New Orleans Saints

[VonErich Lives]

Yeah, giving this a seperate thread.

The owner has wanted to move the team, the NFL has been desperate to get a team in Los Angeles.

Now, rather then playing a home game near the fan base, the NFL moves the game to NJ.

There's a guy on sports radio now (not sure which show), saying the NFL is profitering. That the NFL moved that game to NJ because they could make more money.

The talk is after that they'll play at LSU, but no one knows for sure.

So, is the nfl taking advantage of the situation?

[MoRcHeEbA]

I heard they might make them play everygame on the road. Which would suck even more. I'm sure quite a few of the guys don't even live in New Orleans year round but it would be nice if they gave them an actual home this year if they can't play in the superdome. Let them play in LA or San Antonio.

[road doggy dogg]

The Senator of Louisiana is pissed about it, he's trying to keep the team there

[FearedSanctity]

Yeah, the Louisiana Senator was told by someone from the team that Tom Benson is considering moving the Saints here to San Antonio permenantly. The Alamodome is pretty weak though, but SA does kinda want a team, so I think it could work. Not better than if they moved to Los Angeles, but it could work.


I'll try to find the article

[FearedSanctity]

Saints may move to San Antonio
Senator urges Benson to delay his decision

By Robert Travis Scott
Capital bureau

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is leaning strongly toward moving the Saints permanently to San Antonio following the devastation to the city and the Superdome by Hurricane Katrina, a state senator who has spoken with a top team official said Saturday.

Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, said he spoke with Saints' chief of administration Arnold Fielkow by phone Friday morning about Benson's potential plans.

Team officials could not be reached Saturday. The team had previously announced it was looking for a new home for the current season, and San Antonio was one of the options.

Michot said he was told that Benson has not made a final decision, but the owner is serious about moving once and for all to San Antonio. "We may lose them permanently," Michot said.

A possible move by the team is a "huge concern" among a few state officials who have become aware of it, but every significant political figure in the state is preoccupied with reacting to the storm aftermath.

State officials want to convince Benson to delay a decision so that the state can focus on the rescue and rehabilitation effort and later find a way to keep the Saints at home in New Orleans.

"This is like pouring salt into the wound," Michot said.

Michot said decency dictates that Benson should postpone any decision on a permanent move until state officials have had a chance to talk with him.
"Give us time," Michot said.
Another state official confirmed a similar conversation with Fielkow.

Michot is the vice chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, a key committee for legislation related to state agreement with the Saints.
He said that in the long run the Saints might be better off staying in New Orleans because a revived city with national support could provide a better stadium.


http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09.html#076761

[Ninti the Mad]

COME ON SA

[Rain Man]

They should just play at LSU, could make good money especially with college kids right there.

[AareDub]

Yes, make money off of broke ass college students.

Seriously though, we don't need another team in Texas. Well actually, if we bring in the Saints to Dallas maybe we could send the Cowboys to L.A.

[Rain Man]

They would never send the Cowboys to LA? The DALLAS Cowboys is one of the biggest franchises in the NFL, that would be fucking stupid to send them to LA

[BCWWF]

How long has the Superdome been around?

[DaveWadding]

They would never send the Cowboys to LA? The DALLAS Cowboys is one of the biggest franchises in the NFL, that would be fucking stupid to send them to LA

You mean as fucking stupid as you for believing that he was serious??

[Ninti the Mad]

Yeah, the Louisiana Senator was told by someone from the team that Tom Benson is considering moving the Saints here to San Antonio permenantly. The Alamodome is pretty weak though, but SA does kinda want a team, so I think it could work. Not better than if they moved to Los Angeles, but it could work.


I'll try to find the article


Alamodome weak. LOL

It seats 60k people.

[VonErich Lives]

The Saints will probably sell out wherever they go because people will view it as a way to support tje area.

The main issue isn't seat capacity, it's luxury boxes.

As for a move to SA, that's been mentioned, but it's more likely the team would be sold and moved to LA, CA. The NFL has been desperate to put a team back their since the Rams left.

I wouldn't ever see the Cowboys going anywhere, that being said... If Jones thinks he could make a lot more money, nothing would suprise me. He's one of the best owners in the league when it comes to making money.

[RoXer]

Saints exploring options for home games
/ Associated Press
Posted: 11 hours ago

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Forced to find a new place to play their home games, the New Orleans Saints would prefer to play close to home.

