EXTRA: Saints returning to Metarie and La. for 2006 season

[exstatic]

As per E-N exclusive article:

E-N article

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

E-N exclusive: Saints returning to Louisiana

Web Posted: 12/29/2005 10:16 PM CST

Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
© 2005, San Antonio Express-News

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue have reached an agreement to return the displaced team to its state-owned training facility in Metairie, La., after the season ends Sunday, sources have told the San Antonio Express-News.

Tagliabue is expected to inform the team's players and coaches of the decision when he meets with them today in San Antonio.

League spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment Thursday night.

The agreement likely eliminates the possibility of the Saints playing home games at the Alamodome in 2006. City officials had hoped the league would allow the Saints to play most of their games in San Antonio after the team averaged 62,666 for its three games at the dome this season and only 40,310 for four games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Aiello said the league would announce the Saints' schedule in January. Benson said last week the team would practice in the state where it would play its games.

The Saints likely will play most of their home schedule in Baton Rouge and perhaps the Louisiana Superdome, which Louisiana state officials say could be ready for use by November.

Scheduling conflicts in Louisiana, however, could send the Saints back to the Alamodome for some games.

Benson, who has long-standing personal and business ties to San Antonio, is said to have fears the Saints would struggle to attract fans and generate revenue in New Orleans given the economic shape of the city after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

San Antonio, meanwhile, has a growing corporate base that includes business leaders hungry to secure an NFL franchise.

But the league reportedly is ready to help the Saints financially. Tagliabue said a plan to subsidize the Saints with revenue from visiting teams' shares of gate receipts has been discussed with league owners. Assistance also might be given to the Saints in attracting free agents.

The agreement to return to Metairie doesn't rule out the possibility of an attempt by Benson after the 2006 season to relocate his team permanently to San Antonio.

The Saints' lease agreement with the state of Louisiana to play at the Superdome includes an exit clause that has a Jan. 15, 2007, deadline and could be exercised without penalty.

A return to Metairie would give the Saints a first-class NFL practice facility, something they lack in San Antonio.

Because of scheduling conflicts at the Alamodome, the Saints were forced late in the season to practice at the San Antonio Independent School District Spring Sports Complex near Burbank High School.

While the Alamodome has enough vacancies to host a full NFL home schedule next season, building manager Mike Abington said scheduling conflicts in October and December once again would force the Saints to look for other practice venues.

Tagliabue, who arrived in San Antonio late Thursday, and other league officials plan to address players and coaches this morning at the team's temporary headquarters near the Alamodome. The meeting is the first between the parties since Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans four months ago and forced the team to move operations to the Alamo City.

NFL vice presidents Joe Browne, Mike Haynes, Roger Goodell and Jeff Pash accompanied Tagliabue to San Antonio. The party also plans to meet with Benson and other team officials.

Tagliabue could receive a chilly reception from Saints players angry that no decision has been announced about where the team would train and practice next season.

Several players also have criticized Tagliabue for not meeting with them sooner.

“The guys just feel like he let us down,” offensive lineman Wayne Gandy said. Today “is the last day of (practice), and that's almost four months since we've been here. And at no point in those four months did he find the time to stop by. It almost feels like it's just a PR move at this point.”

Gandy said the meeting could get “outrageous,” a view shared by several players.

“I'm sure there's a lot of frustration on guys' chests that they want to get off, and I'm sure he'll hear it,” receiver Joe Horn said.

Aiello, the NFL spokesman, said Tagliabue wanted to meet with the players sooner, but club officials “rejected” his attempts.

“He tried several times and was turned away,” Aiello said. “He was told it wasn't necessary, that the organization didn't think it was a good idea.”

Team officials have asked the players to be respectful of Tagliabue. Aiello said Tagliabue would attempt to answer all of the players' questions.

“He wants to share with them his perspective on what has happened and where they go from here,” Aiello said. “He wants to have a dialogue with them and hear their concerns and suggestions about how things can be better next year.”

[Vashner]

Beep em'..

[TheWriter]

Pretty much how I figured it would go done.

This will give NO's their season to try and convince the NFL they can support a team.

[j-6]

Saints have deal to return to Louisiana in '06

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2275139

An agreement in principle struck between owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will return the New Orleans Saints to Louisiana for practice in 2006, and likely for the entire regular-season schedule.

The agreement, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, was confirmed by two league owners, one of whom serves on the advisory committee that is counseling Benson on the direction of his franchise. The deal is expected to be announced on Friday when Tagliabue meets in San Antonio with Saints players, coaches and staffers.

