Saints have deal to return to Louisiana in '06 - The Orange Mane

Jens1893 · 12-30-2005, 08:49 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2275139

An agreement in principle struck between owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will return the New Orleans Saints to Louisiana for practice in 2006, and likely for the entire regular-season schedule.

The agreement, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, was confirmed by two league owners, one of whom serves on the advisory committee that is counseling Benson on the direction of his franchise. The deal is expected to be announced on Friday when Tagliabue meets in San Antonio with Saints players, coaches and staffers.

"[The talks] haven't always been amicable, and [Benson] still has some doubts about all of this, but it looks like they're going back [to Louisiana]," one owner said.

Under the accord, which is expected to be finalized soon, the Saints will return to their permanent practice facility in Metairie, La., just outside of New Orleans. The state-owned training complex was commandeered by FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and used as a staging area. Saints officials had previously contended that the facility was in disrepair, but the damage was not nearly as severe as originally indicated.

It is believed that, with the Saints in Metairie, the team will split its 2006 schedule between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans is not likely to be ready for play until November, but officials hope the process can be accelerated in the coming months.

League officials have said they hope to announce the Saints' schedule next month. But team officials were recently apprised an announcement might not come until March. The players have been outspoken about wanting to play their games in the community in which they are practicing.

Attendance for the four games played this season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge was disappointing, averaging only slightly more than 40,000.

Three weeks ago, NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw advised the players not to renew their leases in San Antonio because the league was working hard to ensure their return to the Metairie facility for next season. That same day, however, in a separate session with players, Benson raised doubts about the return and reiterated that he might attempt to keep the team in San Antonio.

Benson has strong personal and professional ties to San Antonio, the suspicion remains that he would prefer to permanently relocate the franchise there. Benson fears that the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, a process expected to take years, will threaten the team's financial viability The Saints owner has told associates that he will lose $45 million for the 2005 season.

The league in general, and certainly Tagliabue in particular, have made it clear they prefer that the franchise remain in New Orleans, even if that means playing a portion of the 2006 schedule away from the Superdome. There have been reports that Benson, who would need approval from other owners to move his team, might considering suing the NFL for the right to relocate.

It appears that under the pending agreement the Saints will not return to San Antonio for any home games in 2006. The business community there has rallied around the team and has embraced the notion of having the Saints move to San Antonio permanently. Three games at the Alamodome averaged 62,666 fans, and Mayor Phil Hardberger has been a driving force in trying to lure the displaced franchise to his city.

While the efforts of San Antonio civic leaders may make no difference for 2006, it is believed that the agreement between Benson and Tagliabue is for next season only, and will be revisited after that. Given the blunted economic climate of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, it is conceivable that Benson will eventually attempt to relocate his team to San Antonio.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Tagliabue is received by Saints players who have been critical of the league's overall handling of the situation. Players feel the NFL has not supported them and are upset that Tagliabue has not met with them until now, on their final day of practice for this season. The league office pointed out that Tagliabue twice previously requested to meet with players but that his efforts were rebuffed.

bendog · 12-30-2005, 08:59 AM

Yeah, I saw a bit of this this a.m. I'm not really sure about this. The good thing is Benson's a pos, and he's gonna lose a lot of dough. The bad thing is that NOLA long term is not a sure thing. The politicians are not being honest. The dems in LA are saying "come back," but the reality is that unless people can afford to move above sea level, they should stay in Houston or baton rouge or wherever permantently. The GOP in Wash is saying the dykes (-: will be repaired by next hurricane season, but it takes literally years and years for the earthen dykes to be built. They have to "settle" and then more dirt and clay and sand are added over time.

But the NFL doesn't want bad press, and the superdome is a good place for the superbowl.

Jens1893 · 12-30-2005, 09:03 AM

I guess they´ll move the Sugar Bowl back to the Superdome then as well.

Rock Chalk · 12-30-2005, 09:06 AM

New Orleans cannot support a football team, not now, not in 2006, and not in 2007. Possibly by 2008 they will hve recovered enough to support a football team BUT, Im skeptical.

Garcia Bronco · 12-30-2005, 09:14 AM

Bummer...it would be better for the NFL if they left LA....SA would be a better IMO.

footstepsfrom#27 · 12-30-2005, 10:27 AM

I'm guessing there are more Saints fans in SA than NO right now. Benson might come back for the short term but they're gone soon after IMO...I don't see the NFL owners denying the reality that is New Orleans economc chaos in the long term.

TexanBob · 12-30-2005, 08:19 PM

Comiczar Tags knows the corporates are just too cozy to the Whorehouse on the Mississippi to let it die on the vine, although handing them the Saints is almost the next best thing.

If any team needs Reggie Bush, it's the Saints who need the gate attraction to sell tickets. In fact, in the socialist NFL, Benson is the *only* NFL owner who really needs to sell tickets anymore. The others are awash in PSL money and other pyramid schemes but they can't help you when you have NO STADIUM to play in.

I don't want the New Orleans Evacuadors in San Antonio either. They ought to go settle in Las Vegas or Portland or Mexico City or someplace.

