As all the articles I cited point out, the Saints do not have an overwhelmingly numerous and strong fan base/lobby in Louisiana (I never said, wrote or otherwise implied they have "no" support -- I did imply that their support is inadequate for maintaining a NFL franchise at the current time). It's weak. They didn't sell out their annual pre-season scrimmage, even in a limited venue of less than 10,000 seats.
Apparently somebody would have to hit you over the head with a 2x4 to get you to listen to the reasons people are giving. The "scrimmage" is $28 PER PERSON. The "scrimmage" lasts roughly 45 minutes. The "scrimmage" doesn't hardly feature any action at all. The "scrimmage" was televised locally in the area. I have a family of six. It would cost me $168 to go. However, I live in Shreveport, which is in the northwest corner of the state. It would take 4-5 hours to drive there. So the cost and time is prohibitive in my case.
You can not compare the Packers' $8 PER PERSON affair (which I assume was not televised, as I really don't know) to Saints' scrimmage. The Packers had free busing, and I will also wager it wasn't as hot as it was down south. I'm crazy that way.
If you choose to state the above argument despite having more informed people point out why you are wrong, I guess that pretty much speaks for itself.
They can't sell the naming rights to the stadium.
And this relates to fan support exactly ... how? What's the stadium called? The SUPERDOME? Oh, right. One of the most easliy recognized and "branded" stadiums in the country. Branded means that the first word that comes to mind is Superdome when you think of the stadium in New Orleans. People will continue to refer to it that way regardless of whether it is the Tabasco Superdome or the Delta Superdome. Everyone will still call it the Superdome. Contrast this to Houston's new Reliant Stadium. It has never been known otherwise. There's a REAL opportunity for a company to brand their name on it. However, this is simply not possible with the Superdome. No company will be able to get their money's worth of advertising out of renaming the dome because as I have said, it will ALWAYS be the "Superdome."Again, how does that relate to fan support?
There are no funds to be found to support the team in the legislature (again, according to reports in the local media), and the team faces a hostile governor in the mansion.
And exactly how does that relate to fan support?Benson has argued (with some measure of success) that the Superdome is causing him not to have maximum profits in relation to the new breed of football-oriented stadiums that have been built in recent years. The Superdome is a multi-purpose facility and while it is fantastic at that, it does leave a little to be desire for the exclusive purpose of football. Because the state at this point is unwilling to build a new stadium, Benson has asked for a supplement to help with some of the losses he is encountering as a result of being forced to play in the Superdome. That is the issue at hand, and the funds were promised to help keep the Saints in New Orleans.
IT NEVER WAS A FAN SUPPORT ISSUE.
I am no fan of Blanco but in recent weeks she has made some concessions towards working with the Saints to try to keep them in New Orleans. But again, I will restate it because I think it needs to be said again: it never was a fan support issue.
Evidently (according to local observers) the Saints don't draw many fans from the second-largest town in the state, only 80 miles away, which reportedly prefers LSU college ball to pro ball.
This state is big enough to support more than one football team. The Saints are on the verge of cracking
50,000 season ticket holders for the second year in a row. How's that for crappy fan support?Also, LSU has been around longer, and I would think that LSU would draw almost everyone from Baton Rouge to their home games. Being an LSU fan does not preclude one from being a Saints fan. I would say that most in Baton Rouge favor the Tigers first, but really, in the grand scheme of things, what college town would not love the home team first? Just because you read ONE columnist's opinion in the paper doesn't make it the decree of the land.
If New Orleans is such a great football town, then why is the Super-Dome mouldering away with no prospect for upgrades?
They've discussed a plan for upgrading it. By even bringing this up, this only goes to show how pitifully misinformed you are on the subject.
If New Orleans/Louisiana is such a great pro football environment, then why don't the legislature and the governor feel compelled (in order to win their next term in office) to support the Saints?
Quite frankly I don't feel the governor supports me or my views. I voted for Jindal, who supports the Saints, but I got outvoted. Plenty of people in the legislature DO support the Saints. Otherwise, the Saints would have been long gone already.
If New Orleans (and Louisiana) is such an inviting environment for pro football, then why did the Saints have to fight tooth and nail to get the $15,000,000 dollars promised to them by the former Louisiana executive office and confirmed by the then-seated legislature?
Louisiana isn't exactly a wealthy state. But then you're so misinformed or ignorant of basic facts relating to this whole discussion that I really feel that replying more than once to this thread will be a complete waste of time.Also, it isn't N'Arlins. Only a stroke victim would pronounce it as such. It is "New Orleans."