Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints announced they are moving their 2024 training camp to the University of California, Irvine due to construction of their new cafeteria.

The Saints began renovating their cafeteria and weight room in 2023. The Saints received an F-minus on the NFL Players Association report card in 2023 for their food services/nutrition, which was tied for 30th and ranked in last place in the NFL. They also received an F in 2024 on their food/cafeteria grade, ranking 30th for that year.

"Currently, [owner Gayle Benson] and our organization have invested in the construction of a new cafeteria, that when completed, will be among the finest in the National Football League. The scope of this project makes it difficult to host training camp on-site in 2024, given the extensive needs for our team to prepare for the regular season," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a news release Friday.

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Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Nice.

Maybe it will benefit players overall health.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

There are also probably much better doctors in Irvine than the Saints doctors in New Orleans. The team and/or Ram, Jordan, etc should get some second opinions. Maybe a Saints doctor left a scalpel in Payton Turner's knee and the doctors there would find it.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

The old cafeteria must indeed suck hard if this is the timetable needed to replace it!

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

It's pretty much a disgrace that you are based in one of the best places to eat in America, but your team has the worst cafe. C'mon man!

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

I wouldn't be surprised if for some teams, the company that runs stadium concessions takes the front office out to one of those great restaurants, gets them drunk, and convinces them that Aramark or Sodexo or whatever is an excellent choice to feed their millionaire players since they are servicing the stadium anyway, and the synergies will be amazing.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

It was planned a year ago. This is old news. The plan was to do all the work this offseason so the facility would be ready for the regular season.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

The grade was low not because of food quality, from what I have heard, but because they didn't serve a third meal in the evening. I believe they were one of two teams that didn't provide the third meal. Given a choice at the end of the day where would you want to eat as a player? The cafeteria at work or anywhere in the greater New Orleans area? But several players, I suppose, would have preferred the cafeteria. Go figure.

At least they don't charge their players to eat there like the Cardinals. LOL!

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Don’t worry be Happy.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-0snSKhTO...d3aObuKgAh7tCo

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

As Flau'jae Johnson said after the Tigers victory over UCLA yesterday "I be in the gym." For players looking to give 110%, its good to have the option for dinner in the cafeteria, not because they prefer it, but because they are always working to be better and its hard to work out, practice solo drills, and watch tape somewhere out of the way.

Also, it does not make sense that an F grade could be based on a feature most players don't use, as it would not be an F if an equal number of B's and C's were averaged in. Probably there are a lot of complaints ranging from hours to food quality, decor, maybe the dishwashing machine is getting old and missing spots and the fridge sometimes overheats on warm days.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Might make Andrus Peat sign elsewhere...

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

The main complaint according to an article on it was the lack of third meal specifically. The