GumboBC

I agree with you on that WhoDat. I think it would be a risk to move the team over here. But, I THINK it\'s close enough to New Orleans that most of the fans would make the trip. It\'s really not far at all. And I think you would get a lot more Mississippi fans to attend the games.

If Missisippi is willing to build the Saints a new stadium, I would not rule out Benson moving the team here. I aslo think they would receive corperate support here.

Now, if I\'m Benson, I keep the team in NO.

Overall, I don\'t see them moving here. I see them staying in New Orleans and I think this whole thing has been over blown

WhoDat

Overblown? Maybe - but talk of moving every two to three years isn\'t exactly healthy. Further, the state of MS would be insane to build the Saints a stadium.

pakowitz

who cares about fortune 500 companies... on the subject of the saints moving to LA, it wont work, cities dont want teams from other cities, they want new teams, one that they can call their own, for another town to accept a team, that team would have to be a winner, something we have not done around here lately for example, the N.O. Hornets. i havent been to a hornets game but watching on TV there were plenty of seats available, and even tho they are based in N.O. now. i really dont like the hornets, and i might never really like them just b/c of the fact that they started in charlotte. and not from N.O.

I Live In Beastmode!

WhoDat

I dunno - Tennessee accepted the Oilers with open arms. Baltimore sure likes those Browns turned Ravens. St. Louis isn\'t too upset with the Rams. Oakland liked getting the Raiders back. Teams only move when they\'re losers, and cities and fan bases know that. C\'mon, would you rather have the Bengals or Chargers, or no team at all? You change the name, change the logo, and it\'s the same thing as an expansion team... except if you\'re lucky, you already have a star or two for merchandising.

saintz08

Saints won\'t go marching into Mississippi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By John Clayton
ESPN.com


Don\'t go overboard in thinking the New Orleans Saints are moving to Mississippi. But also don\'t underestimate the chances of an eventual Saints move.

Tuesday\'s breakdown of negotiations is typical in franchise stadium talks with government. Saints owner Tom Benson, who clearly doesn\'t want to move the team, was ready to cut a provisional deal that would keep the team in New Orleans most of this decade. The state and the area then altered a few of the provisions that caused Benson to say no and say that he had two options -- talk to Mississippi or sell the team, the least likely option.


Saints owner Tom Benson may do his \"Benson Boogie\" elsewhere.

Once cooler heads return, both sides will talk at some point.

The growing danger is thoughts by the state that they are dealing from a position of strength. Louisiana is not. The growing question in Louisiana -- even though the Superdome is one of better sports facilities -- is this: Are there enough companies and well-heeled fans to support the franchise years from now? It\'s a legitimate concern.

The New Orleans area doesn\'t have enough big companies to buy the luxury boxes, club seating and high-priced tickets that will allow the Saints to compete. With ticket prices heading into the $60 and $70 levels, it\'s a stretch for the fans to keep buying tickets.

After all, the Saints have sold slightly more than 40,000 season tickets following what was arguably their best season. As of a month ago, not all the suites were sold and the stadium is hosting a Super Bowl this year.

The only way for Benson to make up the difference is to get ticket guarantees to assure team revenues in the middle of league. Colts owner Jim Irsay did a provisional deal a few years ago knowing that by 2005 or so the issue would have to be revisited about a new stadium.

Benson\'s heart is keeping the Saints in New Orleans, but he needs the help of the state to do that. He hasn\'t even canvassed the business community enough for support yet, but that will be necessary.

Mississippi may not be an option the league would support. Owners are comfortable with a franchise in New Orleans, but the league at some point would allow a struggling team to move to Los Angeles. The Saints could be a candidate, but that is well down the road.

So don\'t expect the Saints to be marching anywhere -- yet. It\'s still early in the process. However, Louisiana needs to work out a deal with Benson while he is thinking more of the area than of the future value of the franchise.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/clayt...n/1219462.html

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo

pakowitz

im not saying that they dont like their teams right now, all of those teams have had plenty of success after being in their new city for a few years...but when the oilers first moved there wasnt that many fans showing up at games, they only started showin up after they had their new stadium and in actuallity they had a pretty decent team when moved to tenn. and were only a year removed from the playoffs. baltimore took to the browns/ravens b/c of the whole baltimore colts thing.. they were starved for a team and they had a solid core on D when they left cleveland. i dont know Y they left anyway, cleveland had/has one of the best fan bases in all of sports, they sold out every home gameand had to have plenty of merchandise sales. why they moved to baltimore made no sense to me at the time. art modell said he couldnt make any money in cleveland, and i dont know Y b/c with a good fan base and sellouts, i would think that he did make money, he just didnt want to be in cleveland anymore.... i cant say for the rams, i remember watching them when they were in LA but i cant say about the fans when they first moved to STL. the raiders were originally from oakland so why wouldnt they be excited to get their original team back.... all in all, i dont think cities take to their teams when they first make the move, i think it takes a few years, and a few victories

I Live In Beastmode!

