La. House speaker: State shouldn’t rush on Saints deal even if it means losing Super Bowl

House speaker: La. shouldn’t rush on Saints deal

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s House speaker says he doesn’t want the state to rush a deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans, even if it means Louisiana could miss hosting the 2013 Super Bowl.

Jim Tucker said Wednesday the deal must be in the best interest of taxpayers.

The Saints’ lease at the Louisiana Superdome runs through 2018. But the Saints could break it after the 2010 season by paying a $15 million penalty. The state and the NFL team are negotiating to extend the club’s lease until 2025.

Without a new deal in place, New Orleans’ bid for its 10th Super Bowl would suffer because the team’s future would remain in doubt.

League owners are slated to vote on where to award the 2013 Super Bowl during meetings in May.

The Saints have been in New Orleans since 1967.