Keep the Saints in NO

[JH42XCC]

http://www.petitiononline.com/saintsno/petition.html

[IceCap]

um...no. realistically the saints need to leave NOLA. it may sound harsh, but hey, that's the way everthing turned out. IF they stay in NOLA they won't even have their own stadium by at least 2009. they need to move.

[Cujo]

Signing an online petition isn't going to keep the Saints in NO. Maybe if you came with a billion dollars and donate that to Benson, then maybe they have a shot at staying in the Bayou.

[NJTank]

If a family who was relocated after Katrina looks around and decides not to return would you be upset?

If a buisness not wanting to wait for teh city to be fixed wanted to restart elsewhere, would you blame them?

Sad but true I think its the same thing for the Saints.

[TruColor]

It's a business, bottom line.

There's no guarantee that New Orleans will EVER get back to where they were before Katrina, and if they do in 5 to 10 years - fine. Give them an expansion team.

You can't keep them there in a badly damaged stadium in a city that may resemble a ghost town in 2006 and for the foreseeable future.

It sucks, but life goes on.

[Dilbert]

They need to do what Cleveland did. Move the team but keep the name in New Orleans for a future team

[Cujo]

They need to do what Cleveland did. Move the team but keep the name in New Orleans for a future team

So they can rename the Voodoo??

Once the Saints leave New Orleans, I don't see the NFL coming back to NO anytime soon.

[IceCap]

They need to do what Cleveland did. Move the team but keep the name in New Orleans for a future team

no, they don't. it was bad enough when the browns were forced to lose their history and identity to some expansion team. they saints don't need to do that. besides, the saints name would tie in very well with san antonio, or even los angeles.

[FiddySicks]

They need to do what Cleveland did. Move the team but keep the name in New Orleans for a future team

no, they don't. it was bad enough when the browns were forced to lose their history and identity to some expansion team. they saints don't need to do that. besides, the saints name would tie in very well with san antonio, or even los angeles.

Yeah but its not like the Saints ever had a long and storied history. They have a history of failure. It would probably be an excellent idea to just give NO an expansion team sometime in the future.

And really, the Browns didnt have much of a positive history either

[Cujo]

And really, the Browns didnt have much of a positive history either

I do believe the Browns have more NFL Championships than the Saints have all-time playoff wins.

[JH42XCC]

Well then, if the Saints can't come back to New Orleans, maybe they should move to Jackson, MS (They got a 62,000+ stadium over there), Mobile, AL, or, heck, maybe even Shreveport, LA (NOTE: either Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile or Independence Stadium in Shreveport would have to be renovated/expanded to accommodate the Saints).

However, "IF", and "WHEN", they "DO" return to New Orleans, which may or may not happen, they might get a new stadium built in time for the 2009 season. They'll probably spend the next season or two at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge while the Superdome, which was damaged by Hurricane Katrina, is being repaired. Anyway, New Orleans will recover from the Katrina disaster, just like America after 9/11, and the Saints will still be New Orleans team. You may never know!

I'm JH42XCC, and I approve this message.

[LMU]

They're not going back. Benson wanted an out, plus they can opt out of the superdome lease after the season. They'll probably play the entire schedule next year in San Antonio, and either get a new stadium built there, or move on to L.A.

[JQK]

The Saints are not going back to New Orleans.

It seems to me the league is hellbent on putting the team in L.A.

They may stay in San Antonio, but I think that's a longshot at best.

2007 will bring the Los Angeles Saints.

[JH42XCC]

Maybe this will change your mind?:

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR FANS IN LOUISIANA AND THE GULF COAST

An open letter to our fans Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, written by Saints Owner Tom Benson. This letter appeared in a full-page ad in Wednesday's editions of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the Baton Rouge Advocate and will appear again in Friday's editions.

OPEN LETTER TO OUR FANS IN LOUISIANA AND THE GULF COAST

TOM BENSON WANTS TO RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS.

I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS, WENT TO SCHOOL AT OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA NEAR ST. ROCH PARK IN THE 8TH WARD, ATTENDED ST. ALOYISOUS HIGH SCHOOL, AND ATTENDED LOYOLA UNIVERSITY. NEW ORLEANS IS MY HOMETOWN.

IT IS MY INTENTION AND GOAL THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL CARRY ON MY LEGACY OF OWNING THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS. BOTH ARE CURRENTLY AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF THE SAINTS. RITA BENSON LEBLANC IS A KEY EXECUTIVE AND HER BROTHER IS A SAINTS ADVISOR AND BOTH ACT AS DIRECTORS.

THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST. HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES, I HAVE MADE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUALLY TO NEW ORLEANS CHARITIES, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE REFUSED LUCRATIVE OFFERS TO SELL THE SAINTS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENCE IN NEW ORLEANS.

HOWEVER, WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE OUR OPERATIONS SINCE FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES TOOK OVER OUR TRAINING FACILITY IN NEW ORLEANS WITHOUT NOTICE OR PERMISSION. THE ONLY OTHER CHOICE WAS TO FORGO THE SEASON.

