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<p>Continuing his dedication to providing the best sports
entertainment to the New Orleans area, Saints owner Tom Benson has
brought an Arena Football League expansion franchise to the city. The
New Orleans VooDoo are scheduled to kickoff play at the New Orleans
Arena in February of 2004, and the league's exciting brand of
football and economical pricing is expected to make the VooDoo a fan
favorite in New Orleans.



Benson, Owner of the Saints for the last 18 years, committed to the
purchase of an AFL club for New Orleans in 1998, making him the first
NFL owner to do so. Since then, several NFL owners have followed
Benson's lead and purchased Arena franchises. After Benson's
commitment, the AFL officially awarded the Saints' owner an
expansion
franchise on March 7, 2002. Last spring, fans voted to name the new
club the "VooDoo" in an online poll at www
.NewOrleansSaints.com.



"I remain committed to the greater good of the sports scene in
New
Orleans, as well as to this city and the Gulf South region as a
whole, and bringing in a new Arena Football League franchise is
another positive step forward for our community," Benson said.
"The
AFL is exciting to me as an owner, and will certainly bring
excitement to sports fans in and around New Orleans. We were drawn to
the AFL because of its quality ownership, its national television
contract with NBC and its strong leadership on top in the form of
Commissioner David Baker."



Said Baker: "Tom Benson was the first NFL owner to step forward and
join the Arena Football League in 1998," said Baker. "I am thrilled
that his vision and support are coming to fruition and that he will
be fielding a team in 2004. The VooDoo represent the cornerstone of
AFL growth for the 2004 season."



That growth is evident in the new teams that are entering the league.
Nashville – owned by Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams – has
already
been approved to play next season pending it secures an arena-lease
agreement. Other markets interested in AFL teams for 2004 are
Philadelphia, Boston, Columbus, St. Louis and Washington, owned by
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Other NFL owners involved in
AFL ownership are Dallas Cowboys/Desperados owner Jerry Jones and
Denver Broncos owner/Colorado Crush part-owner Pat Bowlen, who is
joined by former Broncos quarterback John Elway in the venture.



Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-
friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League kicked off its
17th season and first on NBC in February. NBC has provided the AFL
with unprecedented exposure by televising up to 70 games, including
all playoff contests and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22.



Former Saints Director of Regional Sales & Marketing Mike Feder will
head the VooDoo as Executive Director. Rita LeBlanc, a Saints
employee and Benson's granddaughter, has been named Director of
Marketing and Special Events for the VooDoo. The VooDoo's
coaching
staff and football operations officials will be hired through the
efforts of Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager of
Football Operations Mickey Loomis and his staff.



MERCHANDISE

New Orleans VooDoo merchandise is now available in all New Orleans
Sports Avenue stores, as well as through the team's official web
site: www.govoodoo.com.



ABOUT THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Arena Football League consists of 23 teams (16 active for 2002
season), including eight in the 10 largest U.S. media markets. An
additional seven expansion teams have already been approved to begin
to play over the next three years.



Current AFL ownership includes: Pat Bowlen (NFL's Denver
Broncos),
Stan Kroenke (NHL's Colorado Avalanche, NBA's Denver Nuggets,
and
minority owner of NFL's St. Louis Rams), and John Elway, Colorado
Arena Football; Jerry Jones family, Dallas Desperados (NFL's Dallas
Cowboys ownership); William Ford Jr., Detroit Fury (NFL's Detroit
Lions); Tom Benson New Orleans Voodoo (NFL's New Orleans Saints);
Jerry Colangelo, Arizona Rattlers, (NBA's Phoenix Suns and MLB's
Arizona Diamondbacks); Dan DeVos, Grand Rapids Rampage (NBA's Orlando
Magic); Charles Wang, New York Dragons (NHL's New York Islanders).



Additionally, four other NFL owners have applied or been approved for
ownership of future AFL expansion teams, including Tennessee
Titans'
K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr., Washington Redskins' Daniel Snyder,
Jacksonville Jaguars' Wayne Weaver, and San Francisco 49ers' Denise
DeBartolo York.