The Saints said Sunday three options are being considered: LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La; the Alamodome in San Antonio or at the stadiums of all their opponents.

From general manager Mickey Loomis to coach Jim Haslett to star receiver Joe Horn, the entire organization seems to want to relocate to Baton Rouge, which is only about 75 miles from New Orleans yet did not sustain anywhere near the kind of damage from Hurricane Katrina that ruined the Superdome.

"If we can uplift anyone, obviously that's worthwhile to us," Loomis said. "We're representatives of the people of Louisiana and the people of New Orleans."

However, Loomis said, "We would like to play our games in Baton Rouge. Obviously, the league has a lot of say. They'll be involved in the decision."

The team has moved its day-to-day operations to San Antonio and will begin practicing in the area Monday.

Loomis, Haslett and Horn all agreed staying there and playing games in the Alamodome would be better than having play all 16 games on the road. The Saints already are down for nine as NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has moved their home opener to Giants Stadium, home of their foe, the New York Giants.

Still, their top choice is being in Louisiana, something Horn took to heart after spending about three hours Saturday visiting with displaced residents at the Astrodome.

"After talking to all the people yesterday I know that the fans want us to be as close as possible, so LSU would be the best choice," he said.

The Saints open Sunday at Carolina, then play at Giants Stadium on a date to be announced. Their third game is at Minnesota, so the first game still in flux is Oct. 2 against Buffalo.

Haslett said NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue "put us behind the eight ball" with the decision to play at the Meadowlands in Week 2.

Club officials and players are living in a hotel across the interstate from the Alamodome and will be practicing at the San Antonio Independent School District's Spring Sports Complex, which was upgraded several years ago when the Dallas Cowboys trained in the city. The Saints practiced there last year while taking refuge from another hurricane.

Loomis said Sunday the Saints are planning to keep their temporary headquarters and practices in San Antonio all season, regardless of where they end up playing their home games.

Everyone involved in the organization, and their families, fled New Orleans a few days before Katrina hit. It was evident soon after the storm that the Superdome wouldn't be available for this season.

Tiger Stadium holds almost 92,000, although there might be issues of whether the turf can handle LSU games on Saturdays and Saints games on Sundays.

The Alamodome is about 540 miles from the Superdome, making it more difficult for fans to reach. However, Texas is now filled with roughly 250,000 Louisiana refugees, including about 25,000 in San Antonio at Kelly USA, a former military base.

Several coaches and players visited Kelly on Sunday. Loomis said the first person their caravan came across was a former team employee whose son now works for the organization. The man was taken back to the team hotel, where he was to be reunited with his son. Their names were not immediately released.

The Alamodome seats about 60,000 for football and has only a few dozen of the moneymaking luxury suites teams crave, part of the reason the nation's eighth-largest city has never been a serious candidate for getting a team via expansion or relocation.

Loomis also announced that the team is creating a relief fund for the hurricane victims. He said Saints owner Tom Benson and his family would make the first donation.

"We are still the New Orleans Saints," Loomis said. "Our commitment to our city is stronger than ever. We want to be on the forefront of rebuilding our city. We'll play this season with the same toughness and resiliency of the people of New Orleans."

[Joey Slugs]

How long has the Superdome been around?

<table class="infobox" style="width: 20em;"> <tbody><tr><td>Location</td> <td>1500 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana) 70112</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Broke ground</td> <td>August 11 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_11), 1971 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Opened</td> <td>August 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_3), 1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Closed</td> <td>Open</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Demolished</td> <td>N/A</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Owner</td> <td>Louisiana Stadium/Expo District</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Operator</td> <td>Spectacor Management Group</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Surface</td> <td>concrete (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete) based multi-purpose floor, AstroTurf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AstroTurf) non-footbal related events, and FieldTurf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FieldTurf) American Football (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Football) playing surface</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Construction Cost</td> <td>$134 million USD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Architect</td> <td>Huber, Hunt & Nichols</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" colspan="2">Former names</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">N/A</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" colspan="2">Tenants</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">New Orleans Saints (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Saints) (NFL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL)) (1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975)–Present)
Sugar Bowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Bowl) (NCAA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA)) (1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975)–Present)
Tulane Green Wave (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tulane_Green_Wave&action=edit) (NCAA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA)) (1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975)–Present)
New Orleans Jazz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Jazz) (NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA)) (1975 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975)–1979 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979))
New Orleans Breakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Breakers) (USFL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USFL)) (1984 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984))</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(239, 239, 239) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" colspan="2">Seating capacity</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">72,003 Football (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Football)
55,675 Basketball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball)
63,525 Baseball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball)</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[Crimson]

I would love an NFL team here in L.A ..but with all respect to the Saints, God bless their souls..they stink. But it would seem more realistic than an expansion team...i don't think the NFL will expand for a long while.

