The San Antonio Saints

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:39 pm

State see discussions as negotiating ployAssociated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- State officials say they are not surprised by a report that New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is looking at San Antonio as a possible new home for the team, labeling the threat a bargaining tactic.

Benson recently cut off talks with the state about a new long-term agreement to keep the Saints in New Orleans until after the upcoming season.

"It doesn't surprise us at all that they will be rattling the saber a little bit to bring more tension to the situation," said Doug Thornton, regional vice president of SMG, the company that operates the Superdome. "This is not new. This is what NFL teams do."

In a story in Wednesday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News, Stanley Rosenberg, Benson's attorney and a member of the team's board of directors, said the Saints' owner is interested in moving the team, possibly to San Antonio, his second home.

Rosenberg also met with representatives of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to discuss the possibility of the Saints' moving to Albuquerque, the newspaper reported.

Rosenberg, one of Benson's key negotiators, also said he has received several offers from outside interests to buy the team, including one for more than $1 billion.

When reached Wednesday at his office, Rosenberg declined to comment other than to confirm that the highest offer Benson has received for the team was "for more than $1.2 billion." The Saints also declined comment.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she wasn't surprised the Saints camp raised the possibility of relocation, but she said Louisiana has made a fair offer to Benson. She said she doubts the team can get a better offer elsewhere.

"I still think we offered a great deal to the Saints right now, to Mr. Benson in particular," Blanco said.

The Saints' current agreement, which runs through the 2010 season, includes an exit clause that lets the team leave Louisiana after this season by repaying the $81 million it received during the first four years of the deal. The state can opt out of the deal after the 2007 season.

"We're not going to give them a single legal leg to stand on that would allow the team to leave without paying a penalty," Blanco said. "It's hard for me to predict what their goals are."

The Saints called off negotiations after reviewing a state proposal focused on a $174 million Superdome renovation, with the Saints contributing $40 million, that would increase the team's ability to make money but also reduce the amount of guaranteed income from the state after the renovation is complete.

The state package includes $267 million in guaranteed money for the team, $134 million toward the Dome renovation and an estimated $336 million in additional revenue the Saints could earn after the renovations are complete.

Including the stadium renovation, the state estimates its proposal is worth $737 million from now through the 2025 season.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the Saints have not applied for relocation, the first step in a lengthy procedural process required by the league to move a team. Any proposed relocation by a franchise requires the approval of 75 percent of NFL owners, or 24 of 32 teams.

"We expect the Saints' emphasis to continue to be to negotiate a deal with the state and honor their contract," Aiello said. "All teams, under league rules, must honor their stadium leases." :roll:

The day the league allows San Antonio an NFL before Los Angeles. Will be the same day the Canadian Football League decides to once again expand into the United States.

Funkywhiteboy · Post by **Funkywhiteboy** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:10 am

"San Antonio Saints".
The name makes as much sense as "Utah Jazz". :P

JHawkBCD · Post by **JHawkBCD** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:30 pm

Rack One Nut.

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Thu May 19, 2005 4:55 pm

The Superdome is old and shitty. They need to tear that fuck down and build a retractable roof stadium. Hell any town that gets a Super Bowl as often as we do down here should deserve that much.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu May 19, 2005 5:25 pm

TenTallBen wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty. They need to tear that city the fuck down and flood it. Any city that smalls like stale booze and vomit deserves that much.

FTFY

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:03 pm

$1.2 billion.

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:04 pm

ElvisMonster wrote:$1.2 billion.

Pesos, amigo.

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:23 pm

BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.

That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.

Asshat.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:25 pm

TenTallBen wrote:
BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.
That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.

Asshat.

Yea, and 7,999,999 of them are hookers or clients of hookers.

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:47 pm

BSmack wrote:
TenTallBen wrote:
BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.
That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.

Asshat.
Yea, and 7,999,999 of them are hookers or clients of hookers.

RACK

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:48 pm

BSmack wrote:
TenTallBen wrote:
BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.
That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.

