xan

Benson's been complaining since the beginning of the season that only 107 of the 137 suites in the SuperDome have sold, leaving 30, probably less desirable viewing boxes available.

What are the economics of the Suite in the Dome? What amount is required upfront? How many tickets are the owner(s) forced to buy in a season? Is there a catering minimum? Taxes/security/cleanup?

I'm going to take a guess here:

$20K per remaining suite for the "timeshare" -- $600K
16 seats per game played in the dome
---times
10 Saints Games + 5 Tulane Games + 3 Bowl Games + 2 State Champs = 20 Games
---times
$100 per ticket--------------------------------------$960K
Catering (profit only) - $1K per game -- $30K
Other Expenses - $1K per game -- $30K

Net total -- $1,620K, assumed to be designated solely to Benson

Is it me, or is this a profoundly trivial number in the grand scheme of the Saints' viability in New Orleans? Don't get me wrong, but $1620 is a lot of money to me, (my net worth is just a bit smaller than half that). I'm going to go further in assuming assuming that the "sold out" concept currently includes those 480 seats, so Benson's already getting the $960K, so we're really talking only $660K. Is it really worth the hairpulling tableslamming neckvain bulging fingerpointing derision?

Is it me, or is this a smokescreen for his desire to leave no matter what?

Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger."
Hobbes: "Common lament."