Los Angeles Saints

[POJO_Risin]

Here's the deal...you and I both know that the Saints won't be back there this year...and c'mon...a year from now? It's hard to believe that New Orleans will ever be a major city again...let alone host an NFL team in two years...

Move the Saints to LA...keep their name the Saints...

but call them the LA Saints...

build a new stadium for them...with this caveat...

in 2 years...either the Saints return to Louisianna...or...they get a new team...or a team that's moving...

New Orleans has always supported their teams...but just don't see it happening right now...or in the near 2 or 3 years...

Welcome back to football LA...I think this is going to happen...

[POJO_Risin]

Saints could be headed to Los Angeles
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John Czarnecki / FOXSports.com
Posted: 12 hours ago



It's over for the Saints. Their city, their stadium, their lives are a mess. And given the death toll and the economic devastation of Katrina, the franchise's future is somewhere else.

You tell me where the state of Louisiana finds $18 million to meet owner Tom Benson's deal this year? The franchise is no longer a priority, considering billions will be needed simply to rebuild homes, businesses and schools.

Everyone's first relocation guess is Los Angeles. The Coliseum there has already offered a rent-free deal for this season. Not the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum. Las Vegas would gladly take the Saints in, too, free of charge. But it could end up being San Antonio, where the Saints will live and practice this week and next prior to their regular-season opener in Carolina.

Owner Tom Benson prefers San Antonio, where he keeps a home. But, according to sources, the league is rethinking this option because this could be the perfect time to literally place a franchise in Los Angeles.

Even before commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Thursday that it was unlikely that the Saints would play in New Orleans this season, the team knew that was the case. However, the concern among many is that NFL football will never return to this Louisiana city because of the horrific human misery and economic devastation to the city and state.

Many with the team would prefer to play in Baton Rouge, but the LSU facilities are already overrun dealing with evacuees. The scope of the disaster is larger than anyone, including the federal government, initially realized, and it could take many months to restore New Orleans to a livable city. Water-damaged buildings and hotels there probably will have to be razed. Much of the city will have to be rebuilt.

To become a vagabond team, well, this is horrible news for the coaches and players of the Saints. Living out of a suitcase is no fun.

Carolina coach John Fox thought the Saints, before the hurricane hit, would be a major threat in the NFC South because of coach Jim Haslett's focus on a power running game. Now, no one is sure how the Saints will react to living and working in new surroundings and being away from their staunch fans. Their entire routine has been disrupted, and we all know how coaches and players live on a familiar weekly routine.

"One thing about the NFL, and the players understand it, there's always going to be something bad that's going to happen," Haslett told reporters Thursday. "You try to turn bad into good.

"There's always adversity in the league. If you can deal with this, and this is probably some of the highest adversity we'll ever see, we'll be a better team in the long run for it. First of all, my thoughts were, if something can happen to the Superdome, what is the city going to look like? I wasn't really concerned about the playing field. I'm more concerned with the people inside the dome and really with the devastation of the city and the outlying areas."

The players will be off Friday through Sunday to reconnect with their families who were left behind in New Orleans.

Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, the funny receiver with the cell phone, has plans to visit New Orleans if he can.

"I'm going to try to help, donate money and try to feed the families who have been in the Superdome, do whatever it takes," Horn said. "If I have to spend a million dollars to get food, I'll do that."

[thome]

They may play close by N.O. for moral purposes.

I dont think the Govenor would let them go now?

[Romeo Delight]

From all reports, they were already gone before this terrible disaster.

[POJO_Risin]

I don't know if the governor has a choice...

What kind of governor worries about a freaking football team right now?

[DrMaddVibe]

Saints might be home on road

September 1, 2005


There is only one certainty about the New Orleans Saints' future: They will live and work out of the Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio for a while.

Beyond that, question marks abound. It's highly unlikely they'll be able to hold their home opener Sept. 18 at the Superdome -- and they might not be able to play there at all this season after the stadium was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

So that first game against the New York Giants could be at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Or at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Or even at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

And all of those sites could host other home games for the Saints, who escaped the hurricane by flying with their families last weekend to San Jose, Calif. New Orleans plays at the Oakland Raiders tonight in its final exhibition game.