The Big E · 12-30-2005, 08:40 PM

Here's what will happen. NO will end up with the #1 or #2 pick and will draft Bush or Leinart. They'll move the team to L.A. instead of having an expansion team established there. Pete Carroll will then reunite with his star player and become head coach.

Okay, I'm dreaming, because I want to find some way to get Pete Carroll out of my damn conference.

Mile High Shack · 12-30-2005, 08:51 PM

who is going to go watch the games in New Orleans

there are hardly any people in the city

watermock · 12-30-2005, 08:54 PM

Despite being a small market, selling the Dome out has never been a problem for the Saints. Benson literally defies logic. I have no clue how he got rich, he's a moron. The problem is that the dome smells like a cesspool and the city is 1/3 smaller. Many prople have never returned, and they were the more affluent. Anyone with half a brain packed up and left.

I haven't heard anything about building the levies up higher. The real problem is that not only is NO below sea level, the river keeps silting and filling. Each year the bottom of the river bottom rises with mud. Our farm in Arkansas Delta has topsoil 300 feet deep. That's why we need a Trac-tor. (kinda a cross between a tractor and catapillar). The mud runs all the way to the Ozarks in Little Rock hundreds of miles away.

watermock · 12-30-2005, 08:59 PM

Have you ever seen someone more dingenuous that Benson today? The guy was so obviously lying thru his teeth it was comical. I guess the SuperDome smells like a sewer between the flooding and the piss ect. It's a cesspool. When they lost power, people just started crapping anywhere they pleased. If Al Davis can move at will, why can't Benson? I don't like the guy, but sheesh...NO won't be the same for several years, and it could all happen again at any time. They haven't fixed the levies, they patched them.

TomServo · 12-30-2005, 10:59 PM

Just get it over with and move the saints to L.A. new orleans is a ruined city and will be for years. the nfl wants a team in l.a. so bad theyre willing to add a new team and unbalance the divisions already. giving l.a. a new franchise means adding two new franchise to the league.
i feel bad for saints fans but how many pple will even live in that city next season much less attend games?

Rock Chalk · 12-31-2005, 08:58 AM

One could argue LA is a ruined city as well

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12-30-2005, 08:49 AM	#1
Jens1893 Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Location: People´s Republic of Bad Cannstatt Posts: 9,170	Saints have deal to return to Louisiana in '06 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2275139 An agreement in principle struck between owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will return the New Orleans Saints to Louisiana for practice in 2006, and likely for the entire regular-season schedule. The agreement, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, was confirmed by two league owners, one of whom serves on the advisory committee that is counseling Benson on the direction of his franchise. The deal is expected to be announced on Friday when Tagliabue meets in San Antonio with Saints players, coaches and staffers. "[The talks] haven't always been amicable, and [Benson] still has some doubts about all of this, but it looks like they're going back [to Louisiana]," one owner said. Under the accord, which is expected to be finalized soon, the Saints will return to their permanent practice facility in Metairie, La., just outside of New Orleans. The state-owned training complex was commandeered by FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and used as a staging area. Saints officials had previously contended that the facility was in disrepair, but the damage was not nearly as severe as originally indicated. It is believed that, with the Saints in Metairie, the team will split its 2006 schedule between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans is not likely to be ready for play until November, but officials hope the process can be accelerated in the coming months. League officials have said they hope to announce the Saints' schedule next month. But team officials were recently apprised an announcement might not come until March. The players have been outspoken about wanting to play their games in the community in which they are practicing. Attendance for the four games played this season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge was disappointing, averaging only slightly more than 40,000. Three weeks ago, NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw advised the players not to renew their leases in San Antonio because the league was working hard to ensure their return to the Metairie facility for next season. That same day, however, in a separate session with players, Benson raised doubts about the return and reiterated that he might attempt to keep the team in San Antonio. Benson has strong personal and professional ties to San Antonio, the suspicion remains that he would prefer to permanently relocate the franchise there. Benson fears that the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, a process expected to take years, will threaten the team's financial viability The Saints owner has told associates that he will lose $45 million for the 2005 season. The league in general, and certainly Tagliabue in particular, have made it clear they prefer that the franchise remain in New Orleans, even if that means playing a portion of the 2006 schedule away from the Superdome. There have been reports that Benson, who would need approval from other owners to move his team, might considering suing the NFL for the right to relocate. It appears that under the pending agreement the Saints will not return to San Antonio for any home games in 2006. The business community there has rallied around the team and has embraced the notion of having the Saints move to San Antonio permanently. Three games at the Alamodome averaged 62,666 fans, and Mayor Phil Hardberger has been a driving force in trying to lure the displaced franchise to his city. While the efforts of San Antonio civic leaders may make no difference for 2006, it is believed that the agreement between Benson and Tagliabue is for next season only, and will be revisited after that. Given the blunted economic climate of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, it is conceivable that Benson will eventually attempt to relocate his team to San Antonio. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Tagliabue is received by Saints players who have been critical of the league's overall handling of the situation. Players feel the NFL has not supported them and are upset that Tagliabue has not met with them until now, on their final day of practice for this season. The league office pointed out that Tagliabue twice previously requested to meet with players but that his efforts were rebuffed.

