Halo

League says Saints' future in N.O. hinges on recovery, financial aid

WWLTV.com

The Saints will play at least some games in Louisiana next year but the team’s future beyond that will depend on at least three factors, sources inside the league have told Eyewitness News.

The source says the Saints say they’ll lose between $20 and $40 million this season and next and that they need help in bridging that gap.

The NFL says it will help the Saints financially this year, but the source told Eyewitness News that beyond 2006, the Saints future will hinge on the following:

1-The city’s ability to recover more quickly than expected.

2- A commitment from the state to continue paying the team inducements, if not increase them, or

3- A commitment from the NFL owners to supplement the team’s losses.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney said he hoped that other owners would share his desire to financially aid the team.

Other owners concurred, but none was willing to say how long they could continue to supplement the team’s income.

“We all feel compassion and I don’t want to do anything that would make the situation more difficult,� said Texans Owner Bob McNair.

In other business the league said the Saints schedule for 2006 could be set as early as January in order to facilitate selling tickets.

League sources told Eyewitness News’ Lee Zurik that the schedule would likely include games at Tiger Stadium, the Superdome (if ready) and San Antonio.

The Saints say they can’t play more games at LSU because they lose about $1 million for every game played there.

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stor....68d48bd4.html

4saintspirit

Unfortunately if I move from thinking from my heart -- and start thinking from an economic standpoint I find it hard to feel much optimism. I think we will know how the city is next January when tulane reopens. If the students come back (and from what I heard they are planning to do so) then a core part of the city will be repopulated. That in itself will help accelerate the rebuilding.
As for the Saints -- I think we need to get creative. There should be bus trips planned from the gulf coast to buy tickets. Something -- but I honestly have trouble seeing full stadiums any time soon.

Halo

I agree, we need our young people to come back to the city. No universities open sucks. Where are all the young people? When they come back the city willl begin to charge.

Creative? I think one thing can help Saints sales, but will never happen. Tom Benson needs to come out and apologize to the city and state for his behavior during the storm and ask forgiveness. Politicians and public figures do it all the time and are forgiven. I'm going to write this in my column for this week. I'm telling you he would sell out the stadium next year with an apology and a new coaching staff.

saintswhodi

That's a good idea Halo, but we all know Benson ain't apologizing to anyone. Because he is an idiot. He has a golden opportunity right here and right now to make a statement, especially on the heels of the league considering concessions for free agents and in draft picks, and also being willing to supplement his income. He could make an apology, and a committment right now to take advantage of these concessions to build a winning franchise for this city, and he would be on the right track to gaining the city back. It's right in his grasp. The league is dangling a golden carrot, all he has to do is take advantage. New coaches, better players with the league's aid, new attitude, almost a new team. Then maybe he will be allowed to pick up the dignity he dropped on the way across the Louisiana/Texas border.

4saintspirit

That and Matt Leinart or Vince Young and the city would be in a Saints frenzy

jrmllb

He is not going to apologize, Politicians do it because they have to show humility at times and get people to feel sorry for them...He is too egocentric to do something like that, add to the list he is too stuupid to do it and save himself and his team...From an economic standpoint I don't see next season as having a great outlook...I predict six games in San Antonio, one in BR, and one scheduled for the Superdome that may or may not take place, a determination on that date would probably be made in August...

The Saints fan base is going to watch this draft very closely...me for one...if I dont think anything has changed in their ideas on how to win then I dont know what team I will be watching next season....HELP ME...A cry for help...Who am I kidding, I'll just dust off the old bagand scream my head off

"When you see a fork in the road, take it" -Yogi Berra

LordOfEntropy

True dat. Once a Saints fan, always a Saints fan. It's like malaria. It can lay dormant for a while, but just when you think you've finally got it beat, it sneaks up when least expected to create greviously painful moments. So the next time you're at the grocery store, ask for paper, not plastic. lol

Halo

Guys I agree he won't apologize, but I'm calling him out.

Read my new article here.

I'll be on the radio on Ringside Politics at 1:30pm tomorrow talking about this and more.



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Use WinAmp to listen. Show starts at noon CST and runs until 2pm.

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saintswhodi

Just one thing Halo, when you are gonna capitalize a word for emphasis, make sure it's spelled correctly. PERMANENT. lol j/k. Great article, and pitch. This should be presented to TOm verbatim.

Halo

Ha nice. Thanks Whodi! I just wanted to see if you were on your toes WHODI, GOOD JOB!