Mayor wants Saints in San Antonio
 

Mayor wants Saints in San Antonio
Web Posted: 10/17/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer

Laying aside all pretenses about the city's interest in the New Orleans Saints, Mayor Phil Hardberger said Sunday he plans to pursue actively the permanent relocation of the team to San Antonio.
Hardberger said Saints owner Tom Benson has agreed to participate in discussions, likely at the end of the current season, aimed at making the team the "San Antonio Saints" before the start of the 2006 season.
"He (Benson) understands that we will sit down and talk," Hardberger said while attending Sunday's Saints-Atlanta Falcons game at the Alamodome. "That is his desire as well. I'm pretty comfortable in saying he wants to be here."


Enjoy your Monday morning:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f...s.8a8a74b.html

the mayor is a freaking jerk. I saw that clown before the game in the tailgate area. Particular areas of note in the article also are:

Governor's on board with pursuing the team, and will provide aid in doing so. also:

In Benson's suite? Mayors of Austin and Laredo? Close proximity to San Antonio? Not good.

Yeah The NFL is going to let Benson move a team from a small market to another small market who can't sale out the alamodome... Fans even letting people know where there support is by wearing Cowboy jersey's to Saints Home games yeah ok. At least wear Falcon and or Saints jersay to Falcon/Saints games not freakin Cowboys, way to show you would support another NFL team.

Um, the game was sold out since last week. What are you talking about?

And last I checked, they are still the New Orleans Saints. Not the San Antonio Saints. They are not playing in thier home city. What does it matter what jerseys people wear, as long as they but a ticket. I tell you what, those "Cowboys" fans were cheering for the Saints. ALL the players who have been interviewed following the game said it felt like a home crowd, and they were happy to be there. Gandy, Brooks, Conwell, etc.

Third, cause the commissioner says it's a small market, due to his hard of for LA, doesn't make it one. All that matters is if the games will sell out. The Saints need to stay in New Orleans, but for the right reasons, not for false blabbering.

I think everyone needs to keep an eye on the Jacksonville situation in the offseason.

BENSON TRIES OUT VENTRILOQUISM



You'd think it would be getting hard for San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger to talk with Tom Benson's hand in his ass.



But Benson and Hardberger are turning out to be an effective Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy (or is it Mortimer Snerd?) combination when trying to finagle a permanent move of the Saints from New Orleans to the Alamodome.



Before the season, Benson raised the possibility of relocating from one undersized market unable to sell out a stadium on a regular basis in a state with no other NFL franchises to another undersized market unable to sell out a stadium on a regular basis in a state with two other NFL franchises. Now, with the NFL effectively muzzling Benson, the message is being disseminated by his good buddy Hardberger.



"He [Benson] understands that we will sit down and talk," Hardberger said during Sunday's Saints-Falcons game, which he viewed from Benson's suite. "That is his desire as well. I'm pretty comfortable in saying he wants to be here."



In case anyone misunderstood that, Mayor McCarthy gave it another shot: "I think Tom Benson would like to stay here permanently and I, as mayor of San Antonio, would like to have the team stay here permanently."



Benson denied comment. Or, more accurately, he wouldn't talk with his lips moving.



The Saints could be able to bail out of their Superdome lease by invoking the force majeure clause in the contract by November 29. Even if the Saints don't try to cancel the deal based on the damage inflicted to the venue by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana likely will be forced to default future payments due under the sweetheart corporate welfare deal that Benson finagled in 2001.



Look for this thing to get ugly as the last weeks of 2005 unfold. The NFL firmly believes that it and the Saints need to renew their commitment to the region in the wake of one of the worst natural disasters in the nation's history. The Commish would like to move the Saints' 2006 games to Baton Rouge as the Superdome is repaired. Such an arrangement could extend into 2007 or longer if the Superdome needs to be replaced.



The problem is that the Saints aren't selling many tickets for their October 30 game at Baton Rouge, which features the return to Louisiana of former LSU coach Nick Saban and former Saints running back Ricky Williams. So it's hard to imagine the Saints being able to sell out cavernous Tiger Stadium on a consistent basis -- or ever.



