Saints owner says he will not return to Baton Rouge

I say ... you're not welcome

Published on November 3, 2005 By just john In Football

To my knowledge, Louisiana is the only state that pays for our football team. You got it; we PAY for a team as wonderful as the Saints to play in our fair state.

Prior to the hurricanes Tom Benson was trying to renegotiate his contract to get a new stadium. He has the freaking Super Dome and he wanted Louisiana's citizens to pay for a new stadium. He clearly has his own agendas.

"I will not return to Baton Rouge for any reason, including any games scheduled for the end of this season or a contemplated next season," Benson said in the e-mail. "No person, much less the owner of NFL team, should have either he, his family or his friends subjected to this form of danger, intimidation and abuse. I was advised not to go but wanted to support the League."Link

I have seen video and still images from his exit and I am wondering how many more state troopers he needed to feel safe. These comments are from a scared man who knows that the devoted fans will not stand for him walking away from LA. The people of LA have supported him and his team for many years in the hopes that one day they might actually find a way to not disappoint us.

I say good riddens! Get out! Don't come back and see if we care. What have you brought to Louisiana other than heart ache and a hefty bill for it?

Comments

Gideon MacLeish

on Nov 03, 2005

Actually, no, the majority of pro sports stadiums are publicly financed.

And the Green Bay Packers are actually OWNED by the community, which means they couldn't even CONSIDER moving unless the team were sold, which would lead to the impeachment of not a few officials throughout the state of Wisconsin. An ownership model which, as a sidenote, is actually against the rules for the rest of the NFL at this point, but which the rest of the NFL would do well to study unless they want to start putting wheels under stadiums so that they can be moved to their new cities at season's end.

just john

on Nov 03, 2005

Actually, no, the majority of pro sports stadiums are publicly financed.

I was repeating an earlier news account I had seen. Maybe, I don't have all of my facts there.

Unfortunately, that doesn't change my opinion. I would be happy to see them move on. They offer no substantial value to LA.

Dr Guy

on Nov 03, 2005

Guess he thinks he is Al Davis.

[ed]

on Nov 03, 2005

As an LSU student and a volunteer for the organization working the First Aid stations - I'd be perfectly happy if the Saints didn't bother showing up Sunday. The crowds are rude and abnoxious. The Saints suck (in all honesty, the Tigers could beat the Saints), and they are tearing up our field.

But I guess it allows N.O. residents to come see 'their Saints'.

just john

on Nov 04, 2005

The Saints suck (in all honesty, the Tigers could beat the Saints), and they are tearing up our field.

True and I can imagine the additional wear and tear on the field can not be good.

But I guess it allows N.O. residents to come see 'their Saints'.

That is an interesting statement, 'their Saints'. I have long felt that the Saints were not representative of the state. They have always seemed to hold themselves separate from the rest of the state. I say November 29th is too far off. If Tom Benson wants to go to San Antonio (or anywhere else), let him go.

When an owner has more concern for his bottom line, while having a team that can't perform, he needs to go.

The New Orleans Saints offer no value to Louisiana. The team is lousy. Maybe, if they go somewhere else they will have to earn the respect of the fans. It could be a winning situation for all.

Thanks for stopping by Ed.

just john

on Nov 04, 2005

Actually, no, the majority of pro sports stadiums are publicly financed.

I knew that I had heard the team was being subsidized.

In New Orleans, Saints owner Tom Benson is getting $186 million in subsidies from Louisiana to keep his NFL team in town through 2010. But for Benson, that's not good enough. He wants a new stadium. There are various escape clauses in the Benson-Louisiana deal that could make Benson and his Saints free agents in 2006.Link

That's 186 million paid over 10 years to a team of historical loosers. What a shame.

But hey! That's 186 million that didn't go directly in some politicians pocket.

Community AT Work

on Nov 05, 2005

Let him go and give him a I love N.O> t-shirt while he is at it.

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