IN QUESTION

Here are the eight scheduled home games for the New Orleans Saints:

Sept. 18 N.Y. Giants
Oct. 2 Buffalo
Oct. 16 Atlanta
Oct. 30 Miami
Nov. 6 BEARS
Dec. 4 Tampa Bay
Dec. 18 Carolina
Dec. 24 Detroit

While the Saints and NFL officials have been discussing a variety of alternatives, they haven't talked yet with many of the people at the proposed sites.

''We can say is LSU an option, yeah, but is it an option with them?'' Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Wednesday by phone from San Jose. ''That's the next hurdle. We haven't crossed that hurdle yet.''

Only one hurdle has been crossed.

Following the Raiders game, the Saints will go to San Antonio, where they will stay at the same hotel they stayed at last season when Hurricane Ivan chased them out of New Orleans in the second week of the regular season.

The Saints also will use the same practice facilities at Trinity University, so they will have, as Bensel put it, ''a certain comfort level with where we are.''

That would seem to make the Alamodome, which holds 65,000 for football, a logical alternative, although it's about 550 miles from New Orleans, farther than the NFL would like.

But at this point, no one really knows the options.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and league officials have discussed the situation over the last few days. Location hasn't been the most important topic.

''We've been talking about how we as a league can assist with relief efforts,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. ''Not only for Saints players and officials and their families, but also for a lot of other players in the league who live or have families in the region.''

The NFL is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross to assist victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Tagliabue said the league also is working on other efforts to aid the relief effort.

None of the Saints' options seem ideal, including the unlikely scenario of playing their entire schedule on the road.

Switching their home opener to the Meadowlands is a problem because the Giants share their stadium with the New York Jets, who are scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins at home that day.

There has been talk of using Reliant Stadium in Houston, but the Texans are home Sept. 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Those hurdles could be overcome by playing games on Saturday or Monday, but it hardly seems like a palatable option to either the team or the league.

Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando, Fla., proposed that the Saints try the little-used Citrus Bowl. There was no indication that the Saints were even familiar with that offer.

Even before the hurricane, the team has been negotiating with the state of Louisiana for a new stadium to replace the Superdome.

Owner Tom Benson has suggested that without one, he might sell the franchise, leading to speculation that the Saints might be the team that fills the hole in Los Angeles left vacant when the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders went back to Oakland after the 1994 season.

Yes, the Los Angeles Coliseum is among the sites suggested as a possibility for this season.

But all of that is speculation.

Meanwhile, Saints coach Jim Haslett wants to concentrate on improving the run defense in his team's preseason finale in Oakland. Considering what the Saints have gone through this week, even the slightest signs of progress will be considered a success.

''We couldn't believe that this was going on where we live,'' quarterback Aaron Brooks said. ''It's weighing heavily on our hearts and minds right now.''

In the unforgiving business that is the NFL, the Saints have to try to block all that out for a night and play -- after all, their season opener is Sept. 11 at the Carolina Panthers.

The Raiders will hold a blood drive at the game tonight for four hours leading up to kickoff to help Gulf Coast victims. A moment of silence also was planned.

AP




I do know that here in Tampa...they've already green-lighted their home game to be played here in Tampa...if they want it.

I don't think LA should get another football team. Give it to a city that wants it...like Las Vegas!

[ALinChainz]

The NFL has wanted a team in L.A. since the Rams left.

This is the perfect opportunity for then to do just that.

I don't care either way, but I know the league wants a team there in the worst way.

[POJO_Risin]

There will never be an NFL team in Las Vegas...although I don't know that it would be a bad move...

Next season...or the last half of this season...New Orleans will be a permanent resident of LA...

[monkeythe]

I believe they may move to LA temporarily, but I can't imagine them moving out of NO permanantly. The PR backlash the league would suffer would be too severe for it to be worth it. Remember how the league had to give in to the people of Cleveland, in this case the outcry against the NFL would be national and I'm sure some very prominent national politicians would make a lot of noise. As far as the money for the stadium goes, don't be surprised if the Fed gov't pays for part of the stadium as part of a major bill (in the billions) to rebuild the city and cite how a domed stadium is a necessity in that area in case there are further hurricanes.

