<P> The biggest news of the 1984 season was that John Mecom , the owner of the team for almost 20 years , was putting them up for sale . Speculation was rife that a new owner might move the Saints out of New Orleans , namely Jacksonville , Florida . But on May 31 , 1985 , negotiations were finalized to sell the team to Tom Benson , a native New Orleanian who owned numerous car dealerships throughout the New Orleans area . The team 's future in New Orleans was safe for the time being . </P>
<P> The biggest news of the 1984 season was that John Mecom , the owner of the team for almost 20 years , was putting them up for sale . Speculation was rife that a new owner might move the Saints out of New Orleans , namely Jacksonville , Florida . But on May 31 , 1985 , negotiations were finalized to sell the team to Tom Benson , a native New Orleanian who owned numerous car dealerships throughout the New Orleans area . The team 's future in New Orleans was safe for the time being . </P>
who owned the new orleans saints before tom benson
who owned the new orleans saints before tom benson
John Mecom
John Mecom