Asshat.
Yea, and 7,999,999 of them are hookers or clients of hookers.

Live in any of these states?

The Top 10 States of origin of all New Orleans Visitors include: California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Georgia, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio

rozy · Post by **rozy** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:08 pm

^^^^That made no contextual sense

Headhunter · Post by **Headhunter** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:18 pm

BSmack wrote:Yea, and 7,999,999 of them are hookers or clients of hookers.

So I'm the only dude who has ever gone to N.O. and not paid a Hooker or tricked my self out?

The fact that I've been there with my wife is disturbing to say the least. Can we just say she's on my payroll, therefore a hooker and never speak of this again? Thanks, fellas. You're the greatest.

ElvisMonster · Post by **ElvisMonster** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:23 pm

Headhunter wrote:So I'm the only dude who has ever gone to N.O. and not paid a Hooker or tricked my self out?

The fact that I've been there with my wife is disturbing to say the least. Can we just say she's on my payroll, therefore a hooker and never speak of this again? Thanks, fellas. You're the greatest.

I proposed to my wife in the Quarter and got married in the Quarter. Love the Big Easy. Fuck off, haters. Never scored a hooker, but my wife and I were invited to a strip club by this chick the night I proposed. Pretty funny story. I'll tell you sometime.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:23 pm

Headhunter wrote:
BSmack wrote:Yea, and 7,999,999 of them are hookers or clients of hookers.
So I'm the only dude who has ever gone to N.O. and not paid a Hooker or tricked my self out?

No.

Talk to Adam if you neecd some help letting out those repressed feelings.

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:11 pm

rozy wrote:^^^^That made no contextual sense

I know but I was just trying to tard it up for BSmegma's little brain.

Hapday · Post by **Hapday** » Fri May 20, 2005 7:47 pm

BSmack wrote:
TenTallBen wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty. They need to tear that city the fuck down and flood it. Any city that smalls like stale booze and vomit deserves that much.
FTFY

You live in Camaromulletville aka Crapchester. Glass houses much?

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri May 20, 2005 8:10 pm

Hapday wrote:
BSmack wrote:
TenTallBen wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty. They need to tear that city the fuck down and flood it. Any city that smalls like stale booze and vomit deserves that much.
FTFY
You live in Camaromulletville aka Crapchester. Glass houses much?

Way to break out that oh so fresh Romey Rome gloss. What's next? Some Aqua Velva resets? :roll:

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:32 pm

TenTallBen wrote:
BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.
That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.

San Antonio has about 20 million, according to their CVB.

TenTallBen · Post by **TenTallBen** » Sun May 22, 2005 4:54 am

RadioFan wrote:
TenTallBen wrote:
BSmack wrote:New Orleans is old and shitty.
That's why they have about 8 million visitors annually.
San Antonio has about 20 million, according to their CVB.

Link?

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:06 pm

http://www.sanantoniocvb.com/business/new_research.asp

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:37 pm

The league will never allow it. Its Los Angeles,or nothing.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:24 pm

Saints are going nowhere

Look for Vikes or Chargers to move to LA, so they can sell out 1/2 of the stadium, but boast about being 1 of biggest markets in US.

:roll:

Joe in PB · Post by **Joe in PB** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:53 am

A NFL team moving to LA has nothing to do with season ticket sales. It's all about having a team in the #2 TV market when the league negotiates it's broadcasting rights. If LA's TV market value was that of Portland’s, the league wouldn't even consider moving a team back.

KC Scott · Post by **KC Scott** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:39 am

Joe in PB wrote:A NFL team moving to LA has nothing to do with season ticket sales. It's all about having a team in the #2 TV market when the league negotiates it's broadcasting rights.

Bingo.

This is laughable.

Other than SWB, I can't think of any fortune 500 companies that HQ in SA. Why is that important? Who do you think is gonna buy the luxury boxes - Pedro's lawn care?

The mean income of SA can't be much higher than 12K either. Not thinking your gonna find 60K of them to buy PSLs and season tix.

Benson and the aint's even suck at bullshit.

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:41 am