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Saints want a long-term deal
Associated Press


NEW ORLEANS -- One day before a deadline the New Orleans Saints had set in their stadium negotiations with the state, team owner Tom Benson said the positive tone of the talks had prompted him to extend discussions beyond March 1.

"All deadlines have been eliminated and it is hoped that a new agreement will be reached before the upcoming legislative session" in April, the Saints said in a written statement Monday afternoon.

The original deadline of March first had been established in order for the Saints to update the NFL about the Saints' long-term status at the league's upcoming annual meeting.

As chairman of the NFL Finance Committee, Benson will still make a report to the league and its ownership at the meetings regarding the status of the current negotiations.

The state wants to replace an agreement reached under the administration of former Gov. Mike Foster, which has forced Louisiana to borrow money to make the annual payments called for by the deal. Those payments will escalate to $23.5 million in the last years of the 10-year deal, which took effect in 2002.

The Saints want a long-term deal and so far have dropped one significant demand, with Benson saying he is willing to stay in a renovated Superdome rather than demand a new stadium. The sticking point is expected to be Gov. Kathleen Blanco's demand that the team bear some of the costs of renovations or accept lower cash subsidies after renovations are complete.

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