City of Angels Ideal Spot for Saints (Espn.com)

TallySaint · 09-01-2005, 07:03 AM

Updated: Aug. 31, 2005, 5:15 PM ET

City of Angels an ideal spot for Saints
By Mark Kreidler
Special to ESPN.com

Katrina Has Forced the Saints Out of New Orleans

Just wondering: What about L.A.?

The Saints are an NFL team without a home. Los Angeles is a giant home without an NFL team. The Saints need a place to play. L.A. has places to play, plural.

The Saints, stripped of just about everything remotely normal connected with their lives, suddenly find themselves looking for a soft landing that, essentially, can see them through this season without a huge, long-term promise. Is there anyplace on Earth that does short-term commitment better than L.A.?

And most significantly, from the NFL's perspective: It is Los Angeles -- not Baton Rouge or San Antonio or anyplace else -- where Tha League would most like to reconnect with pro football fans, to see if it can awaken a sleeping giant of a market. It has a chance to do so right now, with virtually nothing lost if the venture doesn't pan out.

What about L.A.?

This is an opportunity wrought of sheer tragedy, and one that nobody can possibly feel good about; but for the NFL the overarching fact of the matter is that the Saints will play somewhere this season. It's strictly a question of where.

Saints owner Tom Benson is a New Orleans native, but he made his fortune over parts of four decades in San Antonio in the car-dealership business, and he is a known quantity in that city. When Benson called this week, San Antonio officials quickly made arrangements for the NFL team to relocate there at least short-term so that it could continue to prepare for the season and possibly begin it there.

Benson may have eyes on San Antonio as a potential permanent relocation (he has made noises in the past about the Saints' future in New Orleans), but there's almost no reading of the NFL's powers-that-be that would suggest they favor such a move. Still, at this point San Antonio's willingness to house the team is as welcome -- and appreciated -- as anything in the world.

Story continues...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...ark&id=2148068

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09-01-2005, 07:03 AM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	City of Angels Ideal Spot for Saints (Espn.com) Updated: Aug. 31, 2005, 5:15 PM ET City of Angels an ideal spot for Saints By Mark Kreidler Special to ESPN.com Katrina Has Forced the Saints Out of New Orleans Just wondering: What about L.A.? The Saints are an NFL team without a home. Los Angeles is a giant home without an NFL team. The Saints need a place to play. L.A. has places to play, plural. The Saints, stripped of just about everything remotely normal connected with their lives, suddenly find themselves looking for a soft landing that, essentially, can see them through this season without a huge, long-term promise. Is there anyplace on Earth that does short-term commitment better than L.A.? And most significantly, from the NFL's perspective: It is Los Angeles -- not Baton Rouge or San Antonio or anyplace else -- where Tha League would most like to reconnect with pro football fans, to see if it can awaken a sleeping giant of a market. It has a chance to do so right now, with virtually nothing lost if the venture doesn't pan out. What about L.A.? This is an opportunity wrought of sheer tragedy, and one that nobody can possibly feel good about; but for the NFL the overarching fact of the matter is that the Saints will play somewhere this season. It's strictly a question of where. Saints owner Tom Benson is a New Orleans native, but he made his fortune over parts of four decades in San Antonio in the car-dealership business, and he is a known quantity in that city. When Benson called this week, San Antonio officials quickly made arrangements for the NFL team to relocate there at least short-term so that it could continue to prepare for the season and possibly begin it there. Benson may have eyes on San Antonio as a potential permanent relocation (he has made noises in the past about the Saints' future in New Orleans), but there's almost no reading of the NFL's powers-that-be that would suggest they favor such a move. Still, at this point San Antonio's willingness to house the team is as welcome -- and appreciated -- as anything in the world. Story continues... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...ark&id=2148068 8)