New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson buys NBA'S Hornets

FinSaint · 04-13-2012, 12:21 PM

The New Orleans Saints announced that owner Tom Benson has purchased the NBA's New Orleans Hornets.

Benson, who initially bid on the team in January before walking away, will be the teams's sole owner, acccording to the Times-Picayune.

The purchase price was $338 million, NBA.com announced.

As late as Friday morning, the Board of Governors was meeting at the St. Regis Hotel, apparently still mulling offers from Benson and a group headed by California swimwear manufacturer Raj Bhathal, which includes Benson's youngest brother Larry Benson and former minority owner Gary Chouest, according to the Times-Picayune. But the decision was reportedly announced in Tom Benson's favor.

The Hornets were most recently owned by the NBA, which had been in the process of finding private ownership committed to keeping the franchise in New Orleans.

NFL rules prohibit owners from having other sports franchises in NFL markets other than their own.

NFL.com news: New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson buys NBA'S Hornets

mikesaintfan · 04-13-2012, 12:36 PM

wow...i bought sneakers today...$388mil??? wow

Luda34 · 04-13-2012, 01:23 PM

That's good at least the teams not going anywhere now

AlaskaSaints · 04-13-2012, 03:23 PM

Looks like the Superbowl WIN was good to ol' Tom.

And a helluva snub toward Goodell !!!

"F.U., Roger. Watch THIS!"

LOL

Alaska

NuNu318 · 04-13-2012, 03:25 PM

Very happy about this. Benson has had his fare share of shady dealings everybody knows that. But I think he realizes that he can solidify the Benson family empire by entrenching himself in N.O. having both franchises and so much real estate in that area kind of makes him the poor man's (well not poor...u know what I mean) Donald Trump in N.O.

As a Hornets fan I'm excited and would really like a rebranding. Make them the New Orleans VooDoo!!! Do it NOW!! LOL I know the name belongs to the AFL team but throw them a $50 bucks and a Snowball and lets get this thang rollin!!!

SaintsBro · 04-14-2012, 10:55 AM

I agree a rebranding is what that team really needs. I've been to a few games and it always feels like I'm watching somebody else's team...there's hardly any local vibe to it at all...that blue is a Carolina color, and the Hornets name refers to Carolina "rebels" in the revolutionary war, which is cool and all but it's nothing to do with New Orleans. Hugo is great, though.

I kinda wish they would keep the Hornets name and keep Hugo, but ditch the teal and go to black and yellow, like Zulu colors, not black and gold (which should belong to the Saints). Then they could make Hugo look like a normal John Belushi killer bee. But black and yellow -- those colors are the color scheme of both Zulu and the Jazz Fest -- to me that's a very New Orleans color scheme, and it keeps with the whole bee thing. And I'd put a brass band in the seats by courtside, to stand up and play in between quarters.

AllSaints · 04-14-2012, 11:05 AM

Hornets won't help us win a super bowl Bree's will pay the man already dammmmmmnnnnn !

04-13-2012, 12:21 PM	#1
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,956	New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson buys NBA'S Hornets The New Orleans Saints announced that owner Tom Benson has purchased the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. Benson, who initially bid on the team in January before walking away, will be the teams's sole owner, acccording to the Times-Picayune. The purchase price was $338 million, NBA.com announced. As late as Friday morning, the Board of Governors was meeting at the St. Regis Hotel, apparently still mulling offers from Benson and a group headed by California swimwear manufacturer Raj Bhathal, which includes Benson's youngest brother Larry Benson and former minority owner Gary Chouest, according to the Times-Picayune. But the decision was reportedly announced in Tom Benson's favor. The Hornets were most recently owned by the NBA, which had been in the process of finding private ownership committed to keeping the franchise in New Orleans. NFL rules prohibit owners from having other sports franchises in NFL markets other than their own. NFL.com news: New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson buys NBA'S Hornets TheKillerBs likes this.

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04-13-2012, 12:36 PM	#2
mikesaintfan 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 1,070	wow...i bought sneakers today...$388mil??? wow

04-13-2012, 01:23 PM	#3
Luda34 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,219	That's good at least the teams not going anywhere now

04-13-2012, 03:23 PM	#4
AlaskaSaints 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 2,484 Blog Entries: 2	Looks like the Superbowl WIN was good to ol' Tom. And a helluva snub toward Goodell !!! "F.U., Roger. Watch THIS!" LOL Alaska

04-13-2012, 03:25 PM	#5
NuNu318 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: VA Posts: 465	Very happy about this. Benson has had his fare share of shady dealings everybody knows that. But I think he realizes that he can solidify the Benson family empire by entrenching himself in N.O. having both franchises and so much real estate in that area kind of makes him the poor man's (well not poor...u know what I mean) Donald Trump in N.O. As a Hornets fan I'm excited and would really like a rebranding. Make them the New Orleans VooDoo!!! Do it NOW!! LOL I know the name belongs to the AFL team but throw them a $50 bucks and a Snowball and lets get this thang rollin!!!

04-14-2012, 10:55 AM	#6
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	I agree a rebranding is what that team really needs. I've been to a few games and it always feels like I'm watching somebody else's team...there's hardly any local vibe to it at all...that blue is a Carolina color, and the Hornets name refers to Carolina "rebels" in the revolutionary war, which is cool and all but it's nothing to do with New Orleans. Hugo is great, though. I kinda wish they would keep the Hornets name and keep Hugo, but ditch the teal and go to black and yellow, like Zulu colors, not black and gold (which should belong to the Saints). Then they could make Hugo look like a normal John Belushi killer bee. But black and yellow -- those colors are the color scheme of both Zulu and the Jazz Fest -- to me that's a very New Orleans color scheme, and it keeps with the whole bee thing. And I'd put a brass band in the seats by courtside, to stand up and play in between quarters.

04-14-2012, 11:05 AM	#7
AllSaints Breakin Records Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Deville, Louisiana Posts: 2,167	Hornets won't help us win a super bowl Bree's will pay the man already dammmmmmnnnnn !