Saints will stay in New Orleans :) - The Orange Mane

Kaylore · 03-26-2007, 08:58 PM

At leas they will through 2010.

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NO/10089153

BATON ROUGE, La. (March 26, 2007) -- The New Orleans Saints will stay in Louisiana through the 2010 season, reaching an agreement with state officials.

Both sides agreed to toss out contract clauses that would have allowed the NFL team leave the state within the next four years. They also said they will keep negotiating on a deal that could keep the Saints in New Orleans beyond the current contract.

"For the foreseeable future, Louisiana's team will keep marching to victory right here," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said.

Blanco said the Saints are important to Louisiana's economy, but even more so to state residents struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The governor said the Saints' record-setting 2006 season brought hope to the hurricane-damaged region. The team played in its first conference title game and sold out all eight home games on season tickets.

"It's great news for the people of New Orleans, the people of Louisiana and the fans of the NFL," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said from the NFL meetings in Phoenix. "We now have an opportunity to focus on the long-term needs of the franchise and, most importantly, the long-term needs of the community."

Saints owner Tom Benson is "committed over the next four years to get a long-term deal done here and to stay here forever," team spokesman Greg Bensel said. Benson was at the NFL meetings.

Katrina caused extensive damage to the Superdome in 2005. The state repaired the dome and put another $185 million into improvements and upgrades long sought by Benson.

The contract had allowed the Saints to opt out of its current deal with the state by repaying about $70 million the state has provided in inducements to the team. But the Saints will drop that termination clause, and the state will eliminate its ability to opt out of the contract.

The current $186.5 million contract with the Saints was negotiated in 2001 by former Gov. Mike Foster's administration and involves making annual payments to the team on top of other subsidies through 2010.

Those state payments will continue. Blanco said she didn't agree to give the Saints any more money, but ongoing upgrades to the Superdome will continue.

Kaylore · 03-26-2007, 08:59 PM

Good to see them stick around. They had a good run last year and with luck could be a force for awhile. That'll be a nice change from the usual suspects in the NFC.

Rock Chalk · 03-26-2007, 09:01 PM

Wonderful, now if only they can get some of these ****ing criminals to move back. Just the criminals though, some of those New Orleans folk have brought food, they can stay.

Kaylore · 03-27-2007, 12:38 AM

Well I think this is great news.

Hogan11 · 03-27-2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Well I think this is great news.

So do I, as I've seen more games in the Superdome than any other stadium to date....a Saints home game was always a highlight of my visit to NOLA no matter how the team did.

Incidently, three more home Broncos games and Mile High will supplant the Dome as #1 on my most visited list........I'm working on it

worm · 03-27-2007, 11:35 AM

This is positive....to a point.

Great news would be getting a financially palatable, long-term solution done to keep the Saints in New Orleans for more than 4 years. Ultimately it would be great to see some of the required dollars funded by Fortune 500 companies. Something Louisiana is in short supply of.

As a fan of the NFL\New Orleans and being selfish and wanting the Saints to stay in Nola ....it is still hard to see the state $$$ flowing this direction when there are so many current inhibitors to LRHA and ICC monies being distributed.

bendog · 03-27-2007, 12:13 PM

I believe I heard that the 'aints now have a 12000 waiting list for season tix. Quite a turn around as I still have my pre-Katrina mailing from them for individ tix in the nosebleed sections, which I had done once before. Back when they had maybe 3 sellouts a year. There isn't a bad seat in the house.

Worm might know better, but I thought the biz owners had been pretty decent about buying the luxury boxes.

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03-26-2007, 08:58 PM	#1
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,051 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Saints will stay in New Orleans :) At leas they will through 2010. http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NO/10089153 BATON ROUGE, La. (March 26, 2007) -- The New Orleans Saints will stay in Louisiana through the 2010 season, reaching an agreement with state officials. Both sides agreed to toss out contract clauses that would have allowed the NFL team leave the state within the next four years. They also said they will keep negotiating on a deal that could keep the Saints in New Orleans beyond the current contract. "For the foreseeable future, Louisiana's team will keep marching to victory right here," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. Blanco said the Saints are important to Louisiana's economy, but even more so to state residents struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The governor said the Saints' record-setting 2006 season brought hope to the hurricane-damaged region. The team played in its first conference title game and sold out all eight home games on season tickets. "It's great news for the people of New Orleans, the people of Louisiana and the fans of the NFL," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said from the NFL meetings in Phoenix. "We now have an opportunity to focus on the long-term needs of the franchise and, most importantly, the long-term needs of the community." Saints owner Tom Benson is "committed over the next four years to get a long-term deal done here and to stay here forever," team spokesman Greg Bensel said. Benson was at the NFL meetings. Katrina caused extensive damage to the Superdome in 2005. The state repaired the dome and put another $185 million into improvements and upgrades long sought by Benson. The contract had allowed the Saints to opt out of its current deal with the state by repaying about $70 million the state has provided in inducements to the team. But the Saints will drop that termination clause, and the state will eliminate its ability to opt out of the contract. The current $186.5 million contract with the Saints was negotiated in 2001 by former Gov. Mike Foster's administration and involves making annual payments to the team on top of other subsidies through 2010. Those state payments will continue. Blanco said she didn't agree to give the Saints any more money, but ongoing upgrades to the Superdome will continue.

03-26-2007, 08:59 PM	#2
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,051 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Good to see them stick around. They had a good run last year and with luck could be a force for awhile. That'll be a nice change from the usual suspects in the NFC.

03-26-2007, 09:01 PM	#3
Rock Chalk Cheeky Bastards Laus Deo Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Backside of the Internet Posts: 29,940 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Harris	Wonderful, now if only they can get some of these ****ing criminals to move back. Just the criminals though, some of those New Orleans folk have brought food, they can stay.

03-27-2007, 12:38 AM	#4
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,051 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Well I think this is great news.

03-27-2007, 11:35 AM	#6
worm Great moments are born... ...from great opportunity Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,947 Adopt-a-Bronco: #20	This is positive....to a point. Great news would be getting a financially palatable, long-term solution done to keep the Saints in New Orleans for more than 4 years. Ultimately it would be great to see some of the required dollars funded by Fortune 500 companies. Something Louisiana is in short supply of. As a fan of the NFL\New Orleans and being selfish and wanting the Saints to stay in Nola ....it is still hard to see the state $$$ flowing this direction when there are so many current inhibitors to LRHA and ICC monies being distributed.

03-27-2007, 12:13 PM	#7
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	I believe I heard that the 'aints now have a 12000 waiting list for season tix. Quite a turn around as I still have my pre-Katrina mailing from them for individ tix in the nosebleed sections, which I had done once before. Back when they had maybe 3 sellouts a year. There isn't a bad seat in the house. Worm might know better, but I thought the biz owners had been pretty decent about buying the luxury boxes.