Dennis Lauscha

Dennis Lauscha, who was named president of the Pelicans in 2012, oversees the club’s financial operations, government affairs, its marketing, ticket and suite sales, legal, stadium, community affairs, human resources, information technology and facilities departments. He has also has served as president of the New Orleans Saints since 2012. He is a representative for both clubs at NFL and NBA Owner’s Meetings.

Lauscha first joined the Saints as treasurer in 1998 and later earned the additional titles of vice president, senior vice president and executive vice president. In addition to his duties with the Saints and Pelicans, the New Orleans native maintains multiple roles within other holdings of Gayle Benson.

Lauscha’s collaborative style, financial acumen and long-term view has played a key role as a member of a contingent that has negotiated agreements for both the Saints and Pelicans with the state of Louisiana that has resulted in long-term lease agreements, continuous improvements to their playing and practice facilities, revitalization of the areas around them and generated revenue for the state without any new taxes for citizens.

In 2009, Lauscha helped negotiate the partnership with the Louisiana Governor that continues the Saints’ commitment to the state through 2025. The deal included Mr. Benson purchasing and redeveloping the former New Orleans Centre, which has been transformed into Champions Square and the Benson Tower property adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with the stadium itself undergoing extensive renovations and improvements. Since playing a key role in Mr. Benson’s purchase of the Pelicans in 2012, Lauscha has helped broker agreements with the state to upgrade the team’s playing and practice facilities. Following successful negotiations, the Pelicans are committed to the state through 2024 and the Smoothie King Center has undergone significant renovations and improvements.

In 2015, Lauscha helped negotiate an agreement with the state that resulted in $40 million in enhancements for fans of both clubs. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome debuted new state-of-the-art video boards in 2016 in addition to renovated suites and other fan amenities, while a new center-hung HD video scoreboard was installed in the Smoothie King Center for the 2015-16 Pelicans season. Lauscha has also played a key role in finalizing 2011 and 2014 ground-breaking naming rights and sponsorship agreements for both teams’ playing facilities with Mercedes-Benz USA and Smoothie King.

Lauscha was instrumental in the 2003 expansion of the Saints training facility. He later oversaw a renovation and expansion of the facilities and administrative offices for the Saints and Pelicans from 2012-13, while directing the construction of a basketball practice facility. The clubs are now housed on the same site, featuring some of the top facilities in professional sports. In July of 2017, Lauscha played a key role in the facilitation of a multi-year naming rights agreement for the entire campus on Airline Drive, renaming it the Ochsner Sports Performance Center.

Lauscha is committed to help attract major sporting events to New Orleans. He is a key member of the team that actively pursues future NBA All-Star Games, Super Bowls and NCAA Basketball Final Four Championships for New Orleans – and was instrumental in landing Super Bowl XLVII. Following Mr. Benson’s 2012 purchase of the Pelicans, the city has hosted NBA All-Star Games in 2014 and 2017.

Active throughout both sports and the community, Lauscha currently serves as a member of the Business Council of New Orleans, the Catholic Foundation Board of Directors and the Audubon Nature Institute Board. Lauscha has completed terms as board president of the Preservation Resource Center, president of the regional chapter of the Boy Scouts of America and as a member of the Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee, the NBA All-Star Game Host Committee, the NCAA Final Four Host Committee, the NBA’s Team Advisory Council of Presidents, the NFL’s Ticketing Strategy Working Group, the NBA’s Team CBA Advisory Committee, the Stuart Hall School Board of Trustees, the New Orleans Museum of Art Board, the New Orleans Mayor’s Transition Subcommittee and the Loyola University New Orleans School of Business Visiting Committee.

His dealings with the teams, state officials and local organizations have provided an opportunity for community involvement. His professional and charitable work was recognized by New Orleans CityBusiness, when Lauscha was selected as one of the 40 Most Influential Members of the Community. The honor is bestowed on those who are laying the groundwork for a better city. In 2010, he was named the Alumnus of the Year by Loyola’s College of Business and was named to the 2010 Class of Role Models by the Young Leadership Council. He was honored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame with its 2014 Distinguished American Award. He was also awarded the Order of West Range by Pi Kappa Alpha. In 2015, Lauscha gave the commencement address to the graduates of the University of New Orleans.

After graduating from Jesuit High School, Lauscha graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in business. He has also received a master’s of business administration from Loyola University in New Orleans and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He has also completed the NFL Managers Program at Stanford University's Executive Education Graduate School of Business. Prior to joining the Saints, Lauscha worked as the club's auditor for four years while working for a national accounting firm.