[monkeythe]

As far as n NFL team in Vegas, I think the casino owners would be against it. There is too much money for them to lose since the law states you can't bet on a game involving a team in the state. Can you imagine the devastation to the casinos & local economy if the Las Vegas team makes it to the Super Bowl and they can't take any bets on the game

[POJO_Risin]

Obviously...the NFL wouldn't be that stupid as to say...

"NEW ORLEANS IS DEAD...THEY ARE LEAVING FOREVER..."

hardly...

but the WILL say..."New Orleans is moving to California. the City of New Orleans will receive a team, and NFL support in rebuilding the Superdome once, and only if...New Orleans is able to put this tragedy behind them, and rebuild..."

[thome]

Teams are sold all the time I trully dont know of any reason
for them not to be sold and moved i have no controlling interest in
them.

I do know they wont be playing in the superdome .

I saw a few concerts there in the late 70s an early 80s it was a great
venue.

Change is inevitable SAINTS is such a New Orleans name i bet the
name stays in L.A. 5 bucks...... any takers?

[POJO_Risin]

I don't see Benson selling that team...I don't know though...

[POJO_Risin]

Saints?

I give you the Utah Jazz...

formerly the New Orleans Jazz...

I mean...Utah Jazz?

[thome]

Pojo you are far more knowlegable about sports than i am so i hear
you and trust your call on lots of issues.

Hank, went down there after he left the Chiefs .

So its kinda like watchin all the stuff you grew up on dissapear.

America is about change were not ones for letting a building become
100 yrs old so tear it down and start over ,

maybe they can get a fresh start in Cali.

[Bob_R]

Their first home game against the Giants has been moved to here in Jersey. That game will be played either on the 17th, 18th, or 19th.

The Jets open their home schedule verus Miami on the 18th at 4:15 PM. So, my guess is the 17th or 19th. But, there's also talk of a day and night football game on the 18th. Obviously the day game would have to be a 1 PM start.

[monkeythe]

If they both play on the same day that will be a total mess. The only way to the Stadium is by automobile & traffic sucks on game days or whenever there is an event at the stadium. Once you add the tailgaiting in it will lead to a total nightmare. As far as the 17th, the stadium is being used by the Metrostars

[POJO_Risin]

Correct me if I'm wrong...but haven't the Giants and Jets DONE a couple of day/nights before?

[POJO_Risin]

Again...I think it's important that the NFL let the people of New Orleans know that they'll have a team when they are ready to. It may be the caveat they eventually need...

I could see the NFL awarding the Saints with a SuperBowl for a New Superdome...coinciding with the return of the Saints...

[DrMaddVibe]

Now THAT would be SUPER!

[POJO_Risin]

and imagine if the Saints made it to that SuperBowl...

lmfao...they'd probably burn down that town...after rebuilding it...

[monkeythe]

The Jets & Giants have never dona a double header on the same day. The closest they have come is a one day gap between games (the funniest was after a big Friday snowstorm, the next day Giants fans pelted the Chargers with snowballs and that evening all the local news channels were showing emergency shoveling of the stands and telling people they could get immediate jobs shoveling so the Jets fans couldn't do the same thing on Sunday)

[thome]

That would be a excellent way to welcome the New New Orleans Back

Coulnt say its gone.... just F- ed up beond (sp) compare.

[Bob_R]

Saints-Giants game moved to Monday night


NEW YORK (AP) - The Giants-Saints game, driven from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, will be played as part of a nationally televised doubleheader starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 19.

The game, already moved to the Giants' home in the New Jersey Meadowlands, will begin on ABC, then be switched to ESPN at 9 p.m., when ABC goes to the regularly scheduled game between Washington and Dallas in Irving, Texas. In New York and Louisiana, as well as other parts of the Gulf Coast, ABC will continue to carry the Giants-Saints game, switching to Redskins-Cowboys when the Saints game ends.

"We appreciate the leadership of ABC and ESPN in helping us turn this particular Monday night into far more than a prime-time football doubleheader, making it part of the overall Gulf Coast relief effort," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement released by the NFL. "The New Orleans Saints know the importance of rising to help meet the Gulf Coast's extraordinary challenges, and we salute them, too."

