Nemesis

I was fixated on our pre Katrina economy being nothing to crow about, and wish I could be as optimistic. However, NO has a few things in her favor.

The Saints have made marketing strides towards becoming a regional team, like the Pats. Our fans still spread out all over the country can hip others to the Saints.

Statewide voters may be more likely to ante up for a winning team. I'm reading that some far-flung citizens and Reps wonder what's in it for them. The stadium initiative may even be able to woe some Cowgirls fans from up north.

The league seriously frowns upon owners whining and seeking to move, while they have season ticket waiting lists. They have also stated their wish that NO remain a football town. Supporting the Saints is up to ya'll, and I think the league would bend an ear for the fans' plight over Benson's.


What happened to my edit button?

saintswhodi

Yup. I don't think there will be an issue as long as we continue the committment to winning. The product we were putting on the field through the Ditka and Haz administrations was embarrassing. We also have something we have never had before, a NATIONALLY recognized superstar in Reggie Bush. I think we absolutely could sell out additional suites.

hagan714

Well the city needs to get cleaned up and get its act together. The voters need to get rid of all the trash that has been office. The US goverment is trying to help with all the inditements (?) being handed down now. The next step is to get ride of all the rest. Buisness as usual in the City must change. You have to to focus on bringing company that are the wave of the future. The ranking of the lower 40's in education does not sell well to companies looking for skilled labor. High very high learning curve if on exsists at all. Then and only then can you have any hope of selling suites in the quantity you guys are talking.
Anarchy and open rebellion against the political structure is needed. Take no prisioners. Build a big new jail for all them and get them all to court on time under the stronge arm of a new prosecutor. Hang them high and burry them deep.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

AssGrinch

One of my many pet peeves is this whole infatuation with the Superdome. For one it wasn't built for football, and you can see that because the seating is terrible. It hasn't had much of a winning history so stop comparing it to Soldier and Lambeau field. Sure it’s not the worst stadium, but it’s one of them. The only thing great about it is its location, which is why the Iberville projects are the best location for a new stadium. Think about what Canal Street would look like with a new stadium.

SapperSaint

I love the Dome, however there are times when a change is needed. Is there no big business out there that is willing to step in and help pick up part of the tab. I will agree that the Saints and the fans need a new stadium.

It is time for one.

Nemesis

No, we don't have any more big businesses to foot part of the tab. We don't have Nissan plants, Delta Airlines, Nabisco, Coke, 3M, TBS, and Big Oil HQs around. This is why the other cities can sell upwards of 200 suites. Those major corps create major jobs. Our suite market has been tapped out for the forseeable future. We can't even hawk our naming rights.

Anyone's beef wih the Dome can be cured at 1/3 the price of a new one. We don't need another dome. We just want one. What we need is wetland protection, and streets, sewers & water lines repaired. We need to fix our hopelessly inept school and criminal justice systems. Civil servants need higher pay, so they can spend more money to create more jobs. We need to invest in attracting those major corps that always seem to skip over us for our neighbors.

Nemesis

Eventually is pretty vague. I'm proposing that the Dome can be made up to par with most stadiums for under 250 mil. I've just read that our homes sales have plummeted to the lowest rates since '03. I don't know what to say about your asserting that the issues I've outlined aren't problems in need of addressing. You can bring in the ghosts of JFK and MLK to lead us, but they'll still need money to implement their plans.

saintswhodi

I guess we could keep ignoring the fact Tom Benson has said he does not want a renovated Superdome. We could just ingore that and let the Saints leave. Blanco already tried the renovation route, and Benson slammed it back in her face. We have until 2010 to come up with a deal for a new stadium, that's it. It doesn't really matter what you want, or what you say is viable or anything else, cause the person's opinion who does matter, Tom Benson, has stated he wants a new stadium. Now, you can tell him to shove it and watch the Saints leave, or you can accept the fact it is gonna take a new stadium for him to stay.

Nemesis

I guess we can ignore the fact that the league is against the Saints leaving such a supportive market (as they were with the Vikes), and stymied Benson's bolting to SA. Benson can sell, or accept a renovated Dome.

We can also promise him we'll start getting financing together for a new dome, beginning 2010. That's fine. I'm not the type to run out and get things for the sake of it, and I've seen not one tangible reason for a new dome in this thread, other than Benson wants one.

You'll have to convince voters statewide that Benson is the only opinion that matters, not just myself. You'd best get crackin. I'll be in Foxboro.

saintswhodi

That's easy, you ignored suite revenue, and you ignored the fact that teams with new stadiums are getting the Superbowls. I could find a lot of things that aren't evidence if I ignore them. That's not how it works though. Also, 2010 is different than 2005. The league, or Tagliabue, forced Benson back cause of the black eye they would have gotten if the Saints left right after Katrina. That won't be the case in 3 more years. The league can't force Tom Benson to sell, and they can't force him to accept a renovated Superdome. That is, again, ignoring the fact. The best the league can do is step in and offer some assistance toward building a new stadium, but they can't force Tom Benson to do anything, it's his team. As a matter of fact, the way he caved after Katrina in coming back, I would think they gave him a kinda "Tom, be quiet and go along with this now, and if you don't get a new stadium we won't oppose you moving." One minute he went from being afraid for his life in Baton Rouge and firing anyone that was pro coming back to New Orleans, then the next he never wanted to leave? Seriously? Sorry I don;t buy it.

But if all you have heard is Benson wants a new stadium, then good, cause that's all that needs to be heard. Either we keep the Saints here by providing a new stadium, or we watch them go to Louisiana cause we though " the league was gonna keep them from moving." I ain't buying that.

Since you edited, I will do the same. I don't think it wil be hard to convince voters to pony up for a winning team. It was that crap that was being put on the field previously that turned people off. I mean, that's why the discussion is here right, cause SOMEONE feels we need to get cracking on a new stadiuma nd take Tom's threat seriously. I could see how it would be easy to call his bluff from Foxboro though. It would be like telling poor Africans to stop the blood diamond trade themsevles from here in the United States. The farther away you are the bolder you can tell others to be.