Keep the Saints in NO

[jkrdevil]

Here's the thing, and I have said it before and will say it again. The Saints were going to move anyways. If they do move they are not going to get a Cleveland deal because Cleveland was a unique situation where the NFL it could expand beck their quickly once a new stadium was in place and it be a success.

However this is not the case with New Orleans. Before Katrina the Saints needed a new stadium and couldn't get it. Certainly the Saints can't get a new stadium now.

Unlike Cleveland the Saints had poor fan support. The Saints in 2004 only sold 87.9, going by percentages that is the 4th lowest total in the NFL. On top of that New Oleans was the 43rd tv market in the country. Both San Antonio and LA rank higher than that. Before Hurricane Katrina the Saints were on the short list of teams that were rumored to move. Givin the fact that the City is now a mess buisnesses and people probably won't be coming back, the city will drop in the TV market rankings and it will be even harder to sell out games (which means blackouts and lower ratings). New orlenas won't be getting another team at all. It was a thin market to begin with.

[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.

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

There have been some discussions about building casinos to help revitalize the city. Some have gone as far as creating a city that caters to high rollers. The city was already considered as the most european city in the US. If it were transformed into a playground for the world's richest, it would certainly kill any pro team being placed there.

[Saint Zephyr III]

Look, as a lifelong Saints fan, I honestly believe that the "Cleveland" deal is the best and cleanest route that the team and Benson can take.

Honestly, if the franchise of the Saints leaves New Orleans, then it honestly is a punch in the gut to the city that has gone through hell and back. Sure, the city wasn't the number one TV market, but do you honestly thank that the NFL is going to completely abandoned New Orleans, home of eight wonderful Super Bowls? And in regards to fan support, yes, it was just about to get in a real funk, but the city was still behind them with an impressive 35-game sellout streak at the Superdome, during which was filled with mediocrity and a better record. Besides, we Saints fans have been through all the turmoil of nearly four decades of trauma, loss, heartache, and absolute failure. Through that type of mindless and heartfilled loyalty and diehard nature, they can't take away the SAINTS from New Orleans.

I understand the situation, and I do have a deal that logical and effective. So Benson moves the team, fine, I understand the situation. Yet I believe that the whole state would, and most likely will, force the NFL to make a "Cleveland" deal, keeping the identity and history, no matter how terrible, in the city of New Orleans. However, it wouldn't be an immediate addition of a team, with the situation with the Superdome and the state of the city, not to mention that the league really doesn't what such an out-of-place number as 33 throwing off the division alignments. So the deal should be in the form of an "expansion card", meaning when the next slate of expansion in the NFL occurs (most likely 2020, give or take five years), when the city will be fully recovered and the Superdome revamped, New Orleans would have an automatic spot on the expansion chart. While we Saints fans will unfortunately have to go through more than a decade without our team, the identity and the franchise can start anew while San Antonio/Los Angeles (insert name) carries on whatever road they take. Even if they move to San Antonio (c'mon, I live here and this town REALLY deserves a NFL team), I would still want the identity to remain in the Crescent City.

That's at least my solution...I just don't want the SAINTS of New Orleans leaving my homeland. We've poured our hearts in this team...the recovery of the city is hampered without them. They are a curse at times, but they are truly a blessing. Please Tagliabue...don't take the identity, I assure you you won't regret it.

[The_Admiral]

The Saints have a cool logo and color scheme. I don't think it should be retired for 15 years. Also, what case would the city of New Orleans have to retain the identity?

[Saint Zephyr III]

Well, sentimental nature from the league, a diehard fanbase, and an always-dependable Super Bowl site. Plus, both the mayor of New Orleans and the governer of Louisiana have stated they want a similar deal, so the state would have political backing. I just hope they just go for an expansion card when the next slew of expansion teams come around, and not force the NFL to automatically add a team.

[quantum]

Since the Saints were on their way out of town anyway, I really don't see a compelling argument for giving them the "Cleveland" deal. Plus, the league should find out how the city will rebound. Many people will never return. And the state has more important issues to tackle than waste money on litigation to force the team to stay.

[The_Admiral]

WE CANNOT LET LOS ANGELES HAVE OUR LEGACY OF ONE PLAYOFF WIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

WE NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED THE CLEEEEEEVELAND DEALLLLLLL

WHO DEY THINK GON STEAL OUR SAINTS

[Lee.]

Yipe.

I'm agreement with pretty much everyone else here. The Saints need to play elsewhere.

