Louisiana Needs Money

[andrew8798]

To keep the Saints and Hornets

Official: La. faces Saints, Hornets cash payments
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)—An executive with the group that oversees the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Arena advised lawmakers Tuesday the state must find $27.5 million next year to fulfill contracts that keep the Saints and Hornets in New Orleans.

The state pays the two pro teams direct cash payments each year to retain the clubs, subsidies the team owners have said are needed to make operating in the relatively small New Orleans market worthwhile.

The money comes from the budget of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, or LSED, which operates the stadium and the arena where the NFL and NBA teams play respectively.

Doug Thornton, senior vice president of SMG—the company that manages the Superdome and the Arena—said the LSED won’t bring in nearly enough for the fiscal year starting July 1 to cover the expected payments.

“We have revenues that are not sufficient to cover the debts,” Thornton told members of the state’s House Appropriations Committee.

If the state doesn’t make the payments to the teams, he noted, the Saints and Hornets could leave New Orleans without a penalty.

But Thornton said the troubled economy would make it difficult for a team to move, and both the Saints and Hornets have expressed a commitment to New Orleans.

“We hope that an eventual solution will address both the short- and long-term challenges that face the Saints and the state,” said Greg Bensel, a spokesman for the Saints.

sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqcwzG5cHVp6eK5t40C3xv4dsLYF?slug=ap-saintsdebt&prov=ap&type=lgns

[EvilMasterBetty, Esq.]

The Los Angeles Saints?

The Las Vegas Hornets?

Even with this it's hard to envision a move of either team. The only viable market that the Hornets could move to is Seattle, and even then they'd have to build a new arena or else Stern would never approve it. I know Las Vegas wants a team, but there's no chance in hell that's happening until Stern is long gone.

And while LA wants an NFL team, I'm not sure it's possible to sell them on taking the Saints. Although, bringing Bush back to LA, along with a high powered offense, could be enough to get the pretty casual LA NFL fans to come to the games.

[Push R Truth]

Feb 19, 2009 11:20:36 GMT -5 EvilMasterBetty, Esq. said:

And while LA wants an NFL team, I'm not sure it's possible to sell them on taking the Saints. Although, bringing Bush back to LA, along with a high powered offense, could be enough to get the pretty casual LA NFL fans to come to the games.

LA wants an NFL Team, not the Saints.

[Klutch]

We need the Saints, Football is a way of life down here. So what if the team blows. We need the money to keep the Saints in Louisiana. The Hornets, eh not so much, not much of a basketball fan.

[Drillbit Taylor]

KC or Pitt could allways use a B-Ball Team.

And San Antonio,LA, Utah, Portland could use football.

[DASH 243✅]

will take the hornets in Seattle and send the saints to portland

[Biggtone23]

Man what a deal for the team ownership. Pay us or we leave. Usually they at least try to hide it and make you just build them a tax free stadium every twenty years.

[BR329]

Well that Saints would have a kickass entrance song if they move to LA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sWpS8iSDIY

[Chainsaw]

Didn't they just get the Hornets?

[H-Fist]

Seattle would love to have a basketball team again. And I'd think that owners bleeding money would be willing either to sell or to move. Kansas City and San Jose both want a pro team as well, and Hornets ownership would do well to get into the market before the Maloofs can get the Kings away from Arco Arena. Memphis is also a less-than-desirable market right now. So realistically, there are three NBA teams that might be primed for relocation.

Seattle, San Diego, Tampa, St, Louis, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Norfolk, and Cincinnati would all be larger media markets than New Orleans. I doubt the league wants another east coast team, but Norfolk is a possibility. They do want one.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Feb 19, 2009 11:20:36 GMT -5 EvilMasterBetty, Esq. said:

I know Las Vegas wants a team, but there's no chance in hell that's happening until Stern is long gone.

It's not just basketball that won't give Vegas a team. They had a shot when they hosted the NBA All Star Game, but the Pacman Jones incident put a kibosh on that. I'd say it will take at least 20 years before another league even considers Vegas as a possibility.

[BR329]

Feb 19, 2009 22:18:20 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

Feb 19, 2009 11:20:36 GMT -5 EvilMasterBetty, Esq. said:

I know Las Vegas wants a team, but there's no chance in hell that's happening until Stern is long gone.

It's not just basketball that won't give Vegas a team. They had a shot when they hosted the NBA All Star Game, but the Pacman Jones incident put a kibosh on that. I'd say it will take at least 20 years before another league even considers Vegas as a possibility.

Gary Bettman disagrees.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

Feb 19, 2009 21:23:10 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

And San Antonio,LA, Utah, Portland could use football.

I was thinking SA for the Saint but, am not sure how well Houston and Dallas would take to it. Given the number of NO transplants living in Texas it wouldn't be a bad idea though.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Feb 19, 2009 22:23:20 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

Feb 19, 2009 21:23:10 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

And San Antonio,LA, Utah, Portland could use football.

I was thinking SA for the Saint but, am not sure how well Houston and Dallas would take to it. Given the number of NO transplants living in Texas it wouldn't be a bad idea though.

Houston and Dallas can move their markets eastward as there would then be a huge void where NO Markets.

[jaywatts]

Tom Benson(Saints owner) is a rich, greedy old bastard who has been holding the state hostage for many many years for extra money to keep this cursed team here. We(Louisiana) should have let the damned team go A LONG time ago. Sports teams only do well in good tv markets, and New Orleans and Louisiana in general is not a very profitable market.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

Feb 19, 2009 22:32:42 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Feb 19, 2009 22:23:20 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

I was thinking SA for the Saint but, am not sure how well Houston and Dallas would take to it. Given the number of NO transplants living in Texas it wouldn't be a bad idea though.

Houston and Dallas can move their markets eastward as there would then be a huge void where NO Markets.

True but, those areas may (big may I know) stay loyal to the Saints. Dallas doesn't need it but, Houston being a new team could.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Feb 19, 2009 22:43:49 GMT -5 01010010 01101001 01100011 said:

Feb 19, 2009 22:32:42 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Houston and Dallas can move their markets eastward as there would then be a huge void where NO Markets.

True but, those areas may (big may I know) stay loyal to the Saints. Dallas doesn't need it but, Houston being a new team could.

They could split it like NY or Bay Area.

Or Houston Takes southern part, Dallas, northern.

[Dragonfly]

Feb 19, 2009 21:23:10 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

KC or Pitt could allways use a B-Ball Team.

No one cares about the NBA in Pittsburgh. College ball is one thing, but a pro team is quite another. Pittsburgh is a hockey town, pure and simple.

[The Wraith]

The Saints could go to Oklahoma.

..................*busts out laughing* I couldn't keep a straight face!

[Spyke the Pacers Fan]

I like the sound of the Detroit Saints.

...

What? What do you mean "What about the Lions?" Who are the Detroit Lions? F*** them.