The Saints shouldn’t have a problem finding a solid sponsor for the Superdome

Entergy Superdome?

Pan American Life Superdome?

Bacardi Superdome?

Truth be told, none rolls easily off the tongue or sounds pleasing to the ear.

The aforementioned businesses were potential sponsors being considered by New Orleans Saints officials a decade ago when it came to naming rights for the Louisiana Superdome, the iconic home to the Black and Gold since 1975. In October 2011, Tom and Gayle Marie Benson settled on Mercedes-Benz, agreeing to a 10-year pact worth between $50 million and $60 million.

The Saints are back in the naming-rights game after news surfaced this week that the German carmaker has declined to renew its sponsorship when their current deal expires in July 2021.

The business breakup seemed inevitable.

For the last three years, the Saints and arch-rival Atlanta Falcons have played in stadiums with the same sponsor. Atlanta serves as the U.S. corporate headquarters for Mercedes-Benz.

It appears to be an amicable separation.

“Mercedes-Benz has been an excellent partner for our team, the building and our region,’‘ Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said. “We could not have asked for a more well-respected global company to have as our inaugural naming rights partner.”

Thus, it appears Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Mercedes-Benz will end their stays in New Orleans simultaneously. This season looks more and more like it will be Brees’ 20th and last in the NFL.

The 2020 season promises to be like none other, though we’re not sure what it’s going to look like in a COVID-19 world this summer, fall and winter.

The deadly pandemic will serve as a backdrop as Saints officials go about the business of landing a new stadium sponsor 13-plus months from now. The promise of a Super Bowl in four or five years and $450 million worth of stadium renovations already in progress should help ease any angst felt by potential partners.

I assume the search committee will leave no stones unturned, going far and wide to find the best business/monetary fit. Fact is, the new partner might be in their own backyard, right under their collective nose.

For instance, Dixie Brewery, the intoxicating New Orleans institution controlled by none other than Saints owner Gayle Marie Benson.

Or Smoothie King, which already owns the naming rights to the NBA Pelicans’ home venue adjacent to the Superdome. The two downtown sports facilities could be called the Smoothie King Complex.

Just a thought.

I suspect it will not be a hard sell to find a suitable and equitable replacement for Mercedes-Benz, to whom I bid “Auf Wiedersehen!’‘

That means “Goodbye’‘ in German.