12-30-2005, 08:59 AM	#2
bendog Marginally Continent David Bowens, he'd be an upgrade Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 19,935 Adopt-a-Bronco: David Bowens	Yeah, I saw a bit of this this a.m. I'm not really sure about this. The good thing is Benson's a pos, and he's gonna lose a lot of dough. The bad thing is that NOLA long term is not a sure thing. The politicians are not being honest. The dems in LA are saying "come back," but the reality is that unless people can afford to move above sea level, they should stay in Houston or baton rouge or wherever permantently. The GOP in Wash is saying the dykes (-: will be repaired by next hurricane season, but it takes literally years and years for the earthen dykes to be built. They have to "settle" and then more dirt and clay and sand are added over time. But the NFL doesn't want bad press, and the superdome is a good place for the superbowl.

12-30-2005, 09:03 AM	#3
Jens1893 Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Location: People´s Republic of Bad Cannstatt Posts: 9,170	I guess they´ll move the Sugar Bowl back to the Superdome then as well.

12-30-2005, 09:06 AM	#4
Rock Chalk Cheeky Bastards Laus Deo Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Backside of the Internet Posts: 29,942 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Harris	New Orleans cannot support a football team, not now, not in 2006, and not in 2007. Possibly by 2008 they will hve recovered enough to support a football team BUT, Im skeptical.

12-30-2005, 09:14 AM	#5
Garcia Bronco Hokie since 1993 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 46,001 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tom Jackson	Bummer...it would be better for the NFL if they left LA....SA would be a better IMO.

12-30-2005, 10:27 AM	#6
footstepsfrom#27 helmet to helmet hitter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 16,126 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joe Mays	I'm guessing there are more Saints fans in SA than NO right now. Benson might come back for the short term but they're gone soon after IMO...I don't see the NFL owners denying the reality that is New Orleans economc chaos in the long term.

12-30-2005, 08:19 PM	#7
TexanBob Don't Argue With Me You Know I'm Right Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5,023 Adopt-a-Bronco: Darris Nash	Comiczar Tags knows the corporates are just too cozy to the Whorehouse on the Mississippi to let it die on the vine, although handing them the Saints is almost the next best thing. If any team needs Reggie Bush, it's the Saints who need the gate attraction to sell tickets. In fact, in the socialist NFL, Benson is the only NFL owner who really needs to sell tickets anymore. The others are awash in PSL money and other pyramid schemes but they can't help you when you have NO STADIUM to play in. I don't want the New Orleans Evacuadors in San Antonio either. They ought to go settle in Las Vegas or Portland or Mexico City or someplace.

12-30-2005, 08:40 PM	#8
The Big E Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach Posts: 1,910	Here's what will happen. NO will end up with the #1 or #2 pick and will draft Bush or Leinart. They'll move the team to L.A. instead of having an expansion team established there. Pete Carroll will then reunite with his star player and become head coach. Okay, I'm dreaming, because I want to find some way to get Pete Carroll out of my damn conference.

12-30-2005, 08:51 PM	#9
Mile High Shack Ring of Famer Cock-a-doodle-do Join Date: May 2001 Location: Somewhere Posts: 17,010	who is going to go watch the games in New Orleans there are hardly any people in the city

12-30-2005, 08:54 PM	#10
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	Despite being a small market, selling the Dome out has never been a problem for the Saints. Benson literally defies logic. I have no clue how he got rich, he's a moron. The problem is that the dome smells like a cesspool and the city is 1/3 smaller. Many prople have never returned, and they were the more affluent. Anyone with half a brain packed up and left. I haven't heard anything about building the levies up higher. The real problem is that not only is NO below sea level, the river keeps silting and filling. Each year the bottom of the river bottom rises with mud. Our farm in Arkansas Delta has topsoil 300 feet deep. That's why we need a Trac-tor. (kinda a cross between a tractor and catapillar). The mud runs all the way to the Ozarks in Little Rock hundreds of miles away.

12-30-2005, 08:59 PM	#11
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	Have you ever seen someone more dingenuous that Benson today? The guy was so obviously lying thru his teeth it was comical. I guess the SuperDome smells like a sewer between the flooding and the piss ect. It's a cesspool. When they lost power, people just started crapping anywhere they pleased. If Al Davis can move at will, why can't Benson? I don't like the guy, but sheesh...NO won't be the same for several years, and it could all happen again at any time. They haven't fixed the levies, they patched them.

12-30-2005, 10:59 PM	#12
TomServo Ring of Famer Dancing is Forbidden! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,013	Just get it over with and move the saints to L.A. new orleans is a ruined city and will be for years. the nfl wants a team in l.a. so bad theyre willing to add a new team and unbalance the divisions already. giving l.a. a new franchise means adding two new franchise to the league. i feel bad for saints fans but how many pple will even live in that city next season much less attend games?

12-31-2005, 08:58 AM	#13
Rock Chalk Cheeky Bastards Laus Deo Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Backside of the Internet Posts: 29,942 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Harris	One could argue LA is a ruined city as well