Superdome Will Pay Saints Owner Benson Fraction Of Subsidy

Superdome officials indicated that they will pay Saints Owner Tom Benson “only a fraction of a $15[M] subsidy for 2005 because of home games lost to Hurricane Katrina,” according to Tom Orsborn of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The officials said that they calculated the prorated $3.3M subsidy “based on the team having played only two preseason games at the Superdome,” eight fewer than scheduled. Saints officials declined comment. Phil Wittmann, the attorney representing the team’s interests in Louisiana, said, “Don’t try to read anything between the lines there. We have not made any decisions about next year at all, nor do we know whether the Superdome can be renovated” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/13).

Saints Using Nick Saban’s Return To Push Tickets

NICK OF TIME: In Shreveport, Glenn Guilbeau reported the Saints “will be pushing the Nick Saban angle as much as” the team to sell tickets for the October 30 game at LSU’s Tiger Stadium against the Dolphins and the former LSU coach. Saints VP/Administration Arnold Fielkow said, “When we called this by the way on Thursday night, I didn’t think our top running back [Deuce McAllister] would be out for the season and I didn’t think we’d be going into the [Falcons] game off of [a 52-3 loss to the Packers].” Fielkow said of the four games in Baton Rouge, “Starting it off with the [Dolphins] game brings a lot of marketing possibilities to it unrelated in some ways to the Saints that I think will create some excitement” (SHREVEPORT TIMES, 10/12). Fielkow added that despite 50,000 tickets remaining for the Dolphins game, the Saints are “confident Louisiana fans will make [the game] a financial success.” In New Orleans, Jimmy Smith noted the team put six staff members in Baton Rouge for pregame sales, “a number that will swell after” Falcons-Saints in San Antonio on Sunday. Fielkow said that the Saints “will spend considerable resources in marketing the four games in Baton Rouge.” Saints Regional Sales Dir Mike Feder said that the team “will continue to concentrate its efforts on a regional pitch.” Feder said 30% “of all season ticket holders come from an area 50 miles outside of New Orleans. We’ve always been a regional franchise” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 10/12).

BAR NONE: In Baton Rouge, Scott Dyer reports the Metro Council has decided not to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in East Baton Rouge Parish bars on the four Sundays the Saints will play at Tiger Stadium. Metro Council member Mickey Skyring had “introduced a resolution to suspend enforcement of the Sunday bar closing law” (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 10/13).

HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS: In San Antonio, David Flores reported KABB-Fox, which “had the option to carry” Falcons-Saints this Sunday, will broadcast Cowboys-Giants instead. KABB GM John Seabers “expects the Cowboys ratings to remain in the high teens to the 20s.” Seabers: “That’s traditional for the Cowboys, regardless of the game that is against them. ... Of the e-mails we got concerning the Cowboys and the Saints and who we should show, it was 200-to-1 in favor of the Cowboys” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/13).