The fact that the Saints want the media to quit talking about the displacement of 1,200 season-ticket holders as part of the relocation of the press box to accommodate new luxury suites means that we’ll talk about it even more than we otherwise would have.
The latest development came over the weekend, when James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported on the efforts of the affected fans -- dubbed “The Missing 1200" -- to save their seats at the Superdome.
Among other things, the group has launched a web site aimed at keeping the displaced fans in the building.
Their aim, however, is not to disrupt efforts to enhance revenue. “We don’t want to give the impression we’re against progress, " Jeff Maumus, one of the leaders of the group, told Varney. “We are all in favor of doing whatever will entrench the Saints among the elite in the NFL.”
The situation should be resolved by 2011, when 3,400 seats will be added to the Superdome. But this won’t get The Missing 1200 inside for the 2010 season, which launches with the official celebration of the franchise’s first-ever NFL title.
Surely, the Saints can find a way to get these folks in the building, even if only on a standing-room basis and even if only on the evening of September 9. First, we’ve got to get the Saints to give a genuine crap about their plight. By all appearances, the franchise has yet to arrive at that specific place.