Saints, Pelicans to be sold after Benson dies, proceeds donated

The New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans will be sold rather than handed down when owner Gayle Benson dies, and all proceeds will go to local charities.

"I've already listed who gets what and where it goes and where I want it to go," Benson told FOX 8's Lee Zurik.

Benson, 74, took control of New Orleans' NFL and NBA franchises from her husband, Tom, who died in March 2018.

The matriarch has put Saints and Pelicans president Dennis Lauscha in charge of executing the sales and donating the proceeds. Forbes estimated the Saints to be worth $2.825 billion in August and the Pelicans to be worth $1.35 billion in February.

"It will be the (Gayle and Tom Benson) Foundation, and the foundation would be giving money to the city on an annual basis," Benson said. "It will go on forever."

Benson added scattering the proceeds throughout the community is "the only way to be happy" since she can't take the clubs or the money with her when she passes.

Asked specifically about the future of the Saints, Benson said only buyers who are committed to keeping the team in New Orleans will be considered.

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