NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints want a new stadium but will settle for a renovated Superdome.
One way or another, however, they want a new long-term agreement worked out by Feb. 1.
“I don’t want to move and I don’t want to sell,” Saints owner Tom Benson said Wednesday. “But we have three choices – build a new stadium, enhance the Superdome, or tell us to leave.”
The Saints sent two proposals to Gov. Kathleen Blanco. One asks the state to build a new stadium in the next three years on a downtown site. The second asks the state to renovate the Superdome and extend the annual payments an additional 10 years.
Both options would extend the Saints’ contract with the state 10 years to 2020 and eliminate any ability to opt out early.
“We are open to the scope of the renovation,” Saints Vice President of Administration Arnold Fielkow said. “We think with care the Superdome can be viable at least through 2020.”
The Saints want to have an agreement worked out with the governor by Feb. 1 and approved by the Legislature this spring.
“I don’t think this is that complicated an agreement,” Fielkow said. “We have two and a half months. If intelligent players can’t reach an agreement in that time, something is wrong.”
The agreement is also needed to reassure the NFL, Fielkow said.
“There is a question within this league as to whether New Orleans is still viable as an NFL market,” Fielkow said.
Another reason to sew up the deal quickly is to allow the Saints to work at landing the 2009 or 2010 Super Bowl at the May meetings, Fielkow said.
In 2001, the Louisiana Legislature approved $187 million in concessions and payments to keep the team in the Superdome through 2010.
The deal, which was hammered out after Benson complained that the Dome was outdated and kept them from being economically competitive, guarantees the team payments from the state each year. It pays the Saints $15 million the first two years. The payment to the Saints goes to $20 million for two years and $23.5 million annually until the incentive deal expires in 2010.
The state had to borrow money to make the first payment, but would have to extend them through 2020 under either of the new deals.
“I am pleased that Mr. Benson has warmed up to my original proposal of renovating the Superdome,” Blanco said. “I am also glad to hear that the Saints want to stay in New Orleans for the long term. Of course, these negotiations have been and always will be about the money, and I heard very little discussion of that in Mr. Benson’s proposal.”
The current lease agreement allows the Saints to leave after the 2005 season by paying back the $81 million they received during the first four years of the deal. The state can opt out of the deal after 2007 if officials don’t want to guarantee the $23.5 million annual inducements that begin in 2008.
Benson has pushed for a new stadium in the past, but there is little economic or public support for such a facility, estimated to cost at least $450 million.
The Superdome commission is currently studying the feasibility of building a new stadium or renovating the Dome. Preliminary reports put the cost of renovating the Superdome at between $160 million and $170 million.
“My position remains clear: I would like the Saints to remain in New Orleans and play in a renovated Superdome,” Blanco said. “I believe that the franchise should help pay for these renovations and that the state’s lease with the team should be restructured to move away from paying cash inducements and toward providing the team with enhanced opportunities to earn revenues in a renovated Superdome.”
The Saints would see if money for the renovation is available from the league, Fielkow said, but would not invest team money.
“It’s a state building,” Fielkow pointed out.
The new proposal would reduce the state payments by the amount of new revenue a Superdome renovation created, however.
“We sincerely want to be here,” Fielkow said. “Invest in us.”
