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New Orleans Saints fans have known this for a long time, but it’s always satisfying to get some outside validation. According to veteran Boston Globe NFL writer Ben Volin, there isn’t a better place to catch a football game than New Orleans. Volin reflected on the 200-plus games covered in his career and ranked all 30 NFL cities based on the fan experience of traveling into town, seeing the sights, and grabbing a seat before kickoff.
And in those respects, New Orleans has the rest of the nation on the ropes. Volin wrote of his No. 1-ranked NFL destination:
“It is really hard to have a bad time in New Orleans. Incredible food, incredible culture and nightlife, and most everything is walkable, including the stadium. On game day, the atmosphere inside the Superdome is always loud and supercharged.”
I’ll be curious to see whether New Orleans (and, by extension, the Saints) continue to hold this strong reputation in the post-Drew Brees era. Sean Payton is still coaching a quality roster, but Brees did more than anyone to make the Saints competitive and elevate the black and gold on a national level. If the Saints collapse and become a doormat again, it might take more than world-class food and drinks to appeal to visiting fans.
With that said, New Orleanians will always be able to boast a more attractive home than Tampa (ranked at No. 17 by Volin), Charlotte (24), and Atlanta (27). Let’s see if the NFC South can catch up.
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