Tag: supredome

Saints, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell reach agreement to allow fans at Superdome

The New Orleans Saints reached a compromise with Mayor LaToya Cantrell to begin readmitting fans to the Superdome amid the COVID-19 pandemic

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After several days of negotiations and a maneuver exploring a temporary move to LSU’s Tiger Stadium, the New Orleans Saints reached an agreement with Mayor LaToya Cantrell to roll out a phased spectator policy for the remaining Saints home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this year.

Cantrell’s office had been reluctant to give the Saints a green light to admit large crowds of fans to the Superdome amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but now they’ll get an opportunity to attempt doing that safely.

For starters, just 3,000 Saints season-ticket holders will be eligible for Sunday’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers. if all goes well, the plan is for that to scale up over the rest of the season. Here’s how the Saints outlined things in a statement:

  • Oct. 25 vs. Carolina Panthers: 3,000 fans
  • Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers: 6,000
  • Nov. 22 vs. Atlanta Falcons: 6,000
  • Dec. 20 vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 15,000
  • Dec. 25 vs. Minnesota Vikings: 15,000

Described as a “phased and deliberate pilot approach” in a statement from the team, this compromise will at least allow some members of the Who Dat Nation to make their voices heard inside the Superdome. It’s hardly the same as the 70,000-strong crowd typically packing the stands, but it’s a step up from the 750 or so family members of players, coaches, and staffers that previously gathered in New Orleans.

So: if the Saints can only bring in the loudest 3,000 Saints fans possible, who would you pick?

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Saints announce no fans for 2020 season-opener vs. Buccaneers

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick off against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in an empty Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The New Orleans Saints will kick off their 2020 season in an unusually quiet Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The team announced Wednesday evening that their Week 1 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be played without spectators in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though whether fans will be allowed at subsequent home games is still under discussion.

After hosting Tom Brady’s Buccaneers on Sept. 13, the Saints will not return for another home game until Sept. 27 — when they’re scheduled to play Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in prime time on Sunday Night Football. Louisiana has been a hotspot for COVID-19 infections throughout this public health crisis, leading decision-makers to make tough calls like this one.

It’s a big blow to the Saints, who have enjoyed an unparalleled streak of success on offense over the last two decades in their home venue. That’s thanks in large part to a welcoming crowd, with the rowdy Who Dat Nation making communication difficult for opposing squads.

But at the end of the day, its been Drew Brees and his Saints teammates scoring points. And that’ll remain the case no matter how many fans pack the stands. It’s just a shame that few people will be part of the beginning to such a highly-anticipated season.

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