The NFL said fund-raising efforts for hurricane relief will be intertwined in the telecasts of both games.

Saints coach Jim Haslett, already miffed at losing a home game, found it curious the NFL would allow this game to overlap with the already scheduled Monday nighter.

"I really don't know why they're doing it," Haslett said, rolling his eyes.

Monday was the likely choice because the Meadowlands is playing host to a soccer game Saturday, Sept. 17 and the New York Jets play the Miami Dolphins there on Sunday.

The Saints are still waiting for a decision where they'll play the remaining seven games scheduled for the Superdome. The candidates are LSU's Tiger Stadium, the team's overwhelming choice; the Alamodome in San Antonio, where the Saints are living and practicing; or being on the road for all 16 games.

The scheduling does not totally satisfy the other NFC East teams because the Giants get an extra home game from the switch - even if they are officially listed as visitors.

"I'd be smart not to comment on that," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said Monday.

The Cowboys are so looking forward to having the national attention on Sept. 19 that they've scheduled the Ring of Honor induction of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin for halftime of that game.

[rustoffa]

Originally posted by EVH FANATIC
"I really don't know why they're doing it," Haslett said, rolling his eyes.


That's rich.
:rolleyes:

[ALinChainz]

POSTED 12:46 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:17 p.m. EDT, September 5, 2005



BENSON PLANNING TO STICK IT TO NEW ORLEANS



A week after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and numerous other Gulf Coast communities, we've heard from our old friend John Marie, host of the Sports Court on 990-AM in the Crescent City. Over the past year or so, we've done several radio spots with John Marie, who isn't afraid to call it like he sees it when it comes to the Saints and their history of mismanagement and general ineptitude.



John Marie, who lost his home in Katrina and its aftermath, has forwarded to us a message from Fletcher Mackel of WDSU-TV containing some shocking revelations regarding the plans of Saints owner Tom Benson.



WDSU, you might recall, reported on Sunday that the Saints do not intend to give refunds to season ticket holders. The report was brief and vague, without identifying the source or disclosing any details.



Now, all of that has changed.



Mackel says that he has spoken directly with Saints executive Arnold Fielkow, who has outlined in detail owner Tom Benson's plan for profiting from the demise of New Orleans.



It was Fielkow, by the way, who recently told Louisiana state senator Mike Michot that Benson wants to move permanently to San Antonio. The media generally ignored the story.



Per Mackel through John Marie, Fielkow (who based on the following likely will soon be a former employee of the organization) says that Benson is hoping to anger the citizens and the Louisiana Legislature by refusing to issue refunds to season-ticket holders.



Writes Mackel: "[Fielkow] said Tom Benson WANTS to upset season ticket holders and the Louisiana Legislature! He wants to play this season in San Antonio, forcing the state to tell him that since he turned his back on the community in a time of need they won't make any more payments to him.



"If the state fails to make their payment next summer Louisiana is in breech [sic] of contract and Benson can move the team without making a penalty payment. He would then shop the team to the highest bidding city. San Antonio, L.A., even New Orleans with a better deal in place. He's simply going to use this tragedy get a better deal and perhaps [a] new stadium from some city."



The decision not to pay refunds, per Mackel, will be announced within the next 24-to-48 hours. Apparently, fine-print language in the tickets permits the team to deny refunds based on natural disasters.



Fielkow told Mackel that Benson simply does not care if this plan makes him the most hated man in the history of the city.



Mackel and John Marie both say that Fielkow is a good man, and that he is "passionate" and "upset" regarding Benson's intentions. Per Mackel, Fielkow has urged Benson to play this year's home games in Baton Rouge, so that the season-ticket holders may attend. Fielkow also told Mackel that insurance money for the Superdome along with possible federal finances could enable New Orleans to build a new or refurbished stadium that would also serve as a better place of evacuation when the next Category 5 storm prepares to make landfall.



Mackel says that he also has spoken with Saints running back Deuce McAllister, who said that "a bad decision" was about to be made by the organization. McAllister said he hopes the team can play in Baton Rouge and remain in New Orleans. Asked whether the Saints have played their last game in New Orleans, McAllister told Mackel: "I just don't know, nothing would surprise me."



