San Antonio Saints in 2006?

Coach · 10-23-2005, 10:12 AM

San Antonio is team's likely home next season

ESPN.com news services

Saints owner Tom Benson declared this week that nothing will be decided on the franchise's future until after the season. But ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that, based on information from key league sources, the team has probably played its last game in New Orleans.

According to Mortensen, San Antonio is a likely home for 2006 and Los Angeles is the preferred destination beyond that. The NFL could still include New Orleans as a Super Bowl site when the city is reconstructed, and expansion might even be a possibility, but that's 10 to 15 years away.

If the Saints relocate to San Antonio or elsewhere, New Orleans has only a slim chance of ever seeing another NFL team, according to a major sports consultant.

Marc Ganis of SportsCorp Ltd. in Chicago served as a consultant to Cleveland in 1996 when that city's NFL team moved to Baltimore and the NFL guaranteed Cleveland a new team and allowed the city to keep the Browns' logos, colors and nickname.

Earlier this week, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said he wanted the "Cleveland deal" if the team relocates. Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she supported Nagin on such a plan.

But Ganis questioned the strategy.

"If I were advising Mayor Nagin, I would have given him the same advice that someone should have given the mayors of Baltimore and Houston," Ganis said. "Hold on to what you have. Do everything you have to hold on to what you've got, because there's no certainty to what will come next or what will come at all."

Houston lost the Oilers to Tennessee and later got the expansion Texans.

Ganis said New Orleans is already viewed as a small market struggling to remain financially competitive -- and most NFL owners oppose expanding beyond the present 32 teams.

Cleveland provided stout support for its new team with corporate dollars and businesses that generated tax money to build a new stadium, Ganis said.

"It's not the people," Ganis said of New Orleans' situation. "It's not the individuals who show up at the game and buy the tickets. The people are great. It's the business, or lack of, that's the primary factor. For whatever reason, the area simply does not have many strong and large businesses."

But Ganis and two other sports consultants said the issue includes a wild card -- compassion for a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

"When it's all said and done, the whole situation boils down to one thing -- how do these 32 owners feel about resolving New Orleans while protecting their franchise value?" said David Carter, a sports consultant in Los Angeles.

Dean Bonham, a sports consultant based in Denver, questioned whether the NFL would support a move to San Antonio, which like New Orleans is considered a small market, or whether the NFL could strike a deal to build or renovate a stadium equipped for a team in Los Angeles.

If neither San Antonio nor Los Angeles is adequately prepared to support an NFL team, Bonham said the Saints will likely remain in New Orleans.

"I would have to say the chances are 50-50 or less that you'll see the New Orleans Saints move from one city to another at this point," Bonham said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2201514

Dr. Chief · 10-23-2005, 10:46 AM

I heard this week that the Superdome should be ready to go next year. That being said, NO has alot of money to spend and none of it should go to the Saints and their contract to stay. It sucks for the city, but I think they would be better off going somewhere else.

|Zach| · 10-23-2005, 10:51 AM

San Antone will put heat up on.

Frankie · 10-23-2005, 12:08 PM

San Antonio Saints. Rolls off the toungue easy. Nothing like L.A. Rams becoming St Louise Rams and Baltimore Colts becoming Indianapolis Colts.

I really do think that a team that moves should leave the Uniform and the name in the City they left (ala Cleveland Browns). It should be a league rule. Nothing sounds better than KANSAS CITY Chiefs.

Ultra Peanut · 10-23-2005, 12:34 PM

Depressing stuff... there are rumors swirling now that Tulane could end up dropping its football program due to this, at least for a few years.

10-23-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psicosis

Depressing stuff... there are rumors swirling now that Tulane could end up dropping its football program due to this, at least for a few years.

That would totally make me hate my penis.

Ultra Peanut · 10-23-2005, 01:33 PM

Sounds like a personal problem, to me.

Mr. Laz · 10-23-2005, 01:34 PM

San Antonio Aints sounds better to me

Sully · 10-23-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psicosis

Depressing stuff... there are rumors swirling now that Tulane could end up dropping its football program due to this, at least for a few years.

Seems like I recall they were close to this anyway a few years back. Some article was in ESPN the Mag about Losman leading the charge to keep a team while he was still there...
...I was actually curious how close this was to happeneing again.

10-23-2005, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psicosis

Sounds like a personal problem, to me.

Dude (if I may still call you "dude"), I think you're FOS. If in fact you are not FOS, have your shrink write me a note and I'll cease with the silly quips.

Extra Point · 10-23-2005, 02:42 PM

San Antonio Stallions? Mustangs? Swords? Spelunkers?

Deberg_1990 · 10-23-2005, 03:12 PM

Personally, if we get a team here, id rather an expansion team. The Saints run by Tom Bensen are nothing but mediorce and have been for quite some time. Leave the Saints name, colors, uniforms and history with the good people of New Orleans.

San Antonio has proven it deserves a team of its own and can support one unlike LA. Just dont give us the Saints please.....

Ultra Peanut · 10-23-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Dude (if I may still call you "dude"), I think you're FOS. If in fact you are not FOS, have your shrink write me a note and I'll cease with the silly quips.

