court or in arbitration. Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she talked for some time with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Wednesday. She said he is committed to working with Louisiana, but also suggested that the game at LSU's Tiger Stadium on Oct. 30 "is not just a game but a very symbolic event and we should encourage as many people as possible to go." She said she had not spoken to Benson. "I'm planning to speak with him shortly," she said. "I needed to speak with the commissioner first." Asked about Mayor Ray Nagin's suggestion that if the team does leave, the city should keep the name, she said, "I think it's brilliant." But Blanco said she didn't talk to Tagliabue about that. "Let's just support the Saints. That's what I say."
The reality is....NFL football wasn't working well in NOLA before Katrina. They were subsidized by the state...a state that really couldn't afford it. Now we're talking about a seriously diminished NOLA...like a loss of around 1 million people from the area. With very little disposable income for something like pro sports...when you're just trying to rebuild a city. Personally, for me it sucks. I like the Saints a lot. Because they're from NOLA. They were my team when the Oilers left...until the Texans came to town. Sad to see. So much lost from that storm.
I think it is pretty shallow of the Saints to use a tragedy like Katrina to make money, move on and abandon their city. With that said though, it was only a matter of time until they moved in the first place... but going out like this is pretty shady.
I too believe L.A. will end up being where the Saint play. It's just too big a market (#2) without ANY team to speak of. How in the world would the "Cleveland Plan" work out if the NFL gave it to New Orleans?
I have no issue with New Orleans getting the Cleveland deal if they ever can support another team; a big if. It's not like the Saints have a rich history to take with them anyway. It would be cool if San Antonio got the Saints, but it is a long shot because I don't think the league office will support it. If the Saints were to relocated to L.A. then the Saints should be moved to the NFC West and the STL Rams moved to the NFC South.
The Saints moving out of NOLA was going to happen anyway, Katrina just moved it up a bit. If I am the mayor of NOLA, I am not going on a rant about the Saints leaving. You have alot more important things to worry about and as mayor, you knew the chances were that they were leaving anyway.
Check this out. Sorry guys, but using state funds to relocate the Saints rubs me the wrong way, especially when the legislature couldn’t even come up with a bill for school funding. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA102105.01A.FBN_saints_lead.1d44511b.html Benson to bail on Superdome Tom Orsborn Express-News Staff Writer New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson plans to void his lease agreement for the Louisiana Superdome by declaring the facility unusable, sources close to the Saints' organization say. The move, likely to come in November, would be the boldest step yet by Benson to free his NFL team from his Louisiana commitments and pave the way for a possible permanent relocation to San Antonio. However, sources caution, Benson may pursue a plan in which he offers San Antonio only a short-term commitment — to keep his team here for the 2006 season — and after that weigh his prospects in San Antonio against what may be available in a reconstructed New Orleans. One source said such a scenario would "buy him some time." Meanwhile, several local leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the certainty of Benson's plans to break ties with Louisiana has boosted momentum for Mayor Phil Hardberger's Saints relocation efforts in recent days. They point to serious discussions in public and private sectors about financing for Alamodome improvements, state-funding possibilities and what corporation may be most eager to agree to a naming rights deal that could add as much as $100 million to the relocation war chest. Mike Abington, director of the Alamodome, said refurbishing that facility to provide Benson with additional luxury suites may cost considerably less than the $136 million suggested in a 2000 appraisal. "It was a quickie study," Abington said. "When a comprehensive study is done based on the team's needs, that will reveal a more accurate estimate." Hardberger agreed, adding that many of the improvements detailed in that study already have been made. He estimated $50 million would be needed to boost luxury-suite capacity from 38 to 60. Still, the NFL average is about 120. County Judge Nelson Wolff confirmed prominent business leaders met last week to discuss planned negotiations between the city and the Saints — talks Hardberger said would begin early next year. "Tom has made it clear he really doesn't want to enter negotiations until the end of the season, and I respect that," Hardberger said Thursday. Wolff said local business leaders also are eager to iron out an unsightly wrinkle in the city's Saints attraction: the impact on the NBA champion Spurs. "There are concerns that whatever is done, we don't want to diminish financial support for the Spurs," Wolff said. Benson has the option to invoke a "force majeure" clause in the Saints' lease agreement with the state of Louisiana, which operates the Superdome. The clause gives him the right to void the lease, without penalty, if he claims an "act of God" has rendered the stadium unusable for the team's games. But sources say Benson is more concerned about New Orleans' damaged economy than he is the status of the Superdome. Benson, sources say, believes he can make more money in San Antonio than in Baton Rouge, where the Saints will play four games this season. Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans on Aug. 29, flooding the city and seriously damaging the Superdome. Days after the storm, the Saints moved their training headquarters to San Antonio. Eight home games were rebooked, three to the Alamodome. Superdome officials on Thursday said repair work has begun and the stadium should be ready for the Saints to play at least a portion of their 2006 home games there. But Larry Roedel, an attorney who represents the Superdome, said last week it would be "difficult" to schedule football games in the dome for the 2006 season. Tim Coulon, head of the stadium commission, said the state will fight any attempt by Benson to get out of the Superdome lease, possibly in court or through arbitration. The lease runs through 2010. Benson has until Nov. 28 to invoke the "force majeure" clause and avoid an $81 million exit penalty for walking away from the agreement. Sources say he plans to do just that. In what some see as a warm-up exercise, Benson has informed Louisiana officials that the Saints are terminating the lease agreement for their training facility in Metairie, a New Orleans suburb. The facility was taken over by FEMA as a disaster-relief base following Katrina. FEMA since has moved out, but Benson has told the state that damage caused by the agency's use of the facility rules out use by his team. Roedel said the state intends to repair the facility and will insist the lease be honored. Local leaders say they're open to any short-term plans Benson may propose — plans that may fall short of immediate permanent relocation. One source said an agreement for just the 2006 season would provide an impetus, as well as political security, for any plan to refurbish the Alamodome and attract additional major events. Hardberger, who opposes city funding for a new stadium, said he considers the Alamodome sound currency to take to the negotiating table. "We aren't talking about a facility outdated or outmoded," Hardberger said. "Nor one in a state of disrepair. The Alamodome is in good shape." If refurbishment money is appropriated, he said, it "will go to adding suites." State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, said he wants to use a portion of the Texas Enterprise Fund to provide money for the city's Saints relocation campaign. He said $146 million remains in the fund for use until 2007. Wentworth said he also has found $10 million in fund money for "special events" left over from the 2003 legislative session. Hardberger, meanwhile, found a prominent defender the day after Louisiana officials blasted him and Benson for agreeing to talk about the relocation of the Saints. "Phil Hardberger has operated with the highest degree of integrity," said local businessman B.J. "Red" McCombs, former owner of the Minnesota Vikings. "For anyone to look at what he's done as far as creating the problem in New Orleans is ludicrous. New Orleans' problems are real, and the Saints are going to have to play somewhere."
Disgusting. Sickening. Repugnant. Those are all words that describe that pile of talking excrement. He gets millions upon millions from the state of Louisiana (which isn't exactly flush with cash) in handouts. They build him a state-of-the art football facility on Airline Hwy. They answer his threats with dump truck loads of cash. And now he is going to use this crisis to get the hell out of dodge. He is the most worthless scumbag ever to own an NFL franchise. He makes Art Modell look like mother-frickin' Teresa. I feel sorry for the Aints fans (I grew up one) and all of the people of the Gulf Coast (NOLA is just the epicenter of their fan base, which extends to Baton Rouge in the west all the way to Pensacola in the east). That's a lot of people who will be denied pro sports of any kind. Build a new stadium in Mississippi and an arena right beside it for the Hornets and watch the revenue pour in. Texas doesn't need another NFL franchise.
bammaslamma is BACK in all of his glory! Seriously, I can't imagine New Orleans without the Saints. Best uniforms in the NFL. They better change the name if they move. The Los Angeles Saints? Sorry, that doesn't work for me.
Good move Benson. NO was a crappy sports town before the hurricane, and will be even worse after it. Move it, where the money is. Follow your heart.. I mean gold.
I think we're going to have an expansion team back in new orleans in about 5 or so years... Give San Antonio their team. Let them start their own franchise new team new history, new everything. San Antonio would make a fine NFL city... Than give New Orleans the Saints name back and history once the city is rebuilt and can afford an NFL team. I believe the old New Orleans could have supported the Saints just fine, but they just had poor management and ownership since I've been an fan of the NFL. Give them another chance. It will look really bad if the NFL never returns to New Orleans. I think they know that...
OK geography time. Los Angeles is in the Pacific time zone. St. Louis is in the central time zone. New Orleans is in the central time zone. What other NFC team do you think it makes sense to move divisions, the Cowboys? Just try getting the Cowboys to switch divisions. Not going to happen.
NOLA will not be big enough to support NFL football for probably at least 10 years. it would be like awarding an NFL expansion team to Little Rock. as much as it pains me to say it...it's not going to happen.
As upsetting as this is to Louisiana's population, and as callous as it looks, Benson absolutely has to move out. LA pours so much money into the team because the locals couldn't financially support them before. If they were to return, it would be even worse. They'd play to 15 thousand fans, max, even if they went 16-0. Only 2/3rds of the citizens are coming back anytime soon, and those that do will be strapped. What should he do? Play in SA for 5 years and see if NO is back on its feet then? This was a small market city to begin with; and it's a minor league town for the foreseeable future. The Hornets aren't coming back either. Evan
