Saints OK With Mercedes-Benz' Move To Buy Falcons Stadium Naming Rights

Saints President Dennis Lauscha said that the team "has a strong relationship with Mercedes-Benz and the car company could still extend its naming rights agreement with the Superdome" beyond '21 despite recently announcing that it had purchased naming for rights for the Falcons' new stadium, according to Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Lauscha said of Mercedes-Benz USA President & CEO Steve Cannon, "He contacted us and said, 'Hey, look, we're going to do this. We want to let you know we're going to do this. We certainly mean no disrespect in any way, shape or form.' ... At the end of the day, it's working. It's good for their brand. The NFL is delivering a gigantic television market each week." Lauscha added that it is "not a given that the Superdome will have a new name" after '21. Mercedes-Benz "has the right to extend the agreement built into the contract and hasn't ruled out doing so." Lauscha: "The relationship is very good. We're very happy and they're very happy" (NOLA.com, 8/28).