Gulf Coast Saints
 

If the Saints had to move I would propose they move in between New Orleans and Biloxi. Build a new stadium and rename the team the gulf coast saints. I would support them then. I know they would get a number of new orleans fans -- draw from Miss and the casinos could buy up the sky suites for their high rollers. The new stadium could house other events which the casinos would support as perks for the high rollers. Not that I want the Saints to move but I could still support them there while if they move to LA they are dead to me

Gulf Coast Saints
 

What\'s the difference? If Benson can\'t make money in NO, why would he make money in Biloxi? Casinos? You\'re telling me he can\'t get support from the Casinos now? Whose fault is that?

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Its really a matter of the new stadium. The new stadium has more sky suites which is where the real money is made. By being closer to the casinos they could sell the extra suites also. I know Harrah\'s has a sky suite in the Dome. I got invited to the Sugar Bowl. More to the point though -- a new stadium in New Orleans probably would not help all that much -- who is there to buy the extra suites.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

So your argument is that there is more business and more money in Biloxi? C\'mon. There are more casinos, but that\'s about it. Benson wants 150 to 200 suites. The Casinos are going to buy that many? Would ticket sales go up or down when they moved from an area of roughly 2 mill, to 500,000?

Gulf Coast Saints
 

!st -- in no way do I want that to happen -- it would just be preferable than them moving to LA 2. Didn\'t say all the way to Biloxi -- Perlington has plenty of cheap land and would still draw New Orleans citizens but also get a much bigger draw from Mississippi and the Casinos would play a big part.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

I get what you\'re saying, I\'m just not convinced. You think the casinos would make a big difference. I doubt that they would make any difference at all. They don\'t advertise with the Saints now. You really think that would change if the Saints were 40 miles closer? You think there\'s anyone in NO that doesn\'t know that they\'re there? Would the Audubon Institute or Entergy advertise if the Saints weren\'t in NO? How about all those restuarants? Doubtful.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

I think they would help to buy luxury boxes and suites and would help out buying the remaining tickets in time to get a sell out. Casinos are always looking for activities to give as extras to gamblers. Many will not gamble all day and night so will not come to a gambling vacation. But give them something else to do -- shows, golf, and football games and you have much better drawing power. Plus because the casinos are a draw from visitors chances are you would get more other activities signing up for the stadium on off days. Not saying I am completely convinced but I am also not very convinced the Saints will stay in New Orleans with what I am hearing. And I do not believe that Copeland and our resident author will join together to form a coalition to buy the team

Gulf Coast Saints
 

No way he has the cash, but wouldn\'t John Goodman make a fun owner for the Saints?

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Well -- if nothing else it would make for interesting times --

Gulf Coast Saints
 

4SS - I\'m not saying that the Casinos wouldn\'t be good partners for the Saints, and I understand you\'re just putting forth a scenario you\'d like to see if the Saints leave. Problem is, I can\'t see how they would ever go to MS.

My point is simple - the Casinos will not buy 200 suites and all the advertising. Where does that $$$ come from, b/c it won\'t come from NO...

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Problem is that New Orleans wil not buy 200 suites or put up all of the advertising also. That\'s one of the problems we have now. I understand that it probably will not -- but I do not see Blanco shelling out 20+ million a year to support the Saints. I guess I am looking for alternatives and that\'s the one that\'s closest to NO

Gulf Coast Saints
 

I would love it if the Saints moved to the Gulf Coast, having grown up there, and, hopefully will be able to retire there someday. I am realistic, though, and I don\'t think there is any way that it would ever happen. It seems to me that there was a time that the NFL threatened to not allow NO to bid for the Superbowls if they legalized gambling in downtown NO. I don\'t know if I am just hallucinating that or what, but I can\'t imagine the NFL allowing a team to reside that close to full scale casino gambling. I suppose it is possible that the NFL has changed their stance on that since gambling has become so popular recently, but I doubt it. I would be interested to see if anyone else has any more info.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Another test...trying to get the Buddy D. sig. Halo, if this doesn\'t work, perhaps you can help me out. Thanks in advance.

[Edited on 13/1/2005 by Saint_LB]

[Edited on 13/1/2005 by Saint_LB]

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Gulf Coast Saints........dont sound right

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Well, you may be right, but then, the boxes are sold out now. If we\'re comparing the market size and economic backing the two areas could give a franchise, I\'m sorry but I have to say that the Mississippi Gulf Coast can\'t hold a candle to NO. That\'s not to say NO is that spectacular, but even as a dying City the metropolitan area alone is 4 times as big as Gulfport and Biloxi combined. Hell, you could add Jackson and NO would still be twice as large. NO as a market is declining, but I believe (and I haven\'t actually checked the numbers in a while), it is, in fact, still one of the 50 largest markets in the country, though it\'s way down from it\'s top-15 or so where it was when Benson bought the team. Even still, I don\'t think the Gulf Coast is in the top 100, but it may be by now.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Saint_LB


I\'ll take care of it for you....

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Testing the sig...again.

Thanks, Halo!!

[Edited on 13/1/2005 by Saint_LB]

Gulf Coast Saints
 

The overall scenario is, if the Saints simply Had to leave New Orleans, one would prefer they remained nearby. I\'d go for that, GCS over LAS or anyplace else outside the region.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

Well s--t, I want them to move to my backyard and be the WhoDat Saints, but that ain\'t going to happen. Why discuss it as if it were realistic if there\'s no chance of it happening. If the Saints move, I don\'t anyone else to get them. Maybe they could play on the moon!

Gulf Coast Saints
 

If you live in the area, your backyard would be fine. If you lived on the moon, I simply couldn\'t afford a Greyhound ticket.

Gulf Coast Saints
 

I do not see the Saints ever moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. First of all, attendance would fall. Maybe not at first, but give it a couple years. I do not see the folks from places south of Lake Ponchartrain making that drive for very long. Remember the thinking patterns of New Orleans residents, that if you need to cross the Lake, or the River for that matter, it is a hassle of a road trip. Not to mention that even Pearlington is about an hour from downtown New Orleans.

On paper, it would make sense to market the Saints with the local casinos. Well, the last time I looked, the NFL frowns upon this type of relationship. Any direct partnerships between the casinos and the Saints would not fly. Ever wonder why Las Vegas has no major league sports?

One more point. The state of Louisiana has no money to build a new stadium. The Governor is also basically saying if the Saints want a refurbished Superdome, that they will foot much of that bill. Has anyone see the financial situation in Mississippi? I would say that the financial situation in Mississippi is probably just a little worse than Louisiana...