When The Saints Go Marching Out
by Brian James of
BrianJamesPicks.com
San Antonio Saints? Los Angeles Saints? Whatis the next stop for the New Orleans Saints franchise?
According to top level league officials, theSaints may have played their last game in the Superdome, unlessit’s a championship game. Although Louisiana Superdome officialssaid that the stadium should be largely cleaned up from HurricaneKatrina and ready for the New Orleans Saints to play at leastsome of their games there in 2006. Doug Thorton, regional VP forSMG, the company who manages the Superdome said,"We're workingto make the Dome ready for the next season.” Repairs to gapingholes in the Superdome's massive roof were to begin Saturday.
CLICKHERE TO BET ON NFL FOOTBALL GAMES USING A CHECKING ACCOUNT!
Saints owner Tom Benson declared this week thatnothing will be decided on the franchise's future until afterthe season. But Benson said he wanted to "make it clear that nodecisions have been made regarding our future plans," and addedthat none would be made until the 2005 season is over. On Oct.30, the Saints will play the first of four scheduled home gamesin Louisiana -- all in LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Ticketsales for the Baton Rouge games surged briefly when the Saintslaunched a marketing campaign there nearly two weeks ago. Butthis week, Benson fired Arnold Fielkow, a top business executivewho supported the franchise's return to Louisiana. Soon after,another top executive left. Benson's lawyer then informed thestate of Louisiana that the Saints wanted out of their lease onteam headquarters in suburban New Orleans.
Meanwhile, San Antonio officials said they wereworking with Benson to keep the team in Texas. The Saints haveplayed two games in San Antonio and have another there againstDetroit on Dec. 24. Mayor Phil Hardberger reiterated his resolveto bring the Saints to San Antonio permanently, saying he wantedto close the deal before next season begins. If neither San Antonionor Los Angeles is adequately prepared to support an NFL team,the Saints will likely remain in New Orleans.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, San Antoniois a likely home for 2006 and Los Angeles is the preferred destinationbeyond that. The NFL could still include New Orleans as a SuperBowl site when the city is reconstructed, and expansion mighteven be a possibility, but that's 10 to 15 years away.
Dome officials have estimated it might take 16months to make the building functional. If the cost of restorationwere 51 percent or more of what it would cost to replace it --something they don't anticipate -- the structure would be demolishedand a new one built. Initial estimates to restore the buildingplace the cost at more than $125 million. Replacing the Superdomewould cost between $260 million and $270 million The Saints havea contract with the state that runs through 2010, guaranteeingthe team $186.5 million in state payments. The State had beenattempting to re-negotiate the deal. Part of that effort includeda $174 million Superdome renovation.
In New Orleans fans have let their feelings beknown, a taped-up refrigerator with rotting contents was lefton a sidewalk. On it was a message scribbled in spray paint: "Donot open. Benson inside."
Check out
BrianJamesPicks.com
for winning picks and sports betting analysis! (Ultimatecapperendorsed) | 
