Coronavirus: Saints, Pelicans owner Gayle Benson tests positive

NEW ORLEANS — Gayle Benson, who owns two professional sports franchises in New Orleans, is recovering after testing positive for the coronavirus, team officials said Friday.

Benson, 73, who owns the Saints of the National Football League and the Pelicans of the National Basketball Association, is “under daily medical care, and she continues to feel better each day,” Greg Bensel, vice president of communications for both teams, told NOLA.com.

Bensel did not discuss what Benson’s symptoms were, but said she had not been hospitalized and was recovering at her New Orleans home.

“She’s been participating in daily executive calls as well as NFL and NBA owner calls,” Bensel told NOLA.com. “She’s been active.”

Benson attended practice during the early stages of the Saints’ training camp before testing positive, ESPN reported. She was not staying at the team’s hotel in downtown New Orleans.

COVID-19 tests are administered daily during the Saints training camp, but it is unclear whether Benson received her positive test through that process, WDSU reported.

Saints coach Sean Payton was diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-March, NOLA.com reported.

Benson became the owner of the two franchises after the death of her husband, Tom Benson, in March 2018. She also becomes at least the second NFL team owner to test positive for COVID-19. Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, 55, tested positive and was hospitalized in July, WDSU reported. Bidwill has since been released from the hospital, the television station reported.

In the NBA, New York Knicks owner James Dolan recovered from the coronavirus this spring, ESPN reported.

Cox Media Group