Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

Polling to see if the state should help out the Saints financially. I'm sure respondents are mainly from Baton Rouge, and their responses will probably irk us. Anyways, why don't we get a couple of proSaints responses from this board on there, signup is quick and easy:

http://forums.brtoday.com/cgi-bin/bb...;f=10;t=000001

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

I would, but since I know longer live in La. I don\'t think it would be fair for me to tell the people who do how to spend their money. If they could tax me here, I would do it. I DO NOT want the Saints to leave N.O.

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

The problem is that the State isn\'t giving the Saints money to help them out, they are investing in them. The Saints will bring the state more money than the state will invest. Its not like the education fund where you dump a boatload of money in over and over and get virtually no positive return at all.
If they don\'t invest in the Saints the downside is the Saints will take their substantial impact to the economy elsewhere. If that happens Louisiana will become a 1970\'s Mississippi.

But the casual observer says \"why should we give doze millionaires mo money, dey sho nuf don\'t do nuffin fo me\"

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

That\'s sad to imply that cause someone disagrees with you they are ignorant. What\'s up with that dude?

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

I apologize. No offense meant, just trying to be humorous.
There are valid arguments on both sides and I\'m sure there are just as many ignorant comments from the other side as well.
What will be will be. I hope Blanco is just trying to find the best combo of cost/reward. I doubt it but I sure hope thats what she\'s doing.

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

No prob man. Just trying to understand. I kinda stand more on the other side so I was trying to see where that impression came from. It\'s all good.

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

Now THAT\'s an interesting idea.
What if Benson would sell 1/4 interest in the Saints to the state in exchange for all the state assistance. Then the state actually gets something in exchange for their bailout. At worst, the state\'s share of the profits goes back to the Saints and in the meantime the Saints stay in Louisiana.

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

Not really - and if so, it\'s a bad investment, IMO.

I mean, here\'s what we\'re talking about:
186.5 Million in direct payments to the Saints
168 Million for Dome renovations
186 Million in outstanding Dome/NO Arena debt that would have to be refinanced
Plus all the other incentives, the financing of the practice facility, etc... and who knows what Benson demands next?!?!

Just the payments to the team and the financing for the renovations (even over 30 years) will come to $35 million a year. It\'s hard to tell if the Saints directly create that much tax revenue, which I doubt. The other indirect stuff, like merchandise, can easily be argued isn\'t really money that the team generates, but money that people in the State would spend anyway.

The State has already given up their claim to just about all $$ that the team generates - from ticket taxes (or lack there of), concessions, naming rights to the Dome, etc. etc. etc. Why would you invest in something that can\'t even give you a positive return on investment - especially when it is likely to ask for more a few years down the road????

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

I hope they do...and, yes, I think the state should do everything they can to keep the Saints in NO.

[Edited on 12/1/2005 by Saint_LB]

[Edited on 12/1/2005 by Saint_LB]

Poll on 2theadvocate.com:
 

WHODAT...
Is so right on point with the \'investment point\'... its all about SPIN. Who\'s side your own and who you listen to its all SPIN