The city is a shambles, and somehow I don't think that all these people trying to rebuild will think it's necessary to shell out $200 to go see the 2-6 Saints take on the Cardinals. Call me crazy on that one.

Take the Cleveland deal, by all means. I will mourn the loss of the Saints, I always had a soft spot for the loveable losers (I'm a Cubs fan too, so I know what it's like). But let the NFL take them to LA, rename them the Condors, and be done with it all.

Please.

[FiddySicks]

Ive got a good feeling the Saints will be back in New Orleans sometime in the somewhat near future. If thats by way of expansion in five years, thatll be it then.

[Cujo]

But let the NFL take them to LA, rename them the Condors, and be done with it all.

Surely they can come up with something better than "Condors".

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the Xtreme.

[jkrdevil]

Look, as a lifelong Saints fan, I honestly believe that the "Cleveland" deal is the best and cleanest route that the team and Benson can take.

Honestly, if the franchise of the Saints leaves New Orleans, then it honestly is a punch in the gut to the city that has gone through hell and back. Sure, the city wasn't the number one TV market, but do you honestly thank that the NFL is going to completely abandoned New Orleans, home of eight wonderful Super Bowls? And in regards to fan support, yes, it was just about to get in a real funk, but the city was still behind them with an impressive 35-game sellout streak at the Superdome, during which was filled with mediocrity and a better record. Besides, we Saints fans have been through all the turmoil of nearly four decades of trauma, loss, heartache, and absolute failure. Through that type of mindless and heartfilled loyalty and diehard nature, they can't take away the SAINTS from New Orleans.

I understand the situation, and I do have a deal that logical and effective. So Benson moves the team, fine, I understand the situation. Yet I believe that the whole state would, and most likely will, force the NFL to make a "Cleveland" deal, keeping the identity and history, no matter how terrible, in the city of New Orleans. However, it wouldn't be an immediate addition of a team, with the situation with the Superdome and the state of the city, not to mention that the league really doesn't what such an out-of-place number as 33 throwing off the division alignments. So the deal should be in the form of an "expansion card", meaning when the next slate of expansion in the NFL occurs (most likely 2020, give or take five years), when the city will be fully recovered and the Superdome revamped, New Orleans would have an automatic spot on the expansion chart. While we Saints fans will unfortunately have to go through more than a decade without our team, the identity and the franchise can start anew while San Antonio/Los Angeles (insert name) carries on whatever road they take. Even if they move to San Antonio (c'mon, I live here and this town REALLY deserves a NFL team), I would still want the identity to remain in the Crescent City.

That's at least my solution...I just don't want the SAINTS of New Orleans leaving my homeland. We've poured our hearts in this team...the recovery of the city is hampered without them. They are a curse at times, but they are truly a blessing. Please Tagliabue...don't take the identity, I assure you you won't regret it.

A 35 game Sellout streak in the NFL isn't impressive at all. The Redskins have sold out for the last 35 years. And how can they have a 35 game sellout streak when they their attendance last year was an avaerage of 87% capacity last year?

And how is the city going to force the league into a Cleveland Deal? The city of Cleveland had a lease with the team for the stadium. The Browns had to break it in order to move. That's how Cleveland forced the NFL into a Cleveland Deal. Although I don't know if they forced he NFL, as much as the NFL forced Cleveland to build a new stadium.

[RickV]

The Saints fans today were quite impressive.....Booing a team they "cant bear to lose" frequently during the game, and leaving en masse with 10 minutes to go in the game and the Saints down by only 12 points. Very touching.

[JH42XCC]

So, who's joining my crusade to keep the Saints in New Orleans?

[IceCap]

So, who's joining my crusade to keep the Saints in New Orleans?

other hopeless dreamers who can't see the reality of things.

[JH42XCC]

So, who's joining my crusade to keep the Saints in New Orleans?

other hopeless dreamers who can't see the reality of things.

Well, whatever you say my man!

[LMU]

So, who's joining my crusade to keep the Saints in New Orleans?

other hopeless dreamers who can't see the reality of things.

So true.

[yh]

The economic reality of this situation is that, like him or not, Benson is the owner of the Saints and the Saints are a business. That business was based in a city that is now a shadow of what it once was and there is no reasonable means of forecasting when it will be back to the condition it was in immediately prior to the landfall of Katrina. Accordingly, he has a right, if not out and out obligation to his team and everyone who relies on that team for a living, to make a decision on where he wants to continue operating that team. If he decides to go back to New Orleans, he'll most certainly have to use an interim stadium until the Superdome can be rehabbed or a new facility built. Additionally, there's very little chance that he'll be able to draw the number of people he was drawing in the past and there's even less of a chance that he'll be able to draw the same amount of corporate dollars he was drawing before. Accordingly, he's going to take a decent sized financial loss for the foreseeable future and possibly never get back to where he was earlier this year (which, by the way, wasn't so great to begin with). Alternatively, he can choose to move the business to a location where he feels he will be able to build a new fan base, a new base of corporate support and where the league would find a large television audience. He won't have to risk wondering if the fans will come back and he won't have to deal with the backlash that he will undoubtedly face for even entertaining the notion of relocating the team.

