Saints and Los Angeles
 

Amid renewed uncertainties over the future of the New Orleans Saints, NFL and Los Angeles-area officials on Monday sought to downplay the possibility the franchise might relocate to Southern California. The San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings are among possible candidates for a move to the Los Angeles area.

-- Los Angeles Times

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ors.nfl/1.html



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RE: Saints and Los Angeles
 

Does anybody know how they downplayed it? Seems kinda vague

Talks of Landing Saints Softened (L.A. Times)
 

October 25, 2005

Talks of Landing Saints Softened
NFL, L.A. officials try to tone down the possibility that the New Orleans franchise might relocate.

By Alan Abrahamson, Times Staff Writer, L.A. Times


Amid renewed uncertainties over the future of the New Orleans Saints, NFL and Los Angeles-area officials on Monday sought to downplay the possibility the franchise might relocate to Southern California.

"We know people in New Orleans have been reading about the 'threat' of Los Angeles for a long time," said Pat Lynch, general manager of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. "We don't think there's a time or a place for us to ever bring up this subject."

Added Bill Chadwick, president of the nine-member Coliseum Commission: "It clearly would be bad form for the commission to reach out to New Orleans — or to anyone in distress."

The Saints for years have been mentioned as a possibility should the NFL make a return to the Los Angeles market. The area has been without pro football since after the 1994 season, when the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders to Oakland.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints are spending the 2005 season shuttling between "home" games in Baton Rouge, La., and San Antonio. Last week, San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said Saint owner Tom Benson wanted to meet with him to discuss a relocation beyond this season; New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin called talk of a move disrespectful; Benson then issued a statement saying he'd made no plans to move.

The San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings are among possible candidates for a move to the Los Angeles area.

The NFL is weighing stadium plans at the Coliseum and in Anaheim. League owners are due to meet this week in Kansas City and hear a report from league staff on the L.A.-area sites but are not expected to take action. The focus instead probably will be on a new labor contract with NFL players and on certain revenue-sharing formulas.

The Anaheim City Council, at its regularly scheduled meeting, is due to be briefed today in closed session on NFL plans.

At Los Angeles City Hall on Monday, Lynch and Chadwick, updating council members Greig Smith and Eric Garcetti at a meeting chaired by Councilman Bernard Parks, said the Coliseum is further along than Anaheim, with the NFL recently sending the Coliseum the first draft of a lease.

The Coliseum would be rebuilt around the peristyle end into a three-decked structure seating 68,000 for the NFL, about 80,000 for USC football games.

In a sign of anticipation, traffic officials said Monday they have launched a $10.7-million project due to be completed in July to upgrade the area's traffic-monitoring software, add 54 left-turn arrows to 20 nearby intersections and add five message boards and seven closed-circuit television cameras — to the existing eight — around Exposition Park.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in perhaps his strongest statement on the issue, said in a letter to Parks that the Coliseum offers "both an historic and wise opportunity" for an NFL return and called collaboration between city, county and state officials "significant and encouraging."

The City Council recently signed off on a measure drafted by Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to provide infrastructure financing.

"I look forward to attending the kickoff for the 2009 season at the Coliseum," the mayor wrote.

The league's oft-announced plan is to pick the stadium site first — then decide whether to undergo expansion or move one of the 32 existing teams to Southern California. No time frame has been announced.

Last week, the NFL formed an eight-owner "New Orleans Advisory Committee" and expects to decide by the end of this season where the Saints will play in 2006, league spokesman Greg Aiello said.

One proposal circulating among league insiders, first reported by ESPN, would have the Saints play in San Antonio in 2006, then consider Los Angeles. Aiello called it "idle speculation."

Three of the eight on the New Orleans committee — Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers, Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots — also serve on another NFL committee assessing prospects in Los Angeles, a smaller group that includes only five owners and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

"I wouldn't read too much into that. They're among the most active owners," Aiello said of the overlap.



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RE: Talks of Landing Saints Softened (L.A. Times)
 

I don't feel the NFL is all that anxious to get a team in there, I mean come on there would be one already "number 1 market"... Its a good 'out' if you will for any current NFL city with a team to negociate contracts with its current host city. "OK, give us this and that, new stadium or we are moving to LA". Its just a bargining tool they have now. Once LA is filled with a team it'll be harder for NFL teams to negociate.

RE: Talks of Landing Saints Softened (L.A. Times)
 

I feel the Alamodome is not a location where the NFL is interested in going. The Saints still are practicing at High Schools because they are sharing the facility with many other events. "If you build it, they will come" is the slogan in NFL. When LA builds, someone will go, but you're right Euphoria, with LA's market filled, I wonder what Chris Mortenson of ESPN will have to talk about. Every year for 5 years before during and after the season he say "league sources say the Saints are moving to L.A. by next season..." and it's never true. When your league sources are a bowl of weed in a glass pipe, you just keep saying the same things over and over and over again.

Glad to see some respect from a community in the United States. Very tactful and respectful of the New Orleans and Gulf Coast regions.

RE: Talks of Landing Saints Softened (L.A. Times)
 

What would be the targeted demagraphic for the Alamodome ???

