Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tagliabue: Saints unlikely to play at home
nfl.com ^ | 09/01/05

Posted on 09/01/2005 6:17:43 PM PDT by KevinDavis

NEW YORK (Sept. 1, 2005) -- NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue says it's unlikely the Saints will play in New Orleans this season after the devastation Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath inflicted on the city.

"At this point you have to proceed on the assumption ... that they may be unable to play in New Orleans at all for the entire season," Tagliabue said in an interview with CNBC.

"If things evolve in a positive way, then that would be something that we could adjust to. But our assumption is that for planning purposes, we should assume it will be difficult if not impossible to play in New Orleans at all this year."

The Saints will move into a hotel in San Antonio, Texas, this weekend and practice in San Antonio in preparation for their regular-season opener at Carolina Sept. 11. They have spent this week in San Jose, Calif., and played their final exhibition Sept. 1 in Oakland.

But it still hasn't been decided where they will play their home opener Sept. 18 against the New York Giants or play the rest of their games.

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which runs Giants Stadium, has offered to host the upcoming Giants-Saints game there. It would likely be played Monday, Sept. 19, because the Jets will play Miami that Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Tagliabue said moving the game to New Jersey was one possibility.

He also said games could be played at another NFL stadium or at a non-NFL stadium. He didn't name any specifically, but the Alamodome in San Antonio seats 65,000 for football, about the same as the Saints' regular home at the Superdome in New Orleans, which was heavily damaged by Katrina.

Tagliabue, who announced that the NFL was donating $1 million to the recovery effort, added that the emphasis should be the total recovery of the region hit by the hurricane. So did Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association in a statement released, although Upshaw did not immediately say what form the union's help would take.

"We want to really emphasize above all that sport is a small part of life," Tagliabue said. "We want to use are visibility and the respect we have with the public and the respect our teams have to support the national recovery program. That's the big thing."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: astrodome; katrina; neworleans; nfl; saints; sports
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
To: KevinDavis
Watch the NFL demand that New Orleans build them a new palace with taxpayer funds.

Oh, wait - it already has!

21 posted on 09/01/2005 6:38:44 PM PDT by BlazingArizona
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

"Hey homie...you gotta see this. The Superdome is messed up fo' sho'!"

22 posted on 09/01/2005 6:39:41 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis
"But it still hasn't been decided where they will play their home opener Sept. 18 against the New York Giants or play the rest of their games."

Aw go ahead and show some loyalty -- play in New Orleans.
The home fans will love ya for it. They're already at the
SuperDome waiting for you.

23 posted on 09/01/2005 6:40:08 PM PDT by StormEye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis
I guess the Saints season ticket holders are SOL.

If they play in the Alamodome I may go to a game.

24 posted on 09/01/2005 6:40:14 PM PDT by red-dawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Just what we needed, another "No Sh-t Sherlock" contender.


25 posted on 09/01/2005 6:40:26 PM PDT by Waco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

The Saints are one team that can only be improved by a hurricane.


26 posted on 09/01/2005 6:40:54 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. - Patrick Henry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

The Superdome will never be usable again - period. Does Tulane have its own stadium? I bet Tulane used the Superdome too. LSU or Northcentral would be a possibility if Lousiana wants to keep pro football, I guess.


27 posted on 09/01/2005 6:41:23 PM PDT by Oystir
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Of all of the offensive comments posted on FR about the hurricane, the ones are the worst are those that bother about such trivialities as the NFL football schedule.


28 posted on 09/01/2005 6:42:13 PM PDT by independentmind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

I have a feeling that for these refugees breakfast, lunch and dinner will be hotdogs. Maybe an occasional soft pretzel, box of popcorn, or cotton candy.

The entertainment will be different--for a while at least.


29 posted on 09/01/2005 6:42:29 PM PDT by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Move them to LA (Los Angeles) for the season.

Do Los Angeleans even know they don't currently have a team?


30 posted on 09/01/2005 6:43:05 PM PDT by Sometimes A River ("The leaves have broken on Lake Ponktran" - WKAT 1360 AM Miami Newsreader)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis
"We want to really emphasize above all that sport is a small part of life," Tagliabue said. "We want to use are visibility and the respect we have with the public and the respect our teams have to support the national recovery program. That's the big thing."

I'm actually impressed that anybody in the sports world would say something like this. Props to Tagliabue for recognizing what's important.
31 posted on 09/01/2005 6:43:34 PM PDT by birbear (Admit it. you clicked on the "I have already previewed" button without actually previewing the post.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant; All

True....


32 posted on 09/01/2005 6:43:46 PM PDT by KevinDavis (the space/future belongs to the eagles --> http://www.cafepress.com/kevinspace1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

PEUUUU...they could always call it the "Toilet Bowl."


33 posted on 09/01/2005 6:44:19 PM PDT by kittymyrib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis
The Saints will be moving out....

The Detroit Lions will be moving in.

34 posted on 09/01/2005 6:44:30 PM PDT by RckyRaCoCo ("When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Duhhhhh!!!


35 posted on 09/01/2005 6:45:01 PM PDT by JustAnotherOkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: birbear; All

Same here.. That is why I think that Paul is a better commissioner and the NFL is in good shape...


36 posted on 09/01/2005 6:45:25 PM PDT by KevinDavis (the space/future belongs to the eagles --> http://www.cafepress.com/kevinspace1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Acts 2:38

Move to LA???

I like that idea. I'm wondering if the panhandle has a stadium large enough. I'd like to see the team stay in the 'region'. If not, I like your idea of LA.


37 posted on 09/01/2005 6:45:52 PM PDT by maineman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: maineman; All

How about playing in Mississippi that wasn't hit by Katrina???


38 posted on 09/01/2005 6:47:00 PM PDT by KevinDavis (the space/future belongs to the eagles --> http://www.cafepress.com/kevinspace1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Ethrane
Well, at least there are probably going to be 10000 Saints fans already there...

I think that is a pretty big assumption

39 posted on 09/01/2005 6:47:47 PM PDT by Popman (In politics, ideas are more important than individuals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Oystir
"Does Tulane have its own stadium?"

Wasn't the Sugar Bowl played there before the Superdome was built? At any rate, it does, but it faces the same problems as the dome...

I would like to see the Saints play in various stadiums in Louisiana during the season - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, Grambling, etc. Sure, the logistics will be a bear, but they will be in any case, and the locals need to see that the NFL isn't abandoning them.

If they DO leave for LA, SA, or wherever, they won't be coming back...
40 posted on 09/01/2005 6:48:37 PM PDT by decal ("The Republic was not established by cowards, and cowards will not preserve it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson