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Franchises

Tom Benson Has Succession Plan In Place For Ownership Of Saints, Pelicans

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson, his family and key team execs in recent years "have prepared a succession plan to secure the futures of both franchises beyond his tenure," according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Saints and Pelicans VP/Communications Greg Bensel said that Benson's daughter Renee Benson and her two children, Rita Benson LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc, "would assume ownership of the franchises." It is "unclear if the Benson family members will equally split ownership or if they will retain majority ownership of the franchises." Rita Benson LeBlanc, who serves as co-Owner & Vice Chair for both franchises, "has worked for the Saints in various capacities for years." She also "will represent the Saints and Pelicans at their respective league meetings." It is "unknown what role, if any, Benson's wife, Gayle, will have with the club." Gayle Benson "has become more influential in recent years, playing key roles in the rebranding of the Pelicans and in the Superdome's naming rights deal with Mercedes-Benz." She is not a member of either team's BOD. Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha and Exec VP Mickey Loomis "currently preside over meetings of the clubs' executive management team, and they'll continue to be the main decision-makers for both franchises going forward." Bensel: "The plan is structured for a smooth transition of ownership rights with the ultimate goal of little, if any, impact on the operations of the teams. As both franchises are locked into long-term leases with the state (of Louisiana) there is absolutely no desire, threat or discussion related to the relocation of the teams" (NOLA.com, 3/29).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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