Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards visited New Orleans Saints training camp on Monday, socializing with team owner Gayle Benson and head coach Sean Payton, and he offered an update on something of a big deal: The Saints are working with the state on a long-term plan to keep the team in New Orleans.
“The goal is to have the Saints here for 30 more years,” Edwards said after practice. “We don’t think there’s a better place in the world for the Saints.”
Edwards also discussed the plans for renovations to Mercedes-Benz Superdome, which are estimated to total more than $450 million and will help maintain its status as one of the top event venues in the country. The Saints have agreed to pay at least one-third of those costs.
Working that out should accelerate talks on the Saints’ lease with the state, which is set to expire in 2025. The Superdome is a regular host for major events in sports (Super Bowls, college bowl games) and entertainment (Wrestlemania, frequent tour stops for Beyoncé and Jay-Z), and brings in plenty of revenue beyond its role as the home of the Saints. Keeping it in stellar condition and attractive to event planners is obviously in everyone’s interest.