We still don't think that the Saints should get too excited about a permanent move to San Antonio. Sure, they managed to sell out Sunday's game against the Falcons. But many of those tickets were purchased before the Saints played 52 cough-up at Lambeau. And we've got a feeling that more than a few of the tickets purchased this past week were bought by fans interested in seeing the perp with the herp, Falcons quarterback Ron Mexico. :lol:



Even if the NFL would allow the Saints to leave Louisiana, the last destination the owners would approve is San Antonio. The worst-case scenario, as we see it, is that the league would arrange a buyout of the Bayou bumblers by SoCal interests, which would permit the team to be shipped to Los Angeles with new ownership.

I think whodi secretly wants the Saints to move to San Antonio so he can go to all the home games...

LMAO!!! I am the first one to be against this move. No doubt I like going to the games here, but I am going to see THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS. Not the San Antonio Saints, and never would I want that to change. There's no secret, I have said that the mayor here, and now the governor are jerks. But I am not gonna ignore the possibility the team could move here. I don't know anyone who is a native New Orleanian who would want the team to leave that city, no matter where they live though. When we go to a superbowl, New Olreans Saints it's the name I wanna see. Nothing else would be nearly as satisfying.

I'm probably one of the few here that thinks the Saints are probably gone after this year.



:?

you sound more like a politician. say one thing mean another :wink:

"Strategery"




8)

Yeah, cause since there is no forum on the internet where you can find me saying I want the Saints to permanently move to San Antonio, I see what you mean. :roll: Believe me, I was born and raised in New Orleans, my whole family is from there, and still lived there up until the hurricane, the Saints always will belong in New Orleans. would I be a season ticket holder if they moved here? You bet your ass. But there is no way in hell I would want them to move. Man, I loved coming back to the city to go to a game. I wouldn't trade that for them moving here. Not worth it.

Relax, whodi. We just like to watch you squirm.



8)

Sorry bro, that's not a joke to me. I love the city of New Orleans too much to want any more tragedy to befall it, which the Saints leaving would be. And the sleazeball way the Mayor is publically going after the team sickens me. It's disgusting. The Vikes could move here, the Jags could move here, but not the Saints. Home is still home. And that's the 504. :D

Hello fellow Saints fans, I have been a huge fan since 1977, I strongly believe that we will indeed lose our beloved Saints to Texas, if it goes that way the NFL just won't be the same for me, I can see it unfold before my very eyes, unless something drastic happens we will no longer have an NFL team here in Louisiana.
It appears that New Orleans will end up dead broke because so many ppl won't make N.O home, I don't think we as a state can afford to keep the team here in Louisiana.

Sad fan here...

At this point I am kinda numb about all this move talk. The city of San Antonio can kiss my asssss. I will never spend another dime in Texas as long as I live and if they don't think that there are alot more people out there like me, they got another thought coming. Gives a whole new generation of American Citizens a reason to hate Texas once again.
Just remember one thing, Remember the Alamo, they will lose this battle too.

Cher, I know you are disgusted by all this, but try not to pin it on all Texans. Look, the SA officials are making waves. Benson had this planned the whole time. He wanted SA to embrase the Saints. This is all working out perfectly for SA and Benson. I hate to say it, but for the first time since the disaster, I have to admit that the Saints' future in NO or in Louisiana looks grim, if anything.

I hope my feelings are wrong bro.

Ok, that game had about 6,000 empty seats I heard. Also, most people were there to watch Mike Vick. I know there isn't alot to do in San Antonio, but the Saints need to stay in New Orleans. The city needs the Saints in order to move on, that is one of our major incomes. Not just that, that Saints never really had any "really great" seasons but the fans still stuck by them and all of a sudden they go to San Antonio and sell out one game and all of a sudden they belong there? I think that is BS, Tom Benson is a greedy SOB and needs to sell the saints if he doesn't want them in New Orleans and go build him a team in San Antonio.

I think that the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding Eminent Domain should be used to pry one of the few assets the city has away from what appears to be an unethical and unscrupulous owner. The city should usurp the team at fair market value and make the team a "public good." That ought to piss everyone off and cause litigation into the next millenium. Ultimately, there should be an auction for a new owner with restrictive covenants on moving the team.

It saddens me that the NFL can't stand by its franchising. The NFL awarded NEW ORLEANS the franchise. There is an implicit partnership between the NFL, the City and the State that transcend third parties.

If an English football team were to even attempt to move from its birthplace, you'd see worse than 9-11 happen. It almost happened when the Bucs' owner bought ManU, and all he promised to do, and has done, was spend MORE money on the team. Now, I'm not saying that the Saints are in the same stratus as ManU, but the passion of its fan base is comparable, as is its history within the community is resides.

