Posted May 13, 200520 yr Would Saints fit with state? By Iliana Lim?n Tribune Reporter May 12, 2005 Can't land an NFL exhibition game? No problem. Can't build a minor league arena without loads of red tape? Doesn't matter. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is thinking bigger, having officials from the state meet with the New Orleans Saints owner about moving the unhappy Louisiana football team to Albuquerque. "The governor is interested in having an NFL team in New Mexico," Pahl Shipley, who works in the governor's Communications Office, said today. "And he is continuing to pursue sports as an economic development tool for the state." Saints owner Tom Benson has said he wants improvements to the Saints' home, the Superdome, or more cash subsidies from the state of Louisiana. He said last year the state could accept his proposals or "tell us to leave." Lease negotiations between Benson and the state broke down last month. Stanley Rosenberg, Benson's attorney, was quoted in the San Antonio (Texas) Express News on Wednesday as saying Benson is considering moving the team after the 2005 season to several cities, including Albuquerque and San Antonio, Texas. Rosenberg said he met last week with New Mexico officials. "They have an interest, a real interest, in having a National Football League team," Rosenberg said. He said Richardson's representatives already have requested a follow-up meeting. But there's ample competition. Rosenberg told the newspaper he has received several offers from parties interested in either buying the Saints or persuading Benson to move the team. One offer exceeded $1 billion, Rosenberg said. If Benson leaves after next season, he would have to repay the state of Louisiana about $81 million in cash subsidies he has received since the current lease took effect in 2001. Could the Duke City really be a fit remains up for debate. State Rep. Ted Hobbs of Albuquerque, a longtime Republican fiscal conservative, said it's possible. "It would be extremely positive if the governor could actually pull it off," Hobbs said today. "I know a lot of people would be happy to support him if he could make it happen. "I think Albuquerque could support a major franchise, but I'm not sure the Saints would be it." Hobbs said he hasn't heard any details about the negotiations and declined to suggest any other pro franchises that might be a better fit. Hess Yntema, a former city councilor who has seen all sorts of wrangling over the city's minor league sports relationships, said he doubts Albuquerque can land a pro team. "It strikes me as unlikely because of the population involved," Yntema said today. "My understanding of pro teams, based on my work on the City Council dealing with minor league baseball, was that Albuquerque probably isn't big enough to support that type of team." The numbers make the move seem like a long shot. The Saints are worth $627 million and generate revenue of $157 million annually, according to a 2004 Forbes survey of NFL teams. The team's season ticket prices range from $250 to $1,300. And it can lure fans from New Orleans metropolitan area, which boasts a population of 1.33 million, according to the 2000 census. If the Saints moved to Albuquerque, they would have rely on the census' tally of 712,000 people from the Albuquerque-Rio Rancho metro area. And those potential fans have a median household income of $38,272, which is below the national average of $41,994. The numbers were so unattractive that Arena Football League officials said last year the city wasn't big enough to handle a franchise. Instead, league officials suggested Albuquerque go for an ArenaFootball2 team. "I don't doubt there would be a ton of support from people; it's just hard to imagine the NFL would see us as a viable market," Yntema said. And then there's the sticky issue of why the Saints owner is looking for greener pastures. The team likely would expect big-ticket subsidies from Albuquerque residents, a prospect so divisive among city councilors that is has thwarted the many incarnations of a Downtown minor league arena. City Councilor Tina Cummins said she would be overjoyed to welcome the Saints in Albuquerque, but she said city leaders shouldn't be the ones making the final decision on such a big-ticket deal. "I support this and think it's a tremendous economic opportunity for the city and state, but I also think any sort of bonds have to be approved by a referendum, a public vote," she said today. "We have to let the voters decide on this because they are the ones who are going to foot the bill for this." Ultimately, Albuquerque could end up as merely a bargaining chip on Benson's quest for more support in New Orleans. And that's OK by Cummins. "Anything you can do to put Albuquerque in a positive light is great," she said. "I'm pleased the owner of the Saints is willing to even consider Albuquerque and the governor is stepping up to meet with him and discuss every possible incentive to bring the team here. "This might not happen, but it definitely still makes Albuquerque look good." Anaheim unveils plans for potential NFL stadium NFL.com wire reports ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 10, 2005) -- The city of Anaheim outlined plans for a football stadium near the home of the Angels that could house an NFL franchise by 2008. NFL Network NFL Network Analysis, opinions, features and more! Download Super Bowl XXXIX radio broadcasts and highlights to your MP3 player! Field Pass Listen LIVE to NFL games, plus watch video news and features of your favorite team. "We have an economic impact report approved for a 70,500-seat state-of-the-art stadium," said John Nicoletti, the city's external affairs manager. "We are working with the NFL to finalize our term sheet for their upcoming owners meeting May 24-25 in Washington, D.C. "We would love to be able to host NFL games in 2008." Anaheim is one of four sites in the greater Los Angeles area being considered for an NFL franchise. The others are the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and a proposed stadium in Carson. Nicoletti, joined by several other city officials at the presentation, said the plan included a grand parkway that would link the stadium with Disneyland and other sports venues. "If called upon, we are ready to make our presentation to the NFL owners at the meetings in two weeks," Nicoletti said. David Carter, principal of The Sports Business Group, a marketing consultant, said after months of study he believes Anaheim is the best site for an NFL owner. Anaheim hired the Sports Business Group last fall to ascertain the best site from an owner's perspective for an NFL franchise in the greater Los Angeles area. The proposed stadium in Anaheim is about 35 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. "If I'm an NFL owner, I think I can make more money and build my franchise value more in Anaheim than at the other sites," Carter said. But, Carter added, there are other elements to consider. "We came back with the fact that each of the four competing sites has some real attributes and each has shortcomings," he said. "Ultimately, Anaheim's biggest shortcoming is the real estate values continue to escalate rapidly and the city believes there are additional uses for that land. "(Anaheim) may be the optimal site if you're an NFL owner, but it's very expensive, almost so attractive it could be tough to justify putting an NFL stadium in there." The area has been without an NFL franchise since the Rams left Anaheim for St. Louis and the Raiders left Los Angeles for Oakland before the 1995 season. I'd like to add that other than Albuquerque and LA, San Antonio is also a rumored destination. Can you say Los Angeles Saints of Anaheim?
May 14, 200520 yr i can't imagine albuquerque .... ever it's a small POS city that doesn't have the population, even within driving distance, to support an NFL team
May 14, 200520 yr The LA/Anaheim area needs a team badly. It's unacceptable they don't have one. Also, while what Bill Richardson doing is awesome for the state of New Mexico, Albuquerque doesn't seem like a place that could support a team. There really aren't any other cities that close to Albuquerque and Albuquerque doesn't have a real enourmous population.
May 14, 200520 yr The LA/Anaheim area needs a team badly. It's unacceptable they don't have one. 772549[/snapback] How about the Raiders? :lol
May 14, 200520 yr The LA/Anaheim area needs a team badly.? It's unacceptable they don't have one. 772549[/snapback] How about the Raiders? :lol 772597[/snapback] Oakland=5/6 hours from LA :blink:
May 14, 200520 yr I said the Raiders because they were Oakland, then LA, and now Oakland... why not go for another run in LA.
May 14, 200520 yr The LA/Anaheim area needs a team badly. It's unacceptable they don't have one. 772549[/snapback] How about the Raiders? :lol 772597[/snapback] Oakland=5/6 hours from LA :blink: 772612[/snapback] Don't forget about the Rams... :whistle
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.