When the New Orleans Saints return to Tiger Stadium on Sunday for the second of four games in Baton Rouge, Saints owner Tom Benson will not be in attendance.
Benson e-mailed the NFL Commissioner’s office this week to announce his decision to not return to Baton Rouge for not only the Saints’ Sunday game against the Chicago Bears but the rest of the season because of fear for his safety after last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
“I will not return to Baton Rouge for any reason, including any games scheduled for the end of this season or a contemplated next season,” Benson said in the e-mail, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “No person, much less the owner of NFL team, should have either he, his family or his friends subjected to this form of danger, intimidation and abuse. I was advised not to go but wanted to support the League.”
The Saints’ offense has accumulated more first downs, offensive yards and passing yards than the defense has allowed opponents combined.
But the Saints have not been able to hang on to the only lead that matters – the score.
Despite the (2-5) record before the loss to Miami, 61,643 tickets were sold for last Sunday’s game. Most of the fans remained in the stadium for the majority of the game.
Destin Harcus, an accounting sophomore, said he walked around the stadium until kickoff looking for tickets he could afford, but ended up watching the game from home. He said he did not see any disturbances during his ticket search that would keep Benson away.
“I think it’s out of control. We had like 70,000 fans last weekend to show up and support his team,” Harcus said. “I was walking around the stadium and the fans were decent about everything. For him to leave us like that, I don’t think that’s right.”
Harcus added that although he did not see any fans out of control, he thinks the boos, signs and harassment after the game are justified.
“The Saints have been here for a while. They have only won one playoff game and the fans still have supported them throughout the years,” Harcus said. “I think since they have supported them long enough [Benson] should keep them in town. I think they are valid.”
 
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