It still sold out. Isn't that what matters? Well, to Tom Benson it is.

Not even remotely true.

Blatantly not true. Even been to San Antonio?

I am glad we agree on something.

Blatantly not true. Even been to San Antonio?
I've been before, I'm sorry there isn't very many things to do in San Antonio.

I am glad we agree on something.[/quote] No hard feelings, I'm just pissed like every other New Orleanian Saints fan is about the possible move.

Then I have to wonder what you consider "things to do."

You have every right to be. It's bull#$%&.

just want to say that i sent an email to the mayor of san antonio expressing my displeasure at him kicking saints fans while we are down.........encourage everybody to do the same if you havent already

Well if the Saints were to move to anywhere I would want it to be in San Antonio... but I dont want that to happen.

List of lamest towns I have ever been to:
1)Salt Lake City
2)San Antonio
.
.
.
.
998)Las Vegas
999)New Orleans

Salt Lake City is one of the hottest places to go for Spring Break. All out debauchery. I guess I know what to do with that list. :flush: :D

Hey if your list is different than mine thats just great. Maybe you like cow tipping an trolling for 4H babes, or maybe you get your jollies off from smuggling steriods or Mexicans across the border. I prefer my football with strippers and booze, but that's just me.

:drink:

Are you usually drunk when you visit the Chippendale's? How much do you spend? Is Big Hank still working with them? :P

I think the Saints will go. To keep the Saints in NO we would need a visionary owner who is motivated by something larger than making money. The Saints could be a key part of rebuilding NO. But it would take an ownber who wants to go down in history as a community savior and builder. The truth is NO needs a great person, a visionary leader moltivated by civic pride, loyalty, duty and honor. What we have is a car salesman. The Benson Saints will cut and run. :(

Couple of things --

1st -- to set the record straight -- San Antonio is a lot of fun -- the riverwalk is kickass -- not a lot of cultural activities but then New Orleans isn't exactly a place for opera either. And if the Saints did move one could fly into San Antonio -- take a cab to a hotel on teh riverwalk and never need another cab. Drink all night on the riverwalk -- walk back to the hotel -- walk to the games etc.

2nd -- I am afraid the Saints are history. There will not be enough of a population to support a football team for years. Sad but true -- It kills me to think that way -- but I cannot think of any other possibility right now. :(

3rd -- Benson is an insensitive jerk. At least wait until the season is over to publicly state your true intentions. I am with Nagin -- we want the Saints back not the owner. I would sue him if he used the Saints name or the uniforms on another team. Make him pay for a whole new design and name.

1. I hate Texas. Doesn't disprove your point, but its just my opinion.

2. Just because New Orleans natives are scattered around the state doesn't mean they won't attend games. I was born and raised 3 hours away from New Orleans and that didn't stop anyone from taking me to Saints games. They'll just need more state-wide support.

3. I agree.

I'd say let let San Antionio have em... call them something else take the players take the owner but give us our logo and out name, give us a team in 2-3 years and let LA have one to damn it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put San Antoino Vato Loco's in the sam division as the new New Orleans Saints... I can hear the battle cry now... REMEMBER NEW ORLEANS... screw the alamo.

I actualy like that.....
But then again I like Bratwurst.....

I can see it now. The New, New-New Orleans' Saints Vs. The San Antonio Vatos Locos (Sorry, I really couldn't think of a better name)

(QB) Aaron Brooks, who has 2 TD passes and 7 INTs in his last 3 games will lead the underacheiving Vatos Locos against their number 1 division rival, the New Saints. The Vatos inconsistency has been the reason for their mediocre 4-4 record. Last week, they commited 4 turnovers and 15 penalites in a disapointing effort as they lost to the Arizona Cardinals (3-5) 35-3.

The New Orleans Saints, however, are the talk of the league. With their great draft this offseason and A+ free agent acquistions, they are sitting at the top of their division with a 6-2 record. The Saints biggest win coming last week against the defending champions, Indianapolis Colts (7-1). New Orleans handed Peyton Manning his worst defeat of his career in a 64-10 ball game.

If he moves the damn team i hope he has the worst luck of any human in the world, i would never wish death or illness on a human being but i hope this guy gets what he deserves and thats a loos in the wallet and a punch in the face. oh and Mr. Benson i want my portion of that 15 million dollars back b***H!!!!!!!!!!!

whats wrong in wishing someone turns into a troll?