Kori Ellis
09-13-2005, 12:41 AM
Spurs welcome the arrival of the Saints
Web Posted: 09/13/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA091305.4D.saints.spurs.d82d4dc.html
As an organization, the NBA champion Spurs have welcomed the New Orleans Saints to their territory, proud of the community for doing the right thing for a team displaced from its home by Hurricane Katrina.
Now that they know the Saints will play three regular-season games at the Alamodome, in addition to making San Antonio their home base while New Orleans is rebuilt after Katrina's devastation, the Spurs wish them every success, on and off the field.
"In light of what amounts to a national disaster, we, as a city, are doing the right thing to have them here and help them out as they try to put the pieces of their lives back together," Spurs executive vice-president for business operations Russ Bookbinder said. "I think it's the right thing to do.
"I'm real happy and proud of our city that we can do that. We have the facilities to do it and the ability to do it, and I think it's a great gesture."
The Spurs never have had to share the city with another major-league pro sports franchise, though there have been brief appearances by leagues other than the NFL, from the Canadian Football League to the United States Football League.
Bookbinder said it was premature to speculate on the city's ability to support two major sports franchises.
"I think a lot of that's hypothetical," Bookbinder said of speculation, on both sides of the question. "A significant amount of research would have to be done for me to make a comment."
The Spurs have fared well at the gate since moving from the Alamodome to the SBC Center, but Bookbinder said it was not without a lot of effort from the team's marketing staff.
"It is not an easy task, year in and year out, even with the product that we have," Bookbinder said, noting the Spurs have won three NBA championships since 1999. "We work very hard to keep our ticket sales intact."
The Saints deserve the support of the community this season, Bookbinder said, and the games here will give the thousands of evacuees who remain in San Antonio a sense of community.
"You have a lot of displaced people from New Orleans and that whole Gulf Coast area," he said. "It's a great opportunity for them, and all the people that want to support this team that's in need."
Web Posted: 09/13/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA091305.4D.saints.spurs.d82d4dc.html
As an organization, the NBA champion Spurs have welcomed the New Orleans Saints to their territory, proud of the community for doing the right thing for a team displaced from its home by Hurricane Katrina.
Now that they know the Saints will play three regular-season games at the Alamodome, in addition to making San Antonio their home base while New Orleans is rebuilt after Katrina's devastation, the Spurs wish them every success, on and off the field.
"In light of what amounts to a national disaster, we, as a city, are doing the right thing to have them here and help them out as they try to put the pieces of their lives back together," Spurs executive vice-president for business operations Russ Bookbinder said. "I think it's the right thing to do.
"I'm real happy and proud of our city that we can do that. We have the facilities to do it and the ability to do it, and I think it's a great gesture."
The Spurs never have had to share the city with another major-league pro sports franchise, though there have been brief appearances by leagues other than the NFL, from the Canadian Football League to the United States Football League.
Bookbinder said it was premature to speculate on the city's ability to support two major sports franchises.
"I think a lot of that's hypothetical," Bookbinder said of speculation, on both sides of the question. "A significant amount of research would have to be done for me to make a comment."
The Spurs have fared well at the gate since moving from the Alamodome to the SBC Center, but Bookbinder said it was not without a lot of effort from the team's marketing staff.
"It is not an easy task, year in and year out, even with the product that we have," Bookbinder said, noting the Spurs have won three NBA championships since 1999. "We work very hard to keep our ticket sales intact."
The Saints deserve the support of the community this season, Bookbinder said, and the games here will give the thousands of evacuees who remain in San Antonio a sense of community.
"You have a lot of displaced people from New Orleans and that whole Gulf Coast area," he said. "It's a great opportunity for them, and all the people that want to support this team that's in need."