Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3197574

The same cannot be said for financial talks in New Orleans with Saints owner Tom Benson and Louisiana state officials. More and more the Saints are looking like the franchise, with or without Benson that will end up in the Los Angeles area for the 2008 season.

There have been no recent discussions between Oracle founder Larry Ellison and the NFL about buying a NFL team, although it is believed he would be interested in buying the Saints if they end up in Los Angeles.



No way, you actually think the Saints are going to move?
How come the Colts get a new stadium before we do?

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Thats been the subject of many heated debates here...

More and more ... the Saints look like the team to be moved..especially now with the hope of an expansion franchise going there instead..which was unamimously voted out...

The Colts will likely not be moved...the owner, like Benson, may be trying to use to lure of L.A. as a bargaining tool to get a new stadium deal..unfortunately..the State isn\'t buying into Benson\'s plans..and they\'re calling his bluff..

It basically comes down to...if the State is willing to bend..and Benson is going to have to bend as well..probably more so than he is willing..seeing as how selling his franchise now, could net him more profit than any time that may arise..

It\'s a sad fact...and many people are having a real hard time coming to terms with it


[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

I found this on Pro Football Talk (I\'m posting only the part of the article that pertains to the Saints - the article was very long and discussed alot of other crap...):

BENSON SCROOGES UP THE SAINTS

With his football team tanking and his visions of a taxpayer-financed stadium now dancing in the toilet, Saints owner Tom Benson seems to be losing interest in the NFL franchise that he has owned for some 20 years.

Benson, we\'re hearing, has even canceled the organization\'s annual Christmas party. He also is cutting costs at the team headquarters, including the food budget.

So it appears to us that Benson will shift, like his buddy Red McCombs in Minnesota, to maintenance mode for the next few months as Mr. and/or Mrs. Benson decide whether to cash out come February if the team can\'t finagle the cash cow of a shiny new venue in which to play the home games.

Our guess is that Benson eventually will sell to Larry Ellison of Oracle, who\'ll move the team to L.A. -- and likely change its name. In fact, we think there\'s a possibility (and this is pure speculation on our part) that if/when an existing franchise moves to Los Angeles, the NFL will try an outside-the-box thing with the names of the teams, giving \"Rams\" back to the L.A. franchise and, for example, creating the \"St. Louis Saints.\"

Regardless of how it plays out, the situation in New Orleans will be a big part of what is shaping up to be one of the wildest and most unpredictable offseasons in years.

- Mike Florio


:furious: I hope this is all more speculation, but I\'m still a bit nervous. This topic got bashed into the ground the last time, and I could use the confidence boost of that happening again!

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

I\'m concerned myself here.

If the Colts stadium deal actually happens then I\'ll get more nervous about it.

In the meantime, I\'m still looking for McCombs to decide to sell the Vikings or San Diego to extort a new stadium or move to LA (with a winning record this year, they might be able to swing it).

The biggest cause for hope right now is Rita LeBlanc. She\'s the heir apparant for the Saints and the best chance of keeping them in NO. I can\'t see Mr Benson selling the team away from her, it could happen, but it would make family Christmas a little awkward.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

I\'m not concerned about it at all. The State must try to call Benson\'s bluff or they can lose their shirts. It\'s called the negotiation process- offer and acceptance, it\'s the first few pages of any Contract law book.

What people forget is that LA has already lost 2 teams in recent years. There the community does not embrace the NFL and it will be second billing to the Lakers and has to compete with Oakland, San Fran, San Diego, the Padres. etc.

The media loves to pick on New Orleans. Many of these people writing have never been to New Orleans or if they have, they\'ve only been to bourbon street.

One last thing, so if Benson makes a Billion dollars on the Saints, what will he do with it? He probably has less than 5 years of healthy non-crippled life left. Like may sane people, money will not do it, he\'d rather win a Superbowl. If he was 60 or 50 then yes he\'d go for the money, but not now guys.


By the way, you guys should read this article....

http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...rder=0&thold=0

Gumbo is a very real insider who works for the Superdome commission. Enjoy

[Edited on 11/28/2004 by Halo]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

I have read that article before...and it never really answered my question...I mean..I\'ts easy to see why the State needs an NFL franchise...what state wouldn\'t benefit from one?

But it fails to include Benson..the main man in the whole thing .. It\'s his team..not the state\'s...

If he sells the team now...he would make more money than he ever could at a later date...

The owners have voted out the possibility of an expansion franchise bieng entered to fill the void in L.A...meaning a relocation is going to happen...for one team or another

There was a post on here about a poll from a local news station asking residents if they would accept a tax increase to compensate for the teams increased funding...It was blown out of the water..what was it?..like 80% saying no?