As an NFC team , would it be the southern half of Texas ????

It may be that the Saints will be based and play in San Antonio for a season or two and remain the New Orleans Saints. The decision on a permanent move or sale reviewed periodically. It would probably keep all parties content for a while - NFL, Benson, Fans and Louisiana Officials.

Me thinks that's probably the best scenario for us at this point.


How likely is that? Any thoughts?



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With the Saints' facility in Kenner virtually untouched and undamaged, it is unlikely that the league will let them set up shop in San Antonio give Baton Rouge's proximity to the practice facility and the Dome's projected reopening in October 2006, less than 4 weeks into the season. My bet is that the Saints will return to NO. After that, it is uncertain.

...by naming 5 other teams...
..yeah sure...

Hmm... Interesting take. I disagree, though. If the NFL, Benson and Louisiana are truly interested in keeping the Saints in New Orleans, I think they must work a plan to find a "temporary home" while the city of New Orleans sorts itself out. Baton Rouge is out, in my opinion. Where many Louisiana folks would love the Baton Rouge temporary home, LSU officials have pretty much poo-pooed the idea - logistical mess vs. almighty dollar. And I don't think the NFL and the Saints want to puzzle together another season - Baton Rouge with hopes the Superdome is ready mid-season.

San Antonio makes perfect sense to me. The Saints with a solid base-camp and no travel where home matters are concerned. San Antonio gets to prove their worth for a future franchise.

My 2 cents.


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So should we just assume that L.A. will have one of the six teams mentioned in the article will be in Los Angeles by 2009?

TallySaint

I think it could be that Benson wanted to play all the games in the Alamodome this year because it was cheaper and he would make him more money. I see your point, so you're saying they need a temporary home.

I agree with this point.

You know I think what people are so upset about is when the Mayor of San Antonio opened his mouth and put his foot in it, Benson didn't shoot it down. Funny thing is, notice how is reaction is different. He never saw Katrina or New Orleans after Katrina. The poorest sections of the City are gone. I doubt there were 100 season ticket holders in the 9th ward or New Orleans East, and I'm serious about that. Benson went home and changed his mind. He was living in a bubble.

But I have to say they are really stimulating the Baton Rouge area right now, and if they play some decent games, the Saints could make some season ticket holders from people in this area. Hard core Baton Rougon (I don't know how to spell that) people are just LSU fans. But the outer areas are mixed. And then there is the draw from Lafayette. I've found Lafayette and Houma to be huge bases for Saints fans. They may be growing their base here and are just now realizing it because they are playing here.

No matter what the size crowd, the Saints must put up a good show. Baton Rouge fans are very fair weather and I've found them boo-ing LSU before, and they were undefeated. Very critical fans, but they can be won over.

There's going to be a big show in Baton Rouge. It's interesting to see how all this pans out.

Yes. Whether its Baton Rouge, San Antonio or somewhere else.

My guess is, if that were to happen, San Antonio has the lead at the moment. Not sure why I think that. Maybe because they are so hungry for a franchise that they would commit to adding infrastructure to house a team and prove their worth as an NFL city. Benson's ties to the area is another reason. Players and staff have become acclimated to the area - housing, children is schools, etc.

Baton Rouge is appealing. Its in Louisiana and in the middle of the fan base. State officials would certainly push this option - revenue, etc. Having the "bird in hand" is also a thought. The downside, to me anyway, would be facilities and logistics. Don't get me wrong. It can be done. The Bears and University of Illinois an example. If I remember correctly, that was a two year thing? But concerns of office space and practice facilities, etc. pop up.

There is a plus for every minus for both. I'm sure many of you closer to the situation are more informed than me. I just think the Saints having a place of their own, temporarily, is the answer for a smoother operation. Many Saints fans might think we'd be on our way to losing the team if they played in San Antonio for a season or two. If the NFL and Benson agree this is only temporary while New Orleans gets its footing I don't have a problem with it at all.

The Saints playing in San Antonio would also give their city an opportunity to prove they are worthy of a future franchise. A chance for them to upgrade facilities, etc. Scary for us Saints folks, huh? Proving their worth with the team right there. The NFL would have an enormous responsibility to keep Benson on track with his plan to return to New Orleans. A task they are up to, in my opinion.

I also would like to say that I hope most of the rhetoric and posing by all sides is fading. Relations and negotiations weren't at their best to begin with and now Katrina blasted us. But that opens a continuation of our discussion even further - How does New Orleans gain it's footing to even be considered for a return by the team? Very complex on many levels - from the city functioning somewhat normally to federal assistance rebuilding the dome or some other facility to state negotiations. Mind boggling.


Rambled on a bit, there...


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..... and to echo what someone said in another thread. Yes, the pressure on the league and Tommy Boy must continue. Unfortunately, with the powers diffusing the situation and calming the negative press of late, I just don't see the pressure continuing. Pressure may continue from fans and grass-root efforts - but in the big scheme of things, I don't see us fans as being much of a factor in the end result. The issue will be old news in the press soon.

Ultimately, it will come down to those with power - Benson, NFL and Louisiana.


$$$



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