primadox
Kellye in Houston TX
I'll start by saying sorry for your loss to KC tonight. I also pray for the safety of everyone in your region as we deal with yet another devastating storm.
If I could just take a moment of your time, things are heating up regarding a relocation of the New Orleans Saints, and I'm asking for help regarding the situation. The situation is explained at length below, and we're hoping to get some people who go to upcoming games to make some sort of recognition of the situation at hand. A simple "Keep the Saints in New Orleans" sign would do wonders for the cause, and I'm hoping you all will be willing to oblige. It really is a sad situation.
Throughout the past week, the threat of relocation has been more real than ever for the New Orleans Saints. In between the time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city I love, the region I love, causing ample problems as far as having family flung about, cleanup, etc. And between all that, I now have to deal with the threat of the football team I’ve loved since I was a child being literally stolen, as are millions of fans across the Gulf Coast. With Wilma threatening your area, I know that you understand -- how would you feel if Dolphins' facilities were damaged badly, and they had to go finish the season elsewhere, welcomed into a new city with open arms under the assumption that "we're just here to help". Then a few weeks later that same city starts a campaign to keep your Fins, while you are in the middle of rebuilding and recovering. How would you feel?
Not since a statement made prior to opening weekend ("The New Orleans Saints look forward to the start of the NFL regular season this Sunday and to having the Club be a source of pride and joy in these difficult days. As we move forward together, the Saints look forward to serving as a leader in the rebuilding and revitalization of our great community. "---Tom Benson as reported in the Sun Herald.), Mr. Benson has given no further statement of commitment to New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, or the Gulf Coast. His actions, on the other hand, have spoken volumes and contradict his earlier statements. On Monday, Executive Vice President Arnold Fielkow was fired by Benson. Fielkow, the individual responsible for the 36-game sellout streak in New Orleans that has been going on the past few years, called Benson on his nonexistent marketing campaigns and the lack of a real commitment to New Orleans. Arnold Fielkow felt the New Orleans Saints should play an integral role in the reemergence of the storied city, and Tom Benson did not care for that point of view. Soon afterwards, Connie “Conrad†Kowal resigned due to the same commitment to New Orleans.
Next, the San Antonio Mayor, Phil Hardberger, issued this statement, “I think Tom Benson would like to stay here permanently and I, as mayor of San Antonio, would like to have the team stay here permanently. He understands that we will sit down and talk.â€Â
The day afterwards, the NFL came out with a statement that stated neither Tom Benson, nor the mayor of San Antonio, has any authority in initiating a move. That is an NFL decision.
Around this time, a grassroots campaign at saintsreport website was initiated. The plan of action was, and still is, to show NFL that Louisiana and the Gulf Coast can still support the team that they have supported since 1967. The first goal, to sell the Baton Rouge games out. Mayor Hardberger in San Antonio went as far as to say “Baton Rouge is a disaster. We will outsell them two-to-one.â€Â
As of last update, the ticket sales were going briskly, and we are somewhere around 55,000 tickets sold thus far. That is an incredible feat, seeing as how there has been little marketing effort by the Saints organization. Want proof of how dedicated the fans are? The fans have purchased airtime over radio station all across the Gulf Coast imploring anyone who wants professional football in the Gulf Coast to make their voices heard by purchasing tickets. Fans are paying for advertisement time, picking up the slack of marketing where Benson has failed. Many of us believe that Benson wanted to depress ticket sales in Baton Rouge so he could argue to the league that he can't make money in Louisiana and then he could move the team to San Antonio. He didn't even open up a real ticket office in Baton Rouge until this week, and the game is next weekend. He bought tickets to support the "sellout" at the Alamodome, yet not one seat has been bought and donated by him at Tiger Stadium.
He is trying to get out of his 1$ a year lease on the practice facility in Metairie, citing that it is "unusable" due to damage from FEMA officials using it during Katrina. A tour by WWL-TV cameras showed a spotless facility. The next four "home" games are in Baton Rouge, just a little over an hour up the road, yet the Saints are bouncing all around San Antonio right now for practices, moving between the Alamodome and high school football fields, since the Alamodome is booked with other events right now. So....flying to your "home" games, using sub-standard practice facilities instead of returning closer to home (no reports of players/coaches homes being severely damaged or destroyed, so they could conceivably return home; schools are open and businesses are re-opening daily), just because you 'have' to stay in San Antonio -- Mr. Benson is not acting in the best interest of his team or the NFL.
But enough Benson-bashing .... NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be present at the Oct. 30th game against your Dolphins, held at Tiger Stadium in LSU, and will bear witness to an airplane hired by the Saints fans that will trail behind it a banner to read “Tagliabue, SOS: Keep Our Saints in New Orleans!†10,000 flyers are being printed out explaining the dire situation to fans not in the know. All at the fans expense. And our grassroots movement is gaining steam! We have just hit national radio. On Sporting News Radio, all of these developments are being illustrated for the first time to the national media by Tim Brando. The New Orleans Saints belong to the fans of Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast, and we are showing that in full-force.
I'm not here to ask for money, though. What we're doing is asking other teams to make a sign for us at their games. Philly, Atlanta, and the Raiders are helping already, and I thought I'd come ask our fellow NFL fans for two reasons: first is, well to be honest, I like you because you have the best coach in the NFL (I'm an LSU grad, and I'm thrilled that Nick is getting a shot in the NFL with a class organization like the Dolphins). Secondly, we're making signs at our game in Baton Rouge on October 30 against the Dolphins -- not derogatory towards your team, but instead in a plea to keep our team. Tag will be at that game. We're asking other fans at other games to make signs this weekend and next supporting the Saints staying in New Orleans. Something positive and to the point like "The Saints Belong in New Orleans." If you are attending the game in Baton Rouge (and we promise some GREAT tailgating!! Stop on by!!) and feel that this would reduce your support for your Dolphins at this particular game on the 30th, then keep it in mind for future games this year. But so much attention will be placed on the Saints fan support at this game, and a message supporting our cause from the other team's fans would be powerful.
Guys and gals, I personally think that this is a lot to ask. My own belief is that signs at games should support your team, and any air time given to a Saints sign is air time taken from one supporting the Dolphins. I wouldn't normally ask, but it's so important to us. You know what it's like to have your city clawing its way back from a horrible hurricane (Andrew). Taking our team under these circumstances would be--well, one reporter said it would make Art Modell look honorable.
I ask for fifteen minutes of your time and about seven bucks. Buy a posterboard and a black sharpie. It doesn’t need to be pretty, but it needs to get the point across. Write on that posterboard in bold “Tagliabue, SOS: Keep the Saints in New Orleans!â€Â, or “Fix The Dome, Bring Them Home!†or any other manner of supporting the stay of the Saints in New Orleans. If you are not going to a game, contact your favorite team regardless. Let the officials of your favorite team know the situation of the New Orleans Saints, and let them know the rotten manner in which the loyal fans of nearly forty years are being treated. In either occasion, it would not take long to help this noble task New Orleans Saints fans are trying to accomplish.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all of you for helping out. I pray that you never have to fight for your Miami Dolphins as we are having to do for our Saints.
Kellye Slatton
Houston, TX
(New Orleans native and lifetime Saints fan)
If I could just take a moment of your time, things are heating up regarding a relocation of the New Orleans Saints, and I'm asking for help regarding the situation. The situation is explained at length below, and we're hoping to get some people who go to upcoming games to make some sort of recognition of the situation at hand. A simple "Keep the Saints in New Orleans" sign would do wonders for the cause, and I'm hoping you all will be willing to oblige. It really is a sad situation.
Throughout the past week, the threat of relocation has been more real than ever for the New Orleans Saints. In between the time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city I love, the region I love, causing ample problems as far as having family flung about, cleanup, etc. And between all that, I now have to deal with the threat of the football team I’ve loved since I was a child being literally stolen, as are millions of fans across the Gulf Coast. With Wilma threatening your area, I know that you understand -- how would you feel if Dolphins' facilities were damaged badly, and they had to go finish the season elsewhere, welcomed into a new city with open arms under the assumption that "we're just here to help". Then a few weeks later that same city starts a campaign to keep your Fins, while you are in the middle of rebuilding and recovering. How would you feel?
Not since a statement made prior to opening weekend ("The New Orleans Saints look forward to the start of the NFL regular season this Sunday and to having the Club be a source of pride and joy in these difficult days. As we move forward together, the Saints look forward to serving as a leader in the rebuilding and revitalization of our great community. "---Tom Benson as reported in the Sun Herald.), Mr. Benson has given no further statement of commitment to New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, or the Gulf Coast. His actions, on the other hand, have spoken volumes and contradict his earlier statements. On Monday, Executive Vice President Arnold Fielkow was fired by Benson. Fielkow, the individual responsible for the 36-game sellout streak in New Orleans that has been going on the past few years, called Benson on his nonexistent marketing campaigns and the lack of a real commitment to New Orleans. Arnold Fielkow felt the New Orleans Saints should play an integral role in the reemergence of the storied city, and Tom Benson did not care for that point of view. Soon afterwards, Connie “Conrad†Kowal resigned due to the same commitment to New Orleans.
Next, the San Antonio Mayor, Phil Hardberger, issued this statement, “I think Tom Benson would like to stay here permanently and I, as mayor of San Antonio, would like to have the team stay here permanently. He understands that we will sit down and talk.â€Â
The day afterwards, the NFL came out with a statement that stated neither Tom Benson, nor the mayor of San Antonio, has any authority in initiating a move. That is an NFL decision.
Around this time, a grassroots campaign at saintsreport website was initiated. The plan of action was, and still is, to show NFL that Louisiana and the Gulf Coast can still support the team that they have supported since 1967. The first goal, to sell the Baton Rouge games out. Mayor Hardberger in San Antonio went as far as to say “Baton Rouge is a disaster. We will outsell them two-to-one.â€Â
As of last update, the ticket sales were going briskly, and we are somewhere around 55,000 tickets sold thus far. That is an incredible feat, seeing as how there has been little marketing effort by the Saints organization. Want proof of how dedicated the fans are? The fans have purchased airtime over radio station all across the Gulf Coast imploring anyone who wants professional football in the Gulf Coast to make their voices heard by purchasing tickets. Fans are paying for advertisement time, picking up the slack of marketing where Benson has failed. Many of us believe that Benson wanted to depress ticket sales in Baton Rouge so he could argue to the league that he can't make money in Louisiana and then he could move the team to San Antonio. He didn't even open up a real ticket office in Baton Rouge until this week, and the game is next weekend. He bought tickets to support the "sellout" at the Alamodome, yet not one seat has been bought and donated by him at Tiger Stadium.
He is trying to get out of his 1$ a year lease on the practice facility in Metairie, citing that it is "unusable" due to damage from FEMA officials using it during Katrina. A tour by WWL-TV cameras showed a spotless facility. The next four "home" games are in Baton Rouge, just a little over an hour up the road, yet the Saints are bouncing all around San Antonio right now for practices, moving between the Alamodome and high school football fields, since the Alamodome is booked with other events right now. So....flying to your "home" games, using sub-standard practice facilities instead of returning closer to home (no reports of players/coaches homes being severely damaged or destroyed, so they could conceivably return home; schools are open and businesses are re-opening daily), just because you 'have' to stay in San Antonio -- Mr. Benson is not acting in the best interest of his team or the NFL.
But enough Benson-bashing .... NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be present at the Oct. 30th game against your Dolphins, held at Tiger Stadium in LSU, and will bear witness to an airplane hired by the Saints fans that will trail behind it a banner to read “Tagliabue, SOS: Keep Our Saints in New Orleans!†10,000 flyers are being printed out explaining the dire situation to fans not in the know. All at the fans expense. And our grassroots movement is gaining steam! We have just hit national radio. On Sporting News Radio, all of these developments are being illustrated for the first time to the national media by Tim Brando. The New Orleans Saints belong to the fans of Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast, and we are showing that in full-force.
I'm not here to ask for money, though. What we're doing is asking other teams to make a sign for us at their games. Philly, Atlanta, and the Raiders are helping already, and I thought I'd come ask our fellow NFL fans for two reasons: first is, well to be honest, I like you because you have the best coach in the NFL (I'm an LSU grad, and I'm thrilled that Nick is getting a shot in the NFL with a class organization like the Dolphins). Secondly, we're making signs at our game in Baton Rouge on October 30 against the Dolphins -- not derogatory towards your team, but instead in a plea to keep our team. Tag will be at that game. We're asking other fans at other games to make signs this weekend and next supporting the Saints staying in New Orleans. Something positive and to the point like "The Saints Belong in New Orleans." If you are attending the game in Baton Rouge (and we promise some GREAT tailgating!! Stop on by!!) and feel that this would reduce your support for your Dolphins at this particular game on the 30th, then keep it in mind for future games this year. But so much attention will be placed on the Saints fan support at this game, and a message supporting our cause from the other team's fans would be powerful.
Guys and gals, I personally think that this is a lot to ask. My own belief is that signs at games should support your team, and any air time given to a Saints sign is air time taken from one supporting the Dolphins. I wouldn't normally ask, but it's so important to us. You know what it's like to have your city clawing its way back from a horrible hurricane (Andrew). Taking our team under these circumstances would be--well, one reporter said it would make Art Modell look honorable.
I ask for fifteen minutes of your time and about seven bucks. Buy a posterboard and a black sharpie. It doesn’t need to be pretty, but it needs to get the point across. Write on that posterboard in bold “Tagliabue, SOS: Keep the Saints in New Orleans!â€Â, or “Fix The Dome, Bring Them Home!†or any other manner of supporting the stay of the Saints in New Orleans. If you are not going to a game, contact your favorite team regardless. Let the officials of your favorite team know the situation of the New Orleans Saints, and let them know the rotten manner in which the loyal fans of nearly forty years are being treated. In either occasion, it would not take long to help this noble task New Orleans Saints fans are trying to accomplish.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to all of you for helping out. I pray that you never have to fight for your Miami Dolphins as we are having to do for our Saints.
Kellye Slatton
Houston, TX
(New Orleans native and lifetime Saints fan)