These folks, starting with Fielkow, are getting the word out because, apparently, there's still time to change Benson's mind. John Marie and Fletcher Mackel are hoping that as many journalists, politicians, and fans as possible learn of Benson's plan and sound off in a loud, clear voice that his efforts to profit at the city's most dire time of crisis will not succeed.



We plan to do everything we can to spread the word on this. As to anyone out there who's in a position of influence of any kind, we hope that you do the same.

[WARF]

Los Angeles Angels... Los Angeles Saints...

What's next another hockey team.... The LA NUNS....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Originally posted by ALinChainz
The NFL has wanted a team in L.A. since the Rams left.

This is the perfect opportunity for then to do just that.

I don't care either way, but I know the league wants a team there in the worst way.

I would agree with that, but the point is that L.A. itself could care less about another team, IMO...


Originally posted by monkeythe
Remember how the league had to give in to the people of Cleveland, in this case the outcry against the NFL would be national and I'm sure some very prominent national politicians would make a lot of noise.

Yeah, but comparing this to the Cleveland situation is apples and oranges... Awarding another franchise to Cleveland, in arguably the biggest football hotbed in the country (western PA/eastern OH), was a no-brainer... However, New Orleans is among the smallest TV markets in the country (Norfolk/VA Beach is bigger, for Christ sakes), as compared to the #2 TV market in the country in L.A...

Again though, I'm still of the opinion that L.A. doesn't DESERVE another franchise...

Why would you want another NFL team with empty seats in every game ??

If you ask me, I'd put it in San Antonio... I'll give Texas props, it supports it's football...

[Dave IS VH]

Well, I think they are trying to get the Saints home games in Baton Rouge, La to give the fans a chance to see the team play, even though the last thing people in NO are thinking about is football/sports.

If L.A. ever gets the NFL back it would be an expansion team.

[Brett]

There will never be another NFL team here.

Yep we don't suppport football here, that's why USC averaged 87,000 a game last year, and has sold out the Coliseum for 4 home games already (that's nearly 100,000). UCLA averages 65-75,000 and they suck every year.

And yes even when USC wasn't winning national titles, they still got 70,000 every game.

We support football just fine, we aren't stupid enough to pay for ANOTHER fucking stadium, when there are two very usuable ones for football already here.

[Dave IS VH]

Originally posted by Brett
There will never be another NFL team here.

Yep we don't suppport football here, that's why USC averaged 87,000 a game last year, and has sold out the Coliseum for 4 home games already (that's nearly 100,000). UCLA averages 65-75,000 and they suck every year.

And yes even when USC wasn't winning national titles, they still got 70,000 every game.

We support football just fine, we aren't stupid enough to pay for ANOTHER fucking stadium, when there are two very usuable ones for football already here.

Well, the only way L.A. will see the NFL again or get an expansion team, if L.A. builds a new stadium that can support a NFL team in today's standards.

[Brett]

Won't happen. Won't bother me either way, I don't live in LA County anymore. If idiots want to pay tax dollars for another stupid stadium, let them have at it. The Coliseum and the Rose Bowl would work fine for an NFL team. Jesus the Raiders and Rams both played at the Coliseum for nearly 50 years. Add some luxury boxes, done.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Let me rephrase Brett, you are correct...

It was obvious I was referring to PRO football, since this entire conversation was concerning PRO football....

Geezus, does a sentence come out of your mouth that DOESN'T contain USC ???

[Brett]

Dude you're talking "football" in LA, we don't have much else to be excited about besides college. You didn't make the pro distinction, just said we don't support football, which really isn't true.

Yes pro football here sucked at the end, but it didn't help that the teams were just downright awful. We had Rams seasons tickets for 45 years (well my dad's family did), and when they moved to Anaheim in '82, it was just a miserable trek to go down there, so we'd go to like 4 games a year at best. My dad would sell the rest. Except those years with Chris Everett at QB, and the famous "phantom sack" against the Niners in the '89 NFC title game. When they had that little run, we'd try to get down to the Orange Curtain 6 or 7 times.

The 90's just weren't good to pro football here.

But you're right, we don't care about getting another team, especially if it raises taxes AGAIN.