"[The talks] haven't always been amicable, and [Benson] still has some doubts about all of this, but it looks like they're going back [to Louisiana]," said one owner.

Under the accord, which is expected to be finalized soon, the Saints will return to their permanent practice facility in Metairie, La., just outside of New Orleans. The state-owned training complex was commandeered by FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and was used as a staging area. Saints officials had previously contended that the facility was in disrepair, but the damage was not nearly as severe as originally indicated.

It is believed that, with the Saints in Metairie, the team will split its 2006 schedule between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans is not likely to be ready for play until November, but officials hope the process can be accelerated in the coming months.

League officials have said they hope to announce the Saints' schedule next month. But team officials were recently apprised an announcement might not come until March. The players have been outspoken about wanting to play their games in the community in which they are practicing.

Attendance for the four games played this season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge was disappointing, averaging only slightly more than 40,000.

Three weeks ago, NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw advised the players not to renew their leases in San Antonio because the league was working hard to ensure their return to the Metairie facility for next season. That same day, however, in a separate session with players, Benson raised doubts about the return and reiterated that he might attempt to keep the team in San Antonio.

Benson has strong personal and professional ties to San Antonio, the su ion remains that he would prefer to permanently relocate the franchise there. Benson fears that the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, a process expected to take years, will threaten the financial viability of the team. The Saints owner has told associates that he will lose $45 million for the 2005 season.

The league in general, and certainly Tagliabue in particular, have made it clear they prefer that the franchise remain in New Orleans, even if that means playing a portion of the 2006 schedule away from the Superdome. There have been reports that Benson, who would need approval from other owners to move his team, might considering suing the NFL for the right to relocate.

It appears that under the pending agreement the Saints will not return to San Antonio for any home games in 2006. The business community there has rallied around the team and has embraced the notion of having the Saints move to San Antonio permanently. Three games at the Alamodome averaged 62,666 fans, and Mayor Phil Hardberger has been a driving force in trying to lure the displaced franchise to his city.

While the efforts of San Antonio civic leaders may make no difference for 2006, it is believed that the agreement between Benson and Tagliabue is for next season only, and will be revisited after that. Given the blunted economic climate of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, it is conceivable that Benson will eventually attempt to relocate his team to San Antonio.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Tagliabue is received by Saints players who have been critical of the league's overall handling of the situation. Players feel the NFL has not supported them and are upset that Tagliabue has not met with them until now, on their final day of practice for this season. The league office pointed out that Tagliabue twice previously requested to meet with players but that his efforts were rebuffed.

[Extra Stout]

San Antonio is more likely to get the Jaguars than the Saints.

[j-6]

(1) Didn't Red McCombs say just yesterday or so that he thought that the NFL owners would recommend and approve an SA move, and Benson over the holiday weekend state that he wanted a split schedule in '06 including SA?

(2) Wasn't the owner of the Jags on that NOLA/SA owners advisory committee?

[Extra Stout]

(1) Didn't Red McCombs say just yesterday or so that he thought that the NFL owners would recommend and approve an SA move, and Benson over the holiday weekend state that he wanted a split schedule in '06 including SA?

After decades of knowing him, San Antonians should by now be fully aware just how full of McCombs is.

(2) Wasn't the owner of the Jags on that NOLA/SA owners advisory committee?

I don't see where you're going with that.

[j-6]

I don't see where you're going with that.

Wouldn't Weaver have some added familiarity to SA through dealing with Benson, SA, and Tagliabue via his committee?

[Extra Stout]

Wouldn't Weaver have some added familiarity to SA through dealing with Benson, SA, and Tagliabue via his committee?

I guess a little. I still don't see how that makes a huge difference.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

But the league reportedly is ready to help the Saints financially. Tagliabue said a plan to subsidize the Saints with revenue from visiting teams' shares of gate receipts has been discussed with league owners.

I can't believe y'all didn't see this coming. I've been saying that they'd either stay here or the league would subsidize the team in NO to make sure Benson didn't sustain a loss in economically revaged Louisiana.

As much as Tagliabue cares about PR, that he went with option #2 isn't all that surprising.

[Sports Writer JJ]

Louisiana Guy here...

Benson still wants to come to SA. Us Fans in Louisiana have to do a better job showing up for games next season than the last 2 games this year...

I dont wanna get into a pissing contest over whether NO <> SA but just wanted to say we are not outta the woods yet....

