Rita Benson LeBlanc named Arena Football League\'s Executive of the Year
June 25, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
New Orleans VooDoo Director of Marketing and Special Events Rita Benson LeBlanc was named the Arena Football League's Executive of the Year award, presented by Thilman & Filippini, it was announced by the league today.
Benson LeBlanc has been central to defining the brand, creating the image and building the VooDoo's unique gameday experience for the franchise's highly successful inaugural season. The team went 11-5, recording the highest win total in league history for a first-year franchise. The VooDoo were tied for the best record in the league and earned the No. 4 seed in the AFL playoffs.
Off the field, the VooDoo attracted an average of 15,240 fans per game to the New Orleans Arena, the third-highest average crowd in the Arena Football League. In addition, the New Orleans market achieved the highest television ratings for the Arena Football League's "AFL on NBC" broadcasts among the 55 largest metered markets in the nation. The VooDoo ranked second among AFL teams in merchandise sales both in-arena and online. The VooDoo's team page on arenafootball.com received the highest amount of web traffic for team pages.
"I am overwhelmed by this great honor," said Benson LeBlanc. The process of building a first year team was both arduous and exalting. I am very proud to have contributed to the continued strength and popularity of the Arena Football League through the New Orleans VooDoo. We brought together first class facilities, staff, players and coaches to build a playoff team for the New Orleans community."
Benson LeBlanc has also been an influential voice on league issues for the Arena Football League and has played an important leadership role in the growth of the league. She has been an active contributor to AFL owner's meetings and a member of the AFL Properties Committee as well as the AFL Television sub-committee.
Benson LeBlanc serves as Owner/Executive of the New Orleans Saints as well as a member of the team's Board of Directors, representing the club at NFL ownership meetings. She acts as liaison between the club, the New Orleans community and the gulf south region coordinating special events and business development projects. She has spearheaded stadium research, club fiscal responsibility and youth programs.
For more information on the New Orleans VooDoo, a club owned and operated by the NFL's New Orleans Saints, please call 504-731-1700, or visit www.govoodoo.com.
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