The truth will come in the offseason..and I have said that at least 10 times...If you see Benson backing off..and you allready see that with the new budget cuts...and his mocking of his own team...then it spells doom for the future of the Saints...

On the other hand,..If you see him start to pump his own money in...and hire some big name guys..then he may be trying to simply bluff the state...and have a good team by the time a new stadium..or whatever they agree on is accomplished

Maybe the fans should start trying to fight for the team...how hard would it be for residenst of louisiana..to pick up your local phone book.and start calling people..asking for thier support?...give them an address to write blanco...and demand the state try harder to retain the team..before it\'s too late...or..set up tables at home games..and training camp...and wherever you can..and hand out flyers..with the proof the the team is neede in the state..for royalties alone...

If it\'s worth your loyalty..it\'s worth your every effort to ensure the future ..In any way you can


P.S. The \'\'Superdome Commision\'\'?..what?..they have been non existent...and even disbanded..those guys are a joke..

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...mmission_x.htm


[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

uhm, c-o-n-t-r-a-c-t. The only way the Saints can be moved before 2009 is if the Saints are asked to leave by the state. The Contract is solid, was when it was implemeted and still is today.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

And my answer was...

I don\'t know, doesn\'t mean a team will relocate. I don\'t see how that\'s so definite. It may be years before this happens, may happen next year. They have been talking about a team moving to LA since the Rams left.

That was from the Baton Rouge advocate. My office is in Baton Rouge and the locals there are very jealous and negative toward New Orleans. But they are also very hard on LSU, even at 9 and 2 this season, that wasn\'t enough for them. Last year after the Nat\'l Championship game, a fan called in to a call in show to sat that LSU sucked that day because they didn\'t score enough points and the passing offense was poor. The host replied, \"we just won the Nat\'l Championship and you\'re going to ruin it with this? What more could you want?\"

Read here for what was said weeks ago...

http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...hread&tid=7039
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.

Also read this...
http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...=6964#pid36625

Quote:

I love the topic but I will say this again... There is no way the Saints will leave New Orleans because the owner and the NFL have a sweetheart deal where they make money. Because Louisiana is the first state in history to give money to the bottom line of any organization...

It\'s all a part of the negotiation process, if anything the owner was apologizing to the community about the play of his team, something much of New Orleans wants to hear when they play bad. The owner of the Falcons does this when his team plays poorly. This gives the community a feeling like the organization wants to win and helps with people\'s desire for them to stay because people feel the want to win.

I think Benson and the team try to win every year. It\'s crazy to think that the Saints, a team with the highest payed payroll in the league, are every trying to lose. He has stayed with Haslett to build some consistancy, but he may be gone soon because a poor showing by the team will hurt ticket sales soon.

Locals always fight for the team as well as die hard fans across the state. The closed minded people in the State get a lot of coverage because they want more money for their communities. If the Saints were in Sherevport, do you think people there would be so negative?

But what people fail to see it the economic impact the team brings to the State. If they leave, every community will suffer badly because everyone takes from the motel/hotel tax the Saints generate in New Orleans. If the team leaves there will be a huge hole in the State\'s budget and look for Louisiana to lose more fortune 500 companies and Louisiana will probably have to file for bankruptcy.

The Governor knows this, the legislature also, everyone is posturing for the best deal. That\'s why you here such an extreme from the State, and another from the Saints.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Also, if the Saints leave they have to pay back every penny of the money they have been given by the State over the past 4 years including the cost of the new state of the art facilities the State built for the Saints that are the envey of every team in the NFL.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

I can\'t wait for someone to start talking about UCC article 2. :popcorn:

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Benson\'s a car salesman...\'nuff said.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

By the way, you guys should read this article....

http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...rder=0&thold=0

Gumbo is a very real insider who works for the Superdome commission. Enjoy

[Edited on 11/28/2004 by Halo] [/quote:37a416a12b]

Again...Here\'s the kind of guys we had working on the deal ...

Superdome commission? just read the article...


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...mmission_x.htm

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

shadowdrinker_x

Actually that was the Blue Ribbon Commission. The Superdome Commission is a committee that keeps the Dome maintained and attracts teams, games, conventions etc. to the Dome. They are also responsible for Dome maintenance and renovations. They are also involved with making the deal with the State and Saints.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...mmission_x.htm [/quote:098cf87b0e]

Shadowdriver, the Blue Ribbon Commission is not the Superdome Commission.

The Superdome commission was formed when the Dome was built, you have that confused. The Blue Ribbon commission was formed to see if the dome would be renovated or a new stadium was built or nothing would happen at all.