[Joey Slugs]

I never understood the reason on why Los Angeles HAS to have a football team. Fucking city couldn't hold on to the two teams it did have.

Move the Ain'ts to San Antonio for the year and, if they have to, for good. They are already keeping their offices and holding team pratices there for the season, reguardless of where they play their games. It only makes sense. LSU's field wont be able to withstand a college game on saturday and then a NFL game on sunday.

Plus, most of the people from New Orleans are already in Texas. It will give them some sense of home while they are stranded there.

[Rain Man]

Yo Wadding suck my dick

[The Miz]

I never understood the reason on why Los Angeles HAS to have a football team. Fucking city couldn't hold on to the two teams it did have.

Do you have any clue what you are talking about?

If so, please type a detailed report on specifically what Los Angeles did to lose the Rams and the Raiders.

[Gonzo]

I doubt the Saints move to LA. The city has already stated that if a team were to move to LA they wouldn't help to build a new stadium because the Coliseum is old and teams wouldn't want to play there.

[BCWWF]

I am with 777 though, from a fans standpoint I kind of like not having a team in LA. Obviously the only reason to move to LA is money based though, so what we think doesn't matter.

[VonErich Lives]

They never lost the Raiders, Davis made what he felt was a better deal, and also sometimes does things just to show the NFL he can do what he wants.

As for the Rams, there's a lot of questions as to why they moved and should they have moved.

LA is a huge TV market, and the NFL feels they are missing out on money by not being their, even if it simply means taking an NFL team that doesn't sell out and move them there where they will probably sell out and get a big following.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

LA has a bunch of fake ass fans though, I hope they never get a team.

[Lotus]

The Saints could never play in New Orleans again. Place might never be a city again, so they better start looking for some long-term options, like past this year. I think San Antonio would be the perfect place for them, even though there are already two NFL teams in Texas.

[Lotus]

LA has a bunch of fake ass fans though, I hope they never get a team.

Word up. Amen. That's the truth.

[MoRcHeEbA]

LA has a bunch of fake ass fans though, I hope they never get a team.

*cough Boston cough*

[AlphaBean]

Move the Aints to Utah, just to laugh even more at those nawleansers. :lol:

PS: Boston fans aren't fake fans. MN fans are. :(

[The Miz]

*cough Boston cough*

lol yeah, Red Sox and Yankees are tied for the lead in most fake fans

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Toledo.... we need revenue...

[Joey Slugs]

LA has a bunch of fake ass fans though, I hope they never get a team.

:y:

[Joey Slugs]

Do you have any clue what you are talking about?

If so, please type a detailed report on specifically what Los Angeles did to lose the Rams and the Raiders.
Here's my details asshole....

The Raiders moved to Oakland and the Rams moved to St. Louis.

Nothing else needs to be said.

LA DOESN'T NEED A TEAM.

[OssMan]

LOL, nice, they are gonna broadcast Saints/Giants nationwide. Sweet it sucks though for people in LA and NY, can't see the regular Monday Night game

[The Miz]

Ok, just clarifying that you don't know what you're talking about. I was right.

Might wanna do a check up on how many times the Raiders moved to Oakland, also

[Lotus]

Yeah, Raiders only moved once to Oakland. Started there, then moved back there. 2 more days, fuckers!

[AlphaBean]

Here's my details asshole....

The Raiders moved to Oakland (a few times) and the Rams moved to St. Louis.

Nothing else needs to be said.

LA DOESN'T NEED A TEAM.

Remember when the Colts moved to Indy, and the Browns moved to Baltimore?

Cause you know, both times they were cases of the city "not deserving a team." Right?

[Joey Slugs]

Remember when the Colts moved to Indy, and the Browns moved to Baltimore?

Cause you know, both times they were cases of the city "not deserving a team." Right?

Did I ever say that LA (or any other city for that matter) didn't deserve a team? No. Thanks for playing asshole.