After reviewing the reports about our team and the abundance of wide-sweeping negative media commentary and columns, I offer this:

NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE TEAM, because no decision has been made about the future of New Orleans. Our city endured one of the worst catastrophes in history and I clearly stated in the days following that it is our desire to be at the table during the rebuilding and revitalization of our city. However, there are many factors that will affect the future of our team, the same factors that will affect the future of many other companies when faced with the decision to return to the city of New Orleans. No one within our organization has offered or made any official comment about what our long term plans are, since the factors that will determine our situation are still unresolved. That is why we have not stated anything publicly, because it is still too early to determine. But my desire is to return to New Orleans.

It must be stated that we and the NFL have made no decision relative to the future of the Saints. It is remarkable that we have been able to continue operating under the circumstances, a testament to our staff and the assistance we have received in San Antonio as well as Baton Rouge.

San Antonio is a city in which I have deep relationships and I am grateful to them for allowing us access to their facilities. We have been displaced, but yet we forge on to represent New Orleans and the region with pride and determination. We have retained nearly 97% of our workforce, many of whom still remain separated from their families.

Our training facilities in New Orleans were utilized by the government for relief efforts. The Superdome has suffered damage that may keep it offline indefinitely. Operating an NFL team requires months of planning and because of that, we need to look at all of the options that are available to our team in the immediate future.

It must be made very clear that the future of our team in New Orleans will be determined by factors that are yet unresolved, such as, economics and facilities, the very issues that we have struggled with prior to Hurricane Katrina.

I am aware that the many comments and speculation coming out of Texas and other places only inflame the emotions of our fans, and rhetoric of the media in New Orleans. Many cities desire an NFL franchise and the politicians of these cities are going to continue to voice this desire. Our own Mayor did a similar thing in leading the campaign to bring the Hornets to New Orleans from Charlotte. Yet, when the subject matter of the Saints arises, comments from our current Mayor are made without a single phone call being placed to our team to check on our plans or to get the facts. If the Saints and Tom Benson were as important to the city as the Mayor of our city has claimed in the recent past, why such harsh comments, when a simple phone call could have saved him from embarrassment.

I take the responsibility of owning this team seriously. I understand that of all the businesses that may never return to New Orleans, the thought and discussion of the Saints not returning to New Orleans is a subject that will garner the most intense scrutiny of the public and media. A direct result of this scrutiny has been the many negative editorials and columns written or said about me. These are from some media people who have never run a company and have no clear understanding of how to run a successful business. In fact, many New Orleans businesses have either moved, permanently closed, or are dramatically downsizing, because of this tragic event. We are one company from New Orleans that has poured its heart and soul into staying afloat and on track. We wish nothing but the best and the speediest recovery for the many businesses and families affected by the hurricane.

In retrospect, I can say that I am very proud of our organization and how we have responded. We did not fold, we did not suspend, we did not downsize, we have continued to operate and represent the city and fans of New Orleans. When the time is right and the factors that are yet unresolved, are resolved, a decision on the future of the team will be made. Until then, we should all work together to find answers to the many questions that remain unanswered in making New Orleans a better city than it was prior to this catastrophe.

Sincerely,

Tom Benson

Owner-New Orleans Saints

I know 'cause I'm also uncertain where the Saints will call home after this year.

[FiddySicks]

2007 will bring the Los Angeles Saints.

Does anyone else see the irony in a name like this?

[LMU]

Maybe this will change your mind?:

NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE TEAM, because no decision has been made about the future of New Orleans.

It's as plain as day that New Orleans will not recover for quite some time, and the team will not wait around for it to. Besides, the whole point of that letter was to make him seem like less of a jackass. It's just propoganda meant for the unrealistic and naive to be given a nonexistant glimmer of hope.

[quantum]

New Orleans will not be getting the Saints back. I agree that they are Los Angeles bound.

Another thing to consider is if the NO mayor turns the city into America's Monte Carlo. Then then is no way in hell the NFL would return.

[TBGKon]

New Orleans will not be getting the Saints back. I agree that they are Los Angeles bound.

Another thing to consider is if the NO mayor turns the city into America's Monte Carlo. Then then is no way in hell the NFL would return.

I'm a bit confused about what you mean by America's Monte Carlo?

My opinion on this subject would be to see the Saints relocate somewhere, whether it be San Antonio or Los Angeles. As much as it would a boost of morale to see the Saints in NOLA, logically it is not the smartest idea. I wish the Saints good luck in finding a new home.

[JQK]

New Orleans will not be getting the Saints back.  I agree that they are Los Angeles bound.

Another thing to consider is if the NO mayor turns the city into America's Monte Carlo.  Then then is no way in hell the NFL would return.

I'm a bit confused about what you mean by America's Monte Carlo?

A gambler's paradise.

[NJTank]

Turning NO into a Gambling mecca may be a great idea to revive the city, the Saints can go but hey need to rebuild the city, and gambling may be the best avenue.