blaze89
10-27-2005, 02:36 AM
Saints' facility passes Louisiana inspection - Benson reaches out
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
10/27/2005
Louisiana state officials encouraged the Saints to return to their training facility in suburban New Orleans after an inspection Wednesday revealed the 34-acre site fit for use.
"The facility is in very good condition," said attorney Larry Roedel, who represents the commission that operates the Louisiana Superdome. "From our standpoint, it can be used by the Saints to practice for their upcoming ballgames."
The state's tour of the facility coincided with the publication in Louisiana newspapers of a full-page letter from owner Tom Benson to Saints fans.
Although Benson said he wants to return to New Orleans, he added, "No decision has been made about the future of the team, because no decision has been made about the future of New Orleans. There are many factors that will affect the future of our team, the same factors that will affect the future of many other companies when faced with the decision to return to New Orleans."
The Saints have been based in San Antonio since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Phil Hardberger says Benson has agreed to begin negotiations after the season to relocate the Saints to San Antonio on a permanent basis.
Katrina severely damaged the Superdome, which officials say could be available for games by October 2006. But Hardberger has suggested Benson, who has strong personal and business ties to San Antonio, is concerned about New Orleans' ability to recover from the disaster.
In his letter, Benson said: "It must be made very clear that the future of our team in New Orleans will be determined by factors that are yet unresolved, such as, economics and facilities, the very issues that we have struggled with prior to Hurricane Katrina."
Benson notified the state of Louisiana two weeks ago of his desire to terminate the lease agreement for the training facility because of damages the Saints said the property received while occupied by federal and state agencies in the weeks following Katrina.
But Roedel and other officials who toured the facility said they found only cosmetic damage.
"It looks to be very functional, very usable," said Tim Coulon, the state's chief negotiator in talks with the Saints. "I think it is a better facility than the facility they have to practice at now" in San Antonio.
The lease on the facility, which opened in 1996, expires after the 2010 season and calls for the Saints to pay the state $1 a year.
"We consider the lease to be in full force and effect," Roedel said, "and it is up to the Saints to return to the practice facility as soon as they are able to do so."
A Saints spokesman declined comment. In his letter, Benson said he "had no choice but to move our operations since federal and state authorities took over our training facility without notice or permission."
Team sources said FEMA, which no longer uses the compound, failed to inform the Saints when it would vacate the facility. FEMA officials could not be reached for comment.
Saints coach Jim Haslett said the team would "finish out the rest of the season (in San Antonio) and see what happens when the season's over."
Critics in Louisiana say Benson is turning his back on the state during its lowest point. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin suggested last week that Benson is not welcome in New Orleans and said talk of relocation to San Antonio is "disrespectful" to Saints fans.
The Saints have until Nov. 28 to exercise a destruction clause in their lease with the state for the Superdome that would enable them to break the contract without penalty. Sources have told the San Antonio Express-News that Benson plans to invoke the clause.
In his letter, Benson said: "Many cities desire an NFL franchise, and the politicians of these cities are going to continue to voice this desire. (Nagin) did a similar thing in leading the campaign to bring the (NBA) Hornets to New Orleans from Charlotte. Yet, when the subject matter of the Saints arises, comments from (Nagin) are made without a single phone call being placed to our team to check on our plans or to get the facts.
"If the Saints and Tom Benson were as important to (New Orleans) as (Nagin) has claimed in the recent past, why such harsh comments, when a simple phone call could have saved him some embarrassment."
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From S.A. Express-News (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/stories/MYSA102705.1C.FBNsaints.benson.b9b90ee.html)
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
10/27/2005
Louisiana state officials encouraged the Saints to return to their training facility in suburban New Orleans after an inspection Wednesday revealed the 34-acre site fit for use.
"The facility is in very good condition," said attorney Larry Roedel, who represents the commission that operates the Louisiana Superdome. "From our standpoint, it can be used by the Saints to practice for their upcoming ballgames."
The state's tour of the facility coincided with the publication in Louisiana newspapers of a full-page letter from owner Tom Benson to Saints fans.
Although Benson said he wants to return to New Orleans, he added, "No decision has been made about the future of the team, because no decision has been made about the future of New Orleans. There are many factors that will affect the future of our team, the same factors that will affect the future of many other companies when faced with the decision to return to New Orleans."
The Saints have been based in San Antonio since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Phil Hardberger says Benson has agreed to begin negotiations after the season to relocate the Saints to San Antonio on a permanent basis.
Katrina severely damaged the Superdome, which officials say could be available for games by October 2006. But Hardberger has suggested Benson, who has strong personal and business ties to San Antonio, is concerned about New Orleans' ability to recover from the disaster.
In his letter, Benson said: "It must be made very clear that the future of our team in New Orleans will be determined by factors that are yet unresolved, such as, economics and facilities, the very issues that we have struggled with prior to Hurricane Katrina."
Benson notified the state of Louisiana two weeks ago of his desire to terminate the lease agreement for the training facility because of damages the Saints said the property received while occupied by federal and state agencies in the weeks following Katrina.
But Roedel and other officials who toured the facility said they found only cosmetic damage.
"It looks to be very functional, very usable," said Tim Coulon, the state's chief negotiator in talks with the Saints. "I think it is a better facility than the facility they have to practice at now" in San Antonio.
The lease on the facility, which opened in 1996, expires after the 2010 season and calls for the Saints to pay the state $1 a year.
"We consider the lease to be in full force and effect," Roedel said, "and it is up to the Saints to return to the practice facility as soon as they are able to do so."
A Saints spokesman declined comment. In his letter, Benson said he "had no choice but to move our operations since federal and state authorities took over our training facility without notice or permission."
Team sources said FEMA, which no longer uses the compound, failed to inform the Saints when it would vacate the facility. FEMA officials could not be reached for comment.
Saints coach Jim Haslett said the team would "finish out the rest of the season (in San Antonio) and see what happens when the season's over."
Critics in Louisiana say Benson is turning his back on the state during its lowest point. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin suggested last week that Benson is not welcome in New Orleans and said talk of relocation to San Antonio is "disrespectful" to Saints fans.
The Saints have until Nov. 28 to exercise a destruction clause in their lease with the state for the Superdome that would enable them to break the contract without penalty. Sources have told the San Antonio Express-News that Benson plans to invoke the clause.
In his letter, Benson said: "Many cities desire an NFL franchise, and the politicians of these cities are going to continue to voice this desire. (Nagin) did a similar thing in leading the campaign to bring the (NBA) Hornets to New Orleans from Charlotte. Yet, when the subject matter of the Saints arises, comments from (Nagin) are made without a single phone call being placed to our team to check on our plans or to get the facts.
"If the Saints and Tom Benson were as important to (New Orleans) as (Nagin) has claimed in the recent past, why such harsh comments, when a simple phone call could have saved him some embarrassment."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From S.A. Express-News (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/stories/MYSA102705.1C.FBNsaints.benson.b9b90ee.html)