My point is: (and listen up Miz, you fucking child) Los Angeles isn't the end all and be all of NFL cities. They have had 2 teams already and they both moved out. For whatever reason it was, they did. I'm not looking it up and I hate the fucking Raiders anyways.

If LA was such a holy grail of cities, wouldn't they have a new team already? They talk about the Chargers moving there, the Seahawks, even the fucking Colts at one point were linked with moving to LA. No of it happened. Why? All the teams got a new stadium deal.

Seems like the only thing LA has to do with the NFL now is that teams will threaten to move there in order to get a new stadium built where they already are.

And what team would want to play in the Coliseum? It's a piece of shit.

Like I said, the Saints are better off staying in San Antonio for good. The city has wanted a team for awhile now, and the Alamodome would be a good start until they got a new deal in place. The people are already there and they would have a good fan base to start with.

And as the reports are coming in, it seems like the Saints wont be able to go back to New Orleans at all.... it might not be a city anymore once the water is drained.

[The Miz]

My point is: (and listen up Miz, you fucking child)

I'm listening.

Los Angeles isn't the end all and be all of NFL cities.
That's definately true. No one said that so I don't know why you're bringing it up, but it's still true.

They have had 2 teams already and they both moved out.
Yeah they did, do you know why?

For whatever reason it was, they did.
No? Oh well, maybe you will attempt to educate yourself.

I'm not looking it up and I hate the fucking Raiders anyways.
Uhhh awesome. So you don't want to research the subjec because "you hate the Raiders anyways". What does your hate of the Raiders have to do with anything? I hate the San Francisco 49ers but that doesn't stop me from reasearching them if the subject is something interesting. I hate the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim but I'm curious as to why they changed their name, and I found out.

You are very adamant about your feelings on this subject which is why it's surprising that you know nothing about it and don't care to research it. Do you think it's possible that it's not always the city's fault when a team moves? Because it is. Do you think that people weren't going to the games? Because they were.

Know what you're talking about next time.

[VonErich Lives]

*cough Boston cough*

explain this one?

The funny thing about LA is how few people actually seem to be from LA out there.

When I lived there I went to a Sox v. Angels game and wore a Ted Johnson Patriots jersey and people were high fiving me in the parking lot and none of them were born in LA.

[Joey Slugs]

Do you think it's possible that it's not always the city's fault when a team moves? Because it is.

And did I blame the city for the Rams and the Raiders leaving? No.

They still don't need a city. Now back to the San Antonio Saints........

[VonErich Lives]

Well, cnn is reporting that the Superdome is going to be torn down as a saftey issue or something.

So, looks like they're homeless.

[VonErich Lives]

ok Miz, just to see what I remember... let me know if I'm off...

On the raiders, besides "Al being Al", in Oakland they offered a stadium with all the luxury boxes already sold, ie: incomg ready and waiting.

In LA they were going to build a new stadium, but it was up to AL to sell the boxes to make back the income to pay for the stadium. I know that wasn't the only issue, but that was Al's main issue in going to Oakland.

I believe there was also an issue of the NFL possible wanting a 2nd team to play in the new stadium and the new stadium to host a certain number of superbowls neither of which Al wanted.

As for the Rams, I believe it was also another stadium issue, combined with the owner (damn, forgot her name) getting a lot of money to go to St Louis.... I could be off on the Rams or there may have been other issues.

[Joey Slugs]

Well, cnn is reporting that the Superdome is going to be torn down as a saftey issue or something.

So, looks like they're homeless.

They are going to tear up the entire city. There will be no New Orleans for the team to go home to anyway.

:wavesad:

[AlphaBean]

LOL, the Saints maybe can play football on a boat.

[VonErich Lives]

LOL, the Saints maybe can play football on a boat.

Sean penn has one, just gotta be able to bail fast.

[AlphaBean]

LOL@Sean Penn. I bet he's gonna try selling the documentary of his trip to Nawleans and try getting an Oscar for it. He is such a fuck. I bet he avoided all of the houses with sick, elderly, beligerent people, and other "dangerous" situations.

Honestly... going down there with your own camera crew? If I was in desperate need of being rescued, I'd sure as fuck not want someone to videotape it. Me at my most vulnerable. Great. All for self-agrandizing. I hope a looter tries to steal Sean Penn's camera. That would be awesome.

[YOUR Hero]

Come on, if New Orleans losses the Saints, this Benson dude will die. Actually I would bet Bush or some act of Congress would prevent him from moving it permanently, given the circumstances.