SA City officials upset to be off NFL's itinerary
 

City officials upset to be off NFL's itinerary

Web Posted: 12/28/2005 12:00 AM CST
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer

City Councilman Richard Perez said Tuesday that he was "taken aback" by word that NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue would not meet with city officials when he visits this week with the owner and players of the New Orleans Saints.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tagliabue is expected to fly to San Antonio either Thursday or Friday.

There are no plans to make Tagliabue available to the media, said Aiello, who said the commissioner would meet only with the Saints.

Mayor Phil Hardberger had said he hoped Tagliabue would include a meeting with city leaders as part of his itinerary.

"I'd like to meet him, talk to him and show him the new San Antonio," Hardberger said shortly before Saturday's kickoff of the Saints' third and final game at the Alamodome this season.

Hardberger wasn't available for comment Tuesday, but Perez said he was surprised Tagliabue wouldn't meet with city officials after the hospitality the city has shown the Saints.

The Saints moved operations to San Antonio after Hurricane Katrina damaged the Louisiana Superdome and left New Orleans uninhabitable. Saints owner Tom Benson is said to want to keep the team in San Antonio permanently because of the economic conditions in post-Katrina New Orleans.

"We really have embraced the Saints and done everything we can to show the commissioner and the NFL as a whole we are a city that can sustain a team," Perez said.

Perez has worked closely with Hardberger to drum up support for the Saints among fans and business leaders.

"If the NFL doesn't come here, it won't be because San Antonio hasn't rolled out the red carpet and tried everything it can to make it happen," Perez said. "If they want to come, fantastic. If they don't, it's really their loss."

"We have our assets, and those assets will be here whether Tagliabue visits with us or not," Perez said.

Another influential politician took the decision in stride, saying he is used to being ignored by the NFL.

"Going back now from 12 years ago, I don't see a difference in their attitude," County Judge Nelson Wolff said, recalling how San Antonio failed to make the short list for NFL expansion in the early 1990s when he was mayor.

"They are adamant that this is a small market, and the truth is we are a small market," Wolff said. "In addition to breaking that barrier, you have to figure out how to build a new stadium."

In response to a question about San Antonio's interest in keeping the Saints, Tagliabue told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in September that the NFL wasn't going to expand to small markets. The comment disappointed many San Antonians, including Hardberger, who was quick to point out the city's booming corporate base.

But Tagliabue's characterization is accurate, considering San Antonio's television market ranks 37th in the nation.

"Regardless of what anyone says, we are a small market," Wolff said. "But we should be ready in the next five years or so for another major league franchise."

The Saints' opponents for 2006 have been finalized.

The home schedule will include games against Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Baltimore and Cincinnati.

The Saints' road opponents are Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, the New York Giants, Dallas, Green Bay, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

The Saints will play the Cowboys and Giants on the road because they played those teams at home in 2003.

Tagliabue is expected to announce in January where the Saints will play their home games next season.


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met....127a1cdc.html

Just give it up San Antonio. Stop whining. Please let the Saints just go back to New Orleans, and in 5 years, if you have grown in media market size,make the case for a team. A new stadium, practice facility, etc. is also needed. Stop crying, and move on. Our boys are going home.

Yes there do be much crying here. They are making a case, but it sounds more like the guy who is trying to convince everyone he's not gay.

quit talkin about urself :P for the last time we already know ur gay!!

Unusual reference to a point ...... :wink:

Something you wanna tell us all ???

We should not be playing the Giants in NY, that is total BS, we should have 10 home games next year minimum!!!

If SA had rolled out a red crpet our guys would not have had to train in a parking lot or train in a tent in a parking lot!!

They should move the GB game and NY game to home games and give us 10 home games

...or kicked the team out of the Alamodome for women's volleyball!

Yes, Halo, do tell. :P

DIVA SAVE ME

Remember Halo, Don't ask...Don't tell :lol:

ROFLMFAO!!!!!!

Diva, didn't you tell me once you had homosexual friends? Maybe that was Halo. :P

I have friends of every race and sexual preference....LOL...But I don't recall seeing Halo at the last Gay Revue that I went to, so I am thinking he is probably all straight guy. :D

I am not saying SA does not deserve a team. but they are going to have to do more to make it possible, headquarters, training facility, etc....The league is full of small market teams that make lots of money..ie the Siants for one 39 straight sold out games in the Superdome, Green Bay is another team that is a small market but they have such a huge fan base that they serve up like a large market, Indianapolis is another small market and they do very well I think...The league is short sided and wants a team in LA, If I am SA then I help LA get a team and then stand next in line...

The NFL has screwed our team again with this schedule (2005) and the next one (2006)...I hope they come through with some compensation with the draft and Free Agency

Why should he meet with these blood suckers. Count Dipstick and his clan of other blood suckers want to come to a city near you, so citizens beware. The administration of the city of San Antonio thinks they are doing a good thing by trying to attract the Saints. They are only tarnishing the city's reputation. I will never go to San Antonio ever again in my life and believe me I have been up and down the river walk many times. Let's start a boycott of San Antonio. We will not buy anything from that city or help provide revenue to them in anyway. Once we get the ball rolling on the boycott, they will see how much money they will lose not gain by trying to get the Saints.

SAN ANTONIO, CITY OF BLOODSUCKERS, DON'T VISIT US ANYDAY!!!!!

Do you like the new marketing slogan I just came up with, it didn't take much work.