((HT: WVUE-TV/Fox 8-Natasha Robin))
A Saints official confirms ((Tuesday night)) that team leaders will meet with lawmakers tomorrow about negotiations for a long term deal. Governor ((Bobby)) Jindal will also be there to bring Lawmakers up to speed on what's been discussed so far. Governor Jindal says there has been "significant movement" between the two sides.
The new agreement could keep the Saints in New Orleans for years. As part of the new long term deal, Saints owner Tom Benson may buy Dominion Tower ((pictured, thanks Fox 8)) and lease much of the space back to the city and the state.
After several inspections, the total price tag for a full rehab on the building is somewhere between 20 and 50 million dollars. The goal is to eliminate the need for direct cash subsidies from the state to the Saints and at the same time, breathe new life into a commercial corridor that has yet to come back from Katrina.
Any new deal would have to be approved by lawmakers. Adding yet another level of urgency to the proposal, NFL owners decide in just a few weeks if New Orleans bid to host the 2013 Superbowl moves forward.
A deal with Benson could dramatically boost the odds.
Here's the video version from Fox 8 in New Orleans...
No comments:
Post a Comment