NEW ORLEANS -- A cordial tone returned to efforts to keep
the Saints in New Orleans, as Gov. Mike Foster and owner Tom Benson
agreed Thursday to resume negotiations on July 9.
"They had a very warm and cordial conversation and I think even
had a chuckle about some of the things this week," said Foster's
chief of staff Steve Perry, who has been conducting the
negotiations for the state.
On his weekly radio show Thursday, Foster said he talked with
Benson by telephone and they agreed to meet after Benson returns
from a Florida vacation.
The two have not attended most previous negotiations but Foster
said they will both attend the July 9 session to avoid any
confusion over what is said and not said.
"The two gorillas are going to sit on the sidelines and try to
keep it straight," Foster said.
Negotiations broke down Tuesday with each side blaming the
other. Benson and Gov. Mike Foster exchanged acrimonious letters
Wednesday but agreed to keep talking.
Benson's letter included a "final offer" that no longer
included his previous demand for a new stadium by the 2006 season.
Under that proposal, the state would guarantee the Saints an
average $15 million in increased revenue for five years and the
Saints would put off demands for a new stadium by the 2006 season.
However, a new stadium would be studied and if the state does not
agree by the end of 2004 to have a new stadium in place by 2008,
the Saints could get out of their current lease for a $25 million
penalty after the 2005 season.
New Orleans business and political leaders gathered at the
Superdome Thursday to meet with state officials and discuss the
latest offer.
The group appointed four members to study all of the recent
offers and counteroffers and try to distill them down to what would
work. They hope to have a proposal for Benson and his negotiators
at the July 9 meeting, Perry said.
"The bottom line is do we want them? Certainly we want them, we
need them, they are an integral part of this community," said
state Sen. Diana Bajoie. "We want to do things that are reasonable
to keep them here."
It was clear, however, that the idea of a new stadium remains a
hard sell for Benson.
"I do not see any consensus in this community to build a new
stadium at this point," Mayor Marc Morial said after leaving the
meeting. "I think everyone would be open to a fair and deliberate
process to analyze it. But I think there is tremendous support for
the Louisiana Superdome.
"It's a tremendous facility. It's a first class facility. We're
going to play the Super Bowl here this year. I can't wait until it
comes and the world has a chance to see how great this building
is."
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