WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

There's a poll attached the article on WAFB.com. Click the link below to access it.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=2573225


The New Orleans Saints may have backed off their demands for a new stadium, but they are now requesting the state build several new facilities on top of renovating the Superdome.

In a proposal presented Wednesday at the NFL teams' Metairie practice facility, Saints owner Tom Benson said, "Let me make this very clear, I don't want to move and I don't want to sell. We have three choices: We can either build a new stadium; Extend or enhance the approach of the second part that was presented today; or you can tell us to leave."

Plan two calls for the renovation of the Superdome and financial inducements -- which translates to payments from the state to the Saints. That would seal a deal with between Louisiana and the Saints until 2020.

"I am as committed today to this community as I was when I bought the team 20 years ago. It is my sincere hope that we can reach a long-term solution and in the time table presented today," said Benson.

In response to the teams request Blanco said:

"I am pleased that Mr. Benson has warmed up to my original proposal of renovating the Superdome. I am also glad to hear that the Saints want to stay in New Orleans for the long term.

"Of course, these negotiations have been and always will be about the money, and I heard very little discussion of that in Mr. Benson's proposal."

"My position remains clear: I would like the Saints to remain in New Orleans and play in a renovated Superdome. I believe that the franchise should help pay for these renovations and that the state's lease with the team should be restructured to move away from paying cash inducements and toward providing the team with enhanced opportunities to earn revenues in a renovated Superdome. I also believe that any additional revenues which may be required to cover gaps in financing an agreement should be generated in the Greater New Orleans region.

"I anticipate making my own proposal to Mr. Benson in the coming weeks. I believe that addressing the core issues I've listed above will be challenging enough without also having to address the significant costs to the state represented by all the other "extras" included in the Saints proposal today, unless, of course, the Saints want to pay for those things themselves."

WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

Oh my GOD!!!, quick everyone go vote YES! 85% vote NO????? I can\'t believe this! I\'d much rather see my tax $$ goto the saints than see it goto some of the stuff they waste it on already!

Also the question is a little biased. The facilities are not going to be JUST for the Saints, they will be for the CITY (highschool, Bowl Games, etc.)

[Edited on 18/11/2004 by qball316]

WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

qball316

I agree the question and, as you can see, the Baton Rouge community is very biased and negative toward anything New Orleans. They have a lot of Saints fans there that I go to the games with, but many in Baton Rouge can be closed minded. What they don\'t realize is the money the Saints Organization generates benefits them also as they use money that comes from the Hotel/Motel tax in New Orleans.

Everyone go vote to counteract the negativity. :casstet:

WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

Yeah Baton Rouge people can be harsh when it comes to the Saints. People you gotta go vote!! Believe me I went to LSU and the State will be like \"We better not give the Saints money, just look at that poll on WAFB.com\"...

And I\'m not kidding, it\'s that kind of town. But I love LSU.

Halo, can we get some LSU avatars?

WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

Wow, is there any way they could skew opinions any more than that. I don\'t live in Louisiana but it still aggravates me that some site can warp public opinion like that. You can bet statistics like that are gonna be put in Blanco\'s counter offer, and predictably talks will grind to a halt. Admittedly they are both doing a PR job on this whole affair but as an outsider I believe the Saints hold the trump card. When Blanco balks at spending and calls out the Saints for exhorting the state funds. The Saints can claim the high ground, saying they will at least put the money into visible improvements that help the states economy. With all the government misspending you have down there, coupled with the No fun League\'s insistence on family viewing .They have got to be able to spin this their way

WAFB.com article on Blanco Response and Vote at the Poll
 

I have been seeing the brewing for sometime now... from an outsiders view from DC, a huge Saints and LSU fan here. I don\'t get the hostilites... I am starting to feel that there is a divide between LSU and Saints fans, if you are a Saints fan you don\'t care for LSU vice versa. I don\'t know why its a battle between the two... LSU figures get the Saints out and more LSU fans, but hardly the case. Its football sure but its two different leagues, two different games. I only see this becoming a nail to drive my heart out of Louisiana if the Saints leave so does my heart... and my heart will not turn purple and yellow.