Gayle Benson, the widow of long-time Pelicans owner Tom Benson, vowed on Monday that she’ll retain ownership in the franchise, according to a New Orleans Advocate report.
Gayle Benson’s commitment to the franchise had been in doubt, particularly after superstar Anthony Davis made his trade demand this winter. Benson, who also controls ownership of the Saints, made her intentions clear at an NFL owners meeting.
“There is no way I’m going to sell that team (the Pelicans) ever,” Benson said.
The Pelicans are valued at $1.2 billion, according to Forbes’ most recent rankings, which is second-to-last in the league ahead of only the Grizzlies, the report notes. Their lease at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans runs through 2024.
We have more on Benson’s plans for the franchise:
- Saints GM Mickey Loomis will focus exclusively on the football team going forward, Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune tweets. He previously had oversight duties for both teams. Danny Ferry has been running the front office as the interim GM since Benson fired Dell Demps shortly after the February trade deadline. The new GM will oversee basketball operations and report directly to Benson, Duncan adds.
- The outside consultant being used to conduct the GM search has recommended five or six candidates for the position, Duncan reports in another tweet. Benson and team president Dennis Lauscha will make the hire with Loomis also providing his input, Duncan adds.
- Benson said there are no plans to relocate the Pelicans. Their lease at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans runs through 2024. “People are going to talk and there’s really nothing you can do about that,” Benson said, per Duncan. “Time will take care of it. They’ll see that I’m sincere and I’m not going anywhere.”
Give it a year or two when it’s a complete loser- bad attendance, bad on-court product, poor revenue streams, and league getting fed up with the revenue sharing they depend on. Already losing tens of millions annually before revenue sharing kicks in
Maybe if she didn’t own the cash cow Saints, but she does so you better get used to it!
seattle pelicans? nolo home attendance rivals a g league game
Seattle? Nah, they’ll go to Vegas before Seattle is considered. Just like the NHL.
After the fiasco of how she dealt, or rather didn’t deal, with the AD situation, there is nothing left for her to do but to sell the team, after cutting in half the value of the best asset in the franchise’s history, she shouldn’t be allowed to keep the team. I hope she sells, but I would like the team to remain in NOLA, is such a great city, deserves way better than what the Benson’s are doing. Just get out please!
This is on the verge of being very disrespectful for a woman that lost her husband. People will only focus on the past and continue to spew negativity and not recognize when the right & necessary changes have started.