Amid Super Bowl hoopla, T-shirt makers and irked fans wonder who owns Saints’ ‘Who Dat?’ chant

Amid Super Bowl hoopla, fight over ‘Who Dat?’

NEW ORLEANS — Who owns “Who Dat”?

Some T-shirt makers are asking that question after the NFL demanded they stop selling shirts with the traditional cheer of New Orleans Saints fans.

The NFL says it holds a trademark on the slogan. The chant — “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints” — is often shortened to just the two words on shirts and signs.

At the same time, two brothers — one involved in the production of the 1983 song “Who Dat Say They Gonna Beat Dem Saints” — say they have the trademark.

The dispute comes right as Saints-oriented T-shirts have been flying out of stores in anticipation of the Super Bowl. The Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 7 in Miami.

Two store owners say they don’t mind paying royalties but don’t know who to send the checks to.