Affordable Housing Institute : US

Symbols matter, and as New Orleans struggles to be reborn, via ESPN comes a rumor that, if it proves true, would be a severe psychological blow to New Orleans‘ hopes:

 

New Orleans 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.

 

Not playing football any time soon

 

With the New Orleans Superdome unusable (link to 1.8 Meg aerial view), the Saints are already vagabonds, playing its first three home games in San Antonio, which might move up from interim to permanent home:

 

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.

 

Coming in 10 to 15 years?

 

The issue isn’t simply the availability of a venue, but New Orleans‘ longer-term economic prospects:

 

Marc Ganis of SportsCorp Ltd. in Chicago … 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.

 

“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.”

 

As I’ve previously blogged, major businesses that have relocated are unlikely to return, and those connected to the port will not employ large numbers of people.  Meanwhile, the decision is not simply one for a single owner (who, by the way, has shown no loyalty whatsoever to New Orleans):

 

Saints owner Tom Benson: “Ave et atque vale, Big Easy?”

 

“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.

 

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.

 

The best case for Cajuns is that the Saints stay not in New Orleans but at least in Louisiana, up the Mississippi to Baton Rouge, site of not only the state capital but also LSU’s 80,000 seat Tiger Stadium where (not coincidentally) the Saints will play their last four home games this year.

O when the saints go marchin’ out
O Lord I want me a season ticket
When the saints go marchin’ out

 

In case it bothers you to contemplate that the Saints might no longer be marching in New Orleans but somewhere else (San Antonio Santos, anyone?), be reminded that what used to be the NBA’s New Orleans franchise now plays as the Utah Jazz.

 

 

Mormon jazz?  Only in America.

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