Do you honestly think I have the attention span to carry on with something like this for... five months, now?

Frankie · 10-23-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Personally, if we get a team here, id rather an expansion team. The Saints run by Tom Bensen are nothing but mediorce and have been for quite some time. Leave the Saints name, colors, uniforms and history with the good people of New Orleans.

San Antonio has proven it deserves a team of its own and can support one unlike LA. Just dont give us the Saints please.....

Except, despite my post #4, "San Antonio Saints" has the right sound to it.

**Rausch** · 10-23-2005, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psicosis

Do you honestly think I have the attention span to carry on with something like this for... five months, now?

So like, when you get those shots that make yah bewbies big and stuff, can I have a few for my g/f?

10-23-2005, 10:12 AM
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5938476	San Antonio Saints in 2006? San Antonio is team's likely home next season ESPN.com news services Saints owner Tom Benson declared this week that nothing will be decided on the franchise's future until after the season. But ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that, based on information from key league sources, the team has probably played its last game in New Orleans. According to Mortensen, San Antonio is a likely home for 2006 and Los Angeles is the preferred destination beyond that. The NFL could still include New Orleans as a Super Bowl site when the city is reconstructed, and expansion might even be a possibility, but that's 10 to 15 years away. If the Saints relocate to San Antonio or elsewhere, New Orleans has only a slim chance of ever seeing another NFL team, according to a major sports consultant. Marc Ganis of SportsCorp Ltd. in Chicago served as a consultant to Cleveland in 1996 when that city's NFL team moved to Baltimore and the NFL guaranteed Cleveland a new team and allowed the city to keep the Browns' logos, colors and nickname. Earlier this week, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said he wanted the "Cleveland deal" if the team relocates. Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she supported Nagin on such a plan. But Ganis questioned the strategy. "If I were advising Mayor Nagin, I would have given him the same advice that someone should have given the mayors of Baltimore and Houston," Ganis said. "Hold on to what you have. Do everything you have to hold on to what you've got, because there's no certainty to what will come next or what will come at all." Houston lost the Oilers to Tennessee and later got the expansion Texans. Ganis said New Orleans is already viewed as a small market struggling to remain financially competitive -- and most NFL owners oppose expanding beyond the present 32 teams. Cleveland provided stout support for its new team with corporate dollars and businesses that generated tax money to build a new stadium, Ganis said. "It's not the people," Ganis said of New Orleans' situation. "It's not the individuals who show up at the game and buy the tickets. The people are great. It's the business, or lack of, that's the primary factor. For whatever reason, the area simply does not have many strong and large businesses." But Ganis and two other sports consultants said the issue includes a wild card -- compassion for a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina. "When it's all said and done, the whole situation boils down to one thing -- how do these 32 owners feel about resolving New Orleans while protecting their franchise value?" said David Carter, a sports consultant in Los Angeles. Dean Bonham, a sports consultant based in Denver, questioned whether the NFL would support a move to San Antonio, which like New Orleans is considered a small market, or whether the NFL could strike a deal to build or renovate a stadium equipped for a team in Los Angeles. If neither San Antonio nor Los Angeles is adequately prepared to support an NFL team, Bonham said the Saints will likely remain in New Orleans. "I would have to say the chances are 50-50 or less that you'll see the New Orleans Saints move from one city to another at this point," Bonham said. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2201514
Posts: 53,212

10-23-2005, 10:46 AM	#2
Dr. Chief Probes issues and other things Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $10004900	I heard this week that the Superdome should be ready to go next year. That being said, NO has alot of money to spend and none of it should go to the Saints and their contract to stay. It sucks for the city, but I think they would be better off going somewhere else. __________________
Posts: 246

10-23-2005, 10:51 AM	#3
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5316768	San Antone will put heat up on.
Posts: 53,435

10-23-2005, 12:34 PM	#5
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	Depressing stuff... there are rumors swirling now that Tulane could end up dropping its football program due to this, at least for a few years. __________________
Posts: 39,518

10-23-2005, 01:33 PM	#7
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	Sounds like a personal problem, to me. __________________
Posts: 39,518

10-23-2005, 12:08 PM	#4
Frankie Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	San Antonio Saints. Rolls off the toungue easy. Nothing like L.A. Rams becoming St Louise Rams and Baltimore Colts becoming Indianapolis Colts. I really do think that a team that moves should leave the Uniform and the name in the City they left (ala Cleveland Browns). It should be a league rule. Nothing sounds better than KANSAS CITY Chiefs.
Posts: 26,959

10-23-2005, 01:34 PM	#8
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	San Antonio Aints sounds better to me __________________
Posts: 95,626

10-23-2005, 02:42 PM	#11
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	San Antonio Stallions? Mustangs? Swords? Spelunkers? __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
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10-23-2005, 03:12 PM	#12
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Personally, if we get a team here, id rather an expansion team. The Saints run by Tom Bensen are nothing but mediorce and have been for quite some time. Leave the Saints name, colors, uniforms and history with the good people of New Orleans. San Antonio has proven it deserves a team of its own and can support one unlike LA. Just dont give us the Saints please..... __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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