Euphoria

I don\'t see them ever going anywheres... the NFL likes having a francise there for one. I do look for a new owner however in the next few years.

saintz08

Meet the new owner :

Rita LeBlanc
Finance & Business Executive

Rita LeBlanc begins her third full-time season with the Saints in a new role as Finance & Business Executive. In addition to acting as an advisor to the Saints Board of Directors, LeBlanc will continue representing the Club at NFL Ownership meetings as well as in the greater New Orleans community. LeBlanc also acts as a liaison for varying special events, league-level relations and business development projects. In this role she has spearheaded efforts toward stadium research, Club fiscal efficiencies and international soccer exhibition youth programs. LeBlanc also planned the Ownership social gala during Super Bowl XXXVI, attended by VIPs including former President George H. W. Bush, among other programs and activities.

LeBlanc has pursued a career in sports entertainment since 1998 with NFL internship programs at the Saints, the NFL headquarters in New York, the NFL Properties Publishing group in Los Angeles and NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J. She returned to the Saints full-time in 2001 and since has worked in Football Operations, assisted the offensive coaching staff with game preparation, coordinated marketing efforts and business office projects. She has also contributed during stints with the team in the public relations, video and ticket office departments.

With the addition of the New Orleans VooDoo to the Saints\' sports portfolio, LeBlanc has taken a key position as the Director of Marketing and Special Events. She has energized the brand building of the new franchise both locally and nationally through ongoing partnerships and promotions. LeBlanc will take a lead role in creating the high intensity AFL gameday experience.

LeBlanc is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor\'s in AgriBusiness and a minor in International Business. She represented the Saints in June of 2003 during the first NFL Managers Program at the Stanford University Executive Education Graduate School of Business.

Her other job :

Rita LeBlanc
Director of Marketing & Special Events

Rita LeBlanc is the Director of Marketing and Special Events for the New Orleans VooDoo. The creation of a new Arena Football team in New Orleans has been several years in the making. LeBlanc has been instrumental in creating the look and feel of the brand, from early logo discussions to the implementation of the team to date. Coordinating staff members, LeBlanc has built an infrastructure of key personnel to ensure a winning product both on and off the football field.

In establishing the new team, LeBlanc has coordinated groundbreaking media contracts essential to the promotion of the AFL and New Orleans VooDoo. This includes the pivotal implementation of a highly interactive website with a design geared toward serving technically savvy fans through collaborative fan responsive elements. In building a gameday experience, LeBlanc has selected top entertainers, spectacular visual effects and dynamic promotions to make every fan feel a part of this action-packed game.

LeBlanc has spearheaded events and promotions to build awareness and introduce fans to the AFL mission of devotion to a premium experience for every fan. She has taken this clear vision and applied it to the New Orleans franchise. Through collaborative team efforts with local groups and leading business entities, LeBlanc has brought the city of New Orleans a strong civic addition to showcase the unique culture and football enthusiasm of the region on a national platform.

Rita LeBlanc a.k.a. Benson\'s grand daughter ....

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo

saintz08

Here is the original deal that Mississippi put on the table before Foster negotiated a deal with the Saints.

The deal in Mississippi would include a new stadium, training facility and a sports-themed amusement park, with parking and tailgating areas, according to Jack Capella, a lawyer for the state agency that runs the Superdome. The complex would be just off Interstate 10. Five casinos would guarantee suite sales under the deal the Saints outlined, Capella said.

If Blanco defaults on the current deal , Benson could get alot more in Mississippi .

[Edited on 29/5/2004 by saintz08]

GumboBC

A sports-themed amusement park, with parking and tailgating areas are already under constuction. The new park is the largest one of its kind in the south. It is set to open in the summer of 2005.

I have little doubt that Mississippi would build a new stadium if the Saints agreed to come here. The casions bring billions of $$ here to the coast. And, they WOULD step up to the plate.

Will it happen. Unlikely. But, the point is, it is a viable option for Benson.