When Tom Benson purchased the New Orleans Saints in 1985, the team had never had a winning season. Over the course of 30 years, Tom has helped reshape the team to become one of the NFL's most popular teams and a source of community pride throughout the Gulf South.
While Tom's ongoing dispute over the legacy of his sports empire continues to unfold, NOLA Life Stories wanted to examine the man behind the headlines. Tom grew up in the St. Roch neighborhood and is no stranger to hardship: the man climbed into the billionaire’s club from humble beginnings.
Tom says that he was never built to be an athlete, but was always interested in sports as a spectator. When asked why the team is so popular today, Tom attributes their success to television broadcasts, young ticket holders, and female fans.
This interview was originally conducted by Mark Cave for the Historic New Orleans Collection.