Frankly, it's a no-brainer. Benson's going to move the team in the interest of protecting his business interests in both the short and long terms and the NFL (which is controlled by businessmen) is going to let him do it.

It is simply unrealistic to expect that Benson should imperil his business interests and essentially gamble the long term welfare of his team and his investment in same in order to uphold some kind of civic duty. New Orleans needs to concentrate on rehabilitating its essential physical and public service infrastructure first, then concentrate on its sports venues and teams.

[Cyclopsis Joe]

But let the NFL take them to LA, rename them the Condors, and be done with it all.

Surely they can come up with something better than "Condors".

Personally, I'd like to see the return of the Xtreme.

Hey Shane, didn't recognize you.

[RickV]

The economic reality of this situation is that, like him or not, Benson is the owner of the Saints and the Saints are a business. That business was based in a city that is now a shadow of what it once was and there is no reasonable means of forecasting when it will be back to the condition it was in immediately prior to the landfall of Katrina. Accordingly, he has a right, if not out and out obligation to his team and everyone who relies on that team for a living, to make a decision on where he wants to continue operating that team. If he decides to go back to New Orleans, he'll most certainly have to use an interim stadium until the Superdome can be rehabbed or a new facility built. Additionally, there's very little chance that he'll be able to draw the number of people he was drawing in the past and there's even less of a chance that he'll be able to draw the same amount of corporate dollars he was drawing before. Accordingly, he's going to take a decent sized financial loss for the foreseeable future and possibly never get back to where he was earlier this year (which, by the way, wasn't so great to begin with). Alternatively, he can choose to move the business to a location where he feels he will be able to build a new fan base, a new base of corporate support and where the league would find a large television audience. He won't have to risk wondering if the fans will come back and he won't have to deal with the backlash that he will undoubtedly face for even entertaining the notion of relocating the team.

Frankly, it's a no-brainer. Benson's going to move the team in the interest of protecting his business interests in both the short and long terms and the NFL (which is controlled by businessmen) is going to let him do it.

It is simply unrealistic to expect that Benson should imperil his business interests and essentially gamble the long term welfare of his team and his investment in same in order to uphold some kind of civic duty. New Orleans needs to concentrate on rehabilitating its essential physical and public service infrastructure first, then concentrate on its sports venues and teams.

Excellent post, you and Brian in Boston are terrific, knowledgable, posters. Keep up the good work.

[Saint Zephyr III]

I have had some time to consider the issue, and have thought more on it in regards to a couple of scenarios.

Despite the situation with New Orleans, it seems that Tagliabue and the NFL do not want to abandoned the city and Louisiana as a whole. Be it an honest tie to the region, a good presentation of the NFL's response to Katrina, or merely hiding some true wishes, this is at least a positive sign to the fate of the displaced Saints.

Yet Benson, as previously mentioned, is a business man and the Saints are a business. And while the organization may end up getting financial support from the state and the league itself, he knows well enough that the Saints would be in a major funk either way. So I don't know what he'll do...he may continue to remain in the region, though it is possible for him to move to S.A...

As for the situation in S.A., recent official moves in the front office have almost indicated that Benson most certainly has an interest in the Alamo City. The fan response has been phemonmenal...I went to the Buffalo game and you could feel the entire community showing its support for this team. And in that Falcons game, in a sold-out 65,562 Alamodome, the response to the Saints mishaps were not of anger or booing, dissappointment surely, but they still have an underlying graditude and fandom to the team. I just know the fate of the Saints are going to involve San Antonio, be it a split-schedule with L.S.U., a temporary home base for a few years, or perhaps a permanent relocation.

And while I will have some dissappointment if the Saints do in fact move from New Orleans, I'd rather it be in a reasonable area that honestly can support a NFL team. I would never forgive the NFL if they used the Saints as a tool for an undeserving city like Los Angeles. However, it would be a shame that after fourty years of diehard fan service that's borderline insane (at least the insanity of Raider fans have paid off in three Super Bowl wins) that the Saints would leave would be a terrible burden.