Superdome Commission is completely different.

[Edited on 11/28/2004 by Halo]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

oh yeah..here\'s why benson isn\'t going to lose money if he movers..there are loop holes..

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/irwinbank/s_201589.html

If the Gov. doesn\'t find some miracle to repay the loans to pay the team..while still paying the team at the same time...then it doesn\'t matter..benson can leave without any penalty

[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

[Edited on 28/11/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Hey Halo, isn\'t there like only one fortune 500 company in the state as it is now? Do you mean it will prevent more from coming, which I agree with totally?

[Edited on 11/29/2004 by Halo]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

You didn\'t read previous articles, that article is from July 2nd. We borrowed money from economic development money the state had that was from money the Saints generated. The reason why our hotel motel tax was low is because after 911 tourism has been down. The deal was incramental over time and because there was a gap, the state had to re allocate funds. But this year travel and tourism is back to levels of 2002. The state and Benson want to reset the accrument, but Benson said \"lets make a deal until 2020 and build a new stadium or renovate the dome.\" Which is where we are today.

\"The state borrowed money from the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation and is scheduled to pay it back over eight years with local cash.\" Local cash from New Orleans - The money came from the Saints Motel Hotel generated cash.

\"The plan overwhelmingly was approved by lawmakers in the final hours of the legislative session and was signed by the governor.\"

The State is not going to default on a contract with the Saints and risk losing millions it invested in new facilities on Airline Drive and give recent incentive money to the Saints to walk away with.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

this is from the story i posted...

The state borrowed money from the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation and is scheduled to pay it back over eight years with local cash. The plan overwhelmingly was approved by lawmakers in the final hours of the legislative session and was signed by the governor -- though it\'s still unclear what source of local money will be used to pay off the loan.

you left out that little part...

The governor and other officials are trying to renegotiate the overall deal with Saints owner Tom Benson, but the state had an immediate payment due Monday. If the state defaulted, the Saints could move without paying a penalty.

and that is why i say..it\'s time to worry...

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Shodowdriver, that article was from July and is very old news, it is now known where the money came from.

They made that payment and it was overwhelmingly adopted by the State.

The article was wriiten July 2nd 2004 and the payment was made on Monday July 5th.

They are renegotiating the deal so the State will not have to make the payments every year and to seal the Saints until 2020.

[Edited on 11/29/2004 by Halo]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

The State has 2 fortune 500 and several fortune 200 and 100 companies throughout the State.

Louisiana:

Entergy and
Shaw Group

Compare to Mississippi that has 0 fortune 500 companies.

Arizona has 3 fortune 500 companies

Allied Waste Industries
Avnet
Phelps Dodge

Indiana has about 5...

But you\'re right, it\'s hard to attract any with no NFL team, especially one that funds the State of LA like the Saints do... one that if they left would leave a hole in the budget too big to fill.

[Edited on 11/29/2004 by Halo]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Halo - is Shaw based in LA? I thought that\'s how they decide - those that are based in the state, not simply represented. I\'m not sure, so I\'m asking seriously.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Let\'s stop for a second and think about what we are talking about here. It has been said that many people\'s outlook on life is somewhat determined by how their favorite team performs. I know this has been true for me to a certain degree ever since I was about 13. 37 years later, and we are still having the same type of results as always....another words, same ol\' Saints. Personally, my attitude is that if this is all we will ever have to look forward to is frustration and defeat, then I say good riddance. I could use some sunshine, but if all I am ever going to get is rain, then I say it is time for the cloud to move west.

[Edited on 29/11/2004 by Saint_LB]

[Edited on 29/11/2004 by Saint_LB]

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Give it a rest guys -- the Saints are not moving anywhere as long as Benson owns the team: especially not LA. Benson is a true southerner and will never want to spend a great deal of time in California. Never happen -- now if there was a rumor that San Antonio was getting a team then I might be worried

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

Shaw Group is headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA of all places but yes there\'s a huge building on Essan lane. Entergy is in New Orleans.

There are at least 2 companies that will grow to fortune 500 status within the next few years, one of them is Gulf Island Fabrication (gulfisland.com) and I can\'t remember the other one- I think it was a bank.

Fortune Magazine recently named Gulf Island one of the 100 fastest growing companies. Look up \"Gulf Island and Fortune\" and see if you can find that article.

Rumor: Saints actually moving and being sold?
 

does this whole circus look eerily similar???

i dont know.. MAJOR LEAGUE anyone?!?!1

Benson keep ing stupid brooks and that joke rick venturi in hopes they are bad enough that he can sell them and them move to LA