I dont think that yall will get the Jags though guys, at least not soon.

The NFL is pretty peeved at your Mayor for running his mouth, and putting the league in the PR situation that he did, then tthe city encouraged benson to take the NFL to court publically...

You guys really need to elect a new mayor....

[exstatic]

I think this was a mistake by Benson, even though most people saw it coming. Jacksonville's naming rights also end after next season , and they are in play. If he does decide that he wants to move the Saints after 2006, his bargaining position is diminished with another team possibly on the move.

As for McCombs, he IS a fool. He also said that Jerry Jones would support a Saints move into his perfect secondary market of San Antonio.

[exstatic]

Jags are free to move after 2006. Thier city is fighting them over a chunk of naming rights, and some sort of naming rights of two touchdown clubs on each side. They play in a college stadium, the old Gator Bowl. SA would let them sell naming rights to the stadium, the parking lot, and the friggin restrooms if they want to.

As for Tagliabue, him. He's done nothing but insult our city since this whole thing began. You don't really need his OK to move a team, and it has become painfully clear that we are going to HAVE to work around his obstructionist ass to get a team. He offered Benson the subsidy carrot to keep him from moving at this time, but how many times can he go to that well? Is he going to armtwist the owners into subsidizing JAX with no bad PR issues in play? I don't think so.

JAX, N.O., Minn, S.D, and Buffalo all come into play over the next few years, and if we put on a full court press, we should be able to snag one of them.

[Extra Stout]

The NFL is pretty peeved at your Mayor for running his mouth, and putting the league in the PR situation that he did, then tthe city encouraged benson to take the NFL to court publically...

You guys really need to elect a new mayor....

Mayors come and go. Money assuages whatever hard feelings the league might feel.

This is playing out pretty much how I expected. Benson needs Tagliabue's subsidies to stay afloat. The money has strings attached, and the strings are attached to Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, everybody keeps their eyes focused on the N.O. versus S.A. "battle." N.O. appears to "win," the Saints get subsidized for a couple of years, then finally Tagliabue announces, perhaps tearfully, that the league simply can't sustain a team in a market where it has to be subsidized indefinitely. Then off to L.A. they go.

If Benson makes any noise about going to S.A., his subsidies get cut off and the team goes under. If he tries to sue the league, his subsidies get cut off and the team goes under. If he tries to stay in New Orleans, he loses his subsidies and the team goes under.

Tags has maneuvered a potentially bad P.R. situation into a good one. He's made Benson and San Antonio take all the heat for moving the team when it's also his own intention. He can play San Antonio as long as he likes and make S.A. look like the bad guy. He has Tom Benson on a financial leash now. In the event the Saints were to go bankrupt, he can blame Mother Nature, Tom Benson, Phil Hardberger's meddling, etc., everything but the league.

If Benson were a competent businessman rather than a senile old idiot, perhaps he could outmaneuver the league front office and make his way into San Antonio. But all he can do now is fume and scream and throw tantrums and shove cameramen. He may own the team, but he has no control over its future.

All San Antonio has done to its detriment is prevent itself from building up any sympathy when it gets screwed over. The league is not going to feel any pressure as if it "owes" San Antonio anything. But that won't change the growing viability of the market for a future team looking to relocate.

[exstatic]

Oops. Forgot to address the mayor "thing". You have Ray Nagin, and you're telling us our mayor is a loudmouth WE need a new mayor?

BTW, good analysis, ES.

[exstatic]

BTW, this was most likely decided a while ago, like when Benson failed to invoke the force majeur clause in the SD lease. He could have done that, kept the $81M that it would have cost him to buy out of his SD lease, and stated his intention to move the team to SA, which makes me think he never wanted or intended to do that. The hilarious thing is that the L.A. consortium does NOT want the Saints, but I think they're getting them anyway.

[SA210]

Mayors come and go. Money assuages whatever hard feelings the league might feel.

This is playing out pretty much how I expected. Benson needs Tagliabue's subsidies to stay afloat. The money has strings attached, and the strings are attached to Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, everybody keeps their eyes focused on the N.O. versus S.A. "battle." N.O. appears to "win," the Saints get subsidized for a couple of years, then finally Tagliabue announces, perhaps tearfully, that the league simply can't sustain a team in a market where it has to be subsidized indefinitely. Then off to L.A. they go.

If Benson makes any noise about going to S.A., his subsidies get cut off and the team goes under. If he tries to sue the league, his subsidies get cut off and the team goes under. If he tries to stay in New Orleans, he loses his subsidies and the team goes under.

Tags has maneuvered a potentially bad P.R. situation into a good one. He's made Benson and San Antonio take all the heat for moving the team when it's also his own intention. He can play San Antonio as long as he likes and make S.A. look like the bad guy. He has Tom Benson on a financial leash now. In the event the Saints were to go bankrupt, he can blame Mother Nature, Tom Benson, Phil Hardberger's meddling, etc., everything but the league.

If Benson were a competent businessman rather than a senile old idiot, perhaps he could outmaneuver the league front office and make his way into San Antonio. But all he can do now is fume and scream and throw tantrums and shove cameramen. He may own the team, but he has no control over its future.

All San Antonio has done to its detriment is prevent itself from building up any sympathy when it gets screwed over. The league is not going to feel any pressure as if it "owes" San Antonio anything. But that won't change the growing viability of the market for a future team looking to relocate.

good post

[SA210]

BTW, this was most likely decided a while ago, like when Benson failed to invoke the force majeur clause in the SD lease. He could have done that, kept the $81M that it would have cost him to buy out of his SD lease, and stated his intention to move the team to SA, which makes me think he never wanted or intended to do that.

I think your completely right. Bensons a frickin' snake.

[rayray2k8]

I remember Jason Tomson from "hardcore Sports" was saying that somehow, he felt like San Antonio was gonna get "screwed", and it turns out, he was right!
Unreal!
I also get the feeling Benson will try moving the team again where he is attempt will be to "move" to San Antonio. But what Mayor Hardberger should do is just flip benson the bird!!
Dont feel bad people. I think we proved to everyone even the NFL, that San Antonio IS ready to support and NFL, no matter how ty the team is, because that was impressive how this city was able to get more that 60,000 in the dome with 2 of the worst teams in the league on a Saturday, and on Christmas eve.
THATS AMAZING!! All I can say is that I am a texan fan and GO REGGIE BUSH!!

[SA210]

We did a great job.

[j-6]

I was looking at exstatic's list of relocatable NFL teams, and I don't see some of those happening. The Bills have a rabid support base in Toronto and would wind up there in the event of a relocation. Minnesota and San Diego are about to get new stadia (and I'd think that LA would take in the Chargers).

Jacksonville is a possibility, and probably the best one. There's no long-term ties to the community since the team has only been around for ten years, and they can't sell out their facility even now when the team is good. And they've been at least decent basically since conception compared to the Browns and the Texans. (By the way, they tore down something like 90-95% of the old Gator Bowl when building Alltel)

SA might have to wait her turn behind LA, but any chance to show off when Portland, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Orlando all are without teams needs to be taken.

[Extra Stout]

SA might have to wait her turn behind LA, but any chance to show off when Portland, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Orlando all are without teams needs to be taken.

Orlando is hardly an hour away from Tampa/St. Pete. They're not in the running for anything.

Portland would be ahead of S.A., except it's likely they'll be preoccupied with the Marlins through the end of the decade.

And as much as Al Davis has pissed off the other owners, they aren't going to make him the meat in a sandwich between the 49'ers and Jaguars. That absolutely would kill the Raiders.

Vegas could be viable if the gambling issues could be worked out. Tags also may want a second team in L.A.

[TheWriter]

SA might have to wait her turn behind LA, but any chance to show off when Portland, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Orlando all are without teams needs to be taken.

Take Las Vegas and pretty much Sacramento out of said equation.

Las Vegas will never have all its casino's wipe pro sports gamvling from its books.

And Sac can't even finance a new arena for the Kings. I doubt they'll be able to finance an NFL stadium.

And Portland is a iffy one, they're pretty much after an MLB team and only an MLB team.

As for Orlando. I wouldn't count on them seeing how they don't have a very strong corporate base to showcase. Their economy is majority tourism.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Take Las Vegas and pretty much Sacramento out of said equation.

Las Vegas will never have all its casino's wipe pro sports gamvling from its books.

I suspect you're ignorant ass will still be crying about Vegas not being viable for pro sports teams when it's rolling out NBA and NFL teams.

All Vegas is going to do is what they do for UNLV games - suspend betting on all games involving the whole team. I.E., when they get the next NBA expansion team, all games involving said team will not be on the books, but all other NBA games will be.

It's not rocket science, but apparently is too much for some of you "small town" South Tejas volk.