Saints and Hornets Owner Tom Benson is “looking at the percentage of Saints season-ticket holders who also hold Hornets' season tickets to increase," and he hopes to "play a role in the round-ball push,” according to Peter Finney of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Benson said, "We've sold more than 72,000 season tickets for the 2012 season. We had a 99.8 percent renewal rate, the best in the NFL.'' He added, "Last season Hornets season ticket sales came to 10,000. Our goal for the 2012-13 season: 17,000. Can we do it? Watch." When the Hornets' schedule was announced, Benson “noted 13 of the 41 home games will be played on Saturday night.” He said, "I immediately thought of Champions Square, events we could stage involving those Saturday games, how we could market them, getting the tourist commission, even cruise-ship lines involved, mixing a basketball game with a weekend in New Orleans." Finney noted as far as the local economy, Benson “likes what he sees in automobiles and banks, two areas in which he has had experience.” Benson: “We've had banks, profitable ones, who have moved in and are doing well. The automobile business is doing fine. I'm getting word that two large restaurant chains are considering moving into the Champions Square area. The more I get around, the mood seems upbeat” (NOLA.com, 7/29).
