Posted on 09/07/2005 11:06:12 AM PDT by JZelle
Tom Benson, the wealthy owner of the Saints, has his tin cup out while money and relief workers pour into devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. If he has a heart, it is made of stone. Benson reportedly is entertaining the notion of moving the Saints to San Antonio or Los Angeles on a permanent basis, the team's vice president indicated to a television station in New Orleans. Arnold Fielkow told WDSU-TV that Benson is maneuvering to strike a deal with the highest bidder and does not care how he is perceived in New Orleans, Louisiana and nationally. Benson apparently does not care if he goes down in sports history as one of the most reviled owners ever, because that is how it will be. To even think of abandoning a city in its hour of greatest need is contemptible, and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue undoubtedly will make that clear to Benson in their discussions this week, if he hasn't already.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I can't say I blame him at all though. It will take forever to get the Superdome back in playing condition and there L.A. is, second biggest market in the nation, with no NFL team.
Benson was threatening to move the Saints even before the hurricane. He wanted $15 million from the state/city as incentive to stay in New Orleans, PLUS another $10-15 million in improvements to the Superdome facilities. This was being hotly debated in the local papers before Katrina hit.
He's been threatening a move trying to get a new stadium for a while now. With the very existence of the Superdome in the air now would be kind of a stupid time for him to take that off the table. Yeah it's rude an insensitive, and I've never liked Benson anyway, but at this juncture if he fully commits to staying in NO he could have a team without a home field for years.
The Saints had already rejected a city/state proposal for a new stadium back in the spring of this year. Their long-term prospects for staying in New Orleans were not very good to begin with, and now they no longer have any reason to stay -- since their home is a city that no longer exists for all practical purposes.
Cool! A villain other than Bush.
SMG says $100 million damage to the Superdome.
People in LA still won't go to the games though. If he had produced a winning product, he would not be having this problem.
It would be an interesting name - the Los Angeles Saints.
He should move to Los Angeles. Texas has two teams already. It is a no brainer.
The New Orleans Saints of Los Angeles
Any list would have to include Art Modell, Bill Bidwill, Al Davis, Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, and the crazy Glazer Brothers. In fact, it's almost a requirement for an owner to demand ransom from a city. Did I mention our town's Georgia Frontiere?
Why get the leavings of what a pre-existing team will give the league, when the franchise rights to a new team will be in the millions of dollars?
Many cities lose their team. The Saints might be the first team to lose its city.
But then again, I prayed he would have moved the Vikings out of MN...
IMO, the SuperDome will never be able to played in again. It may be poor timing for some, but it is only common sense for the team and the players to search for a permanent relocation. Question now is where will the Sugar Bowl be played?
The Los Angeles Hurricanes!!
Who owns the stadium?
heh heh
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