Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is interested in buying the Saints (7 Viewers)

[Clintonrebel]

I don’t know what’s with the relocation fear.
If you include Mississippi and parts of Alabama and Pensacola, the Saints market is about 7 million.

No fear here. But an out of state owner is going to always be looking for the next stadium deal. Hopefully ownership stays local.

 

[El Caliente]

No fear here. But an out of state owner is going to always be looking for the next stadium deal. Hopefully ownership stays local.

Not necessarily. If an out of state owner comes in it might be due to his team putting them on notice that having a team in their own back yard might be a major distraction, and cause them to lose sight of the business that caused them to get to where they are.

Just saying, an out of state owner doesn’t mean the team will be moved or that the team will even get a new stadium.

 

[Saint Jack]

No fear here. But an out of state owner is going to always be looking for the next stadium deal. Hopefully ownership stays local.

Counterpoint.
The 32 NFL franchises are the most valuable sports franchises in the country.
Only the Dodgers, Lakers, Celtics, and Yankees come close.
Unless you’re in NY, LA, or Chicago, you have about a 90% chance of your franchise owner being out of state.

 

[DerrickB]

Story has finally made it's way to Twitter.

 

[Noble Saint]

Uh... Is anyone in New Orleans REALLY able to throw stones at another city for having a crime or corruption problem?

Who in New Orleans is throwing stones? I live in Jackson lol. So there’s that.

 

[Saint-CJ]

If that’s what it takes to get rid of Loomis…

 

[Noble Saint]

Not necessarily. If an out of state owner comes in it might be due to his team putting them on notice that having a team in their own back yard might be a major distraction, and cause them to lose sight of the business that caused them to get to where they are.

Just saying, an out of state owner doesn’t mean the team will be moved or that the team will even get a new stadium.

True but it would be a much more secure feeling if the owner was tied to and invested in New Orleans.

 

[No2DC]

The NFL got rid of that rule.
You can now own franchises in different markets.

The Washington owner owns the pro teams: Sixers, Commanders, and, I think, the Devils in hockey.

 

[NatureBoy]

True but it would be a much more secure feeling if the owner was tied to and invested in New Orleans.

That was my point earlier. Fertita is a restaurant/hotel magnate. His base is in Houston. He owns the Rockets, controls the Toyota Center and has numerous restaurants in Houston. While his lower end chains might not fit New Orleans, the upper end certainly does. His chains stretch across the country, and he has a big presence in Vegas, as he owns Golden Nuggett, etc. Spreading his reach and home base to New Orleans could mean the Saints, Superdome and local market make a lot of sense for him. Maybe he'd want to bring a Golden Nugget hotel casino to New Orleans. I don't think the Saints combined with the Pelicans would have to be part of any deal. Tom and Gayle brought them together, but Gayle could sell one and keep the other, if she wanted. Or she could sell both to different owners, etc. I think Tillman is a jerk, but a lot of people with that kind of wealth are. Tom wasn't exactly a saint. Tillman is extremely demanding to do business with. I don't know if the sports product is as important to him as the bottom line is. That would be my concerns, more so than him moving the team.

 

[soupcan dan]

I'd be willing to sell a rental property.

Toledo Saints anyone?

 

[pierce2poydras]

I know everyone was on Gayle's case to fire Allen when it seemed like Loomis wouldn't act- but I'd take a hands-off owner who's embedded in the community like her over some financial mogul that wants us as a collectible 10/10 times.

I also know the first move wouldn't be to move cities (probably), but i don't like even entertaining the idea. Because I'm really worried about a New Orleans with no Saints team.

 

[tjharris]

The Saints are still the only pro team across multiple states.

Kansas City is 2 states
New England is 4 or 5 states
Both Carolinas

 

[NatureBoy]

I know everyone was on Gayle's case to fire Allen when it seemed like Loomis wouldn't act- but I'd take a hands-off owner who's embedded in the community like her over some financial mogul that wants us as a collectible 10/10 times.

I also know the first move wouldn't be to move cities (probably), but i don't like even entertaining the idea. Because I'm really worried about a New Orleans with no Saints team.

Spot on. I look at it like this. If New Orleans didn't have an NFL team today, where in the pecking order would we be for relocation/expansion? I'd bet we woulldn't be at the top of many lists. We'd need to hold on to what we have. The city continues to deteriorate while other cities are now challenging/surpassing New Orleans as convention and tourism options. We don't want to become the next Oakland. They're dead in the water.

 

[NatureBoy]

Kansas City is 2 states
New England is 4 or 5 states
Both Carolinas

Here is a map that shows which counties/states root for which NFL teams. I don't think area matters as much as density. It's now how many states or counties, but how many people live in those counties and states.

PS. It's an old map that still shows the Rams in STL and doesn't reflect the Raiders move to Vegas, but as everyone can see, there are a lot of teams that have multiple state markets.

 

[pierce2poydras]

Spot on. I look at it like this. If New Orleans didn't have an NFL team today, where in the pecking order would we be for relocation/expansion? I'd bet we woulldn't be at the top of many lists. We'd need to hold on to what we have. The city continues to deteriorate while other cities are now challenging/surpassing New Orleans as convention and tourism options. We don't want to become the next Oakland. They're dead in the water.

Absolutely. I worry about how the city would hold together when we don't have to clean up and be presentable 8+ times a year on Sundays. How many things would be in much worse condition than they already are if we weren't gonna be hosting a Super Bowl every 10-15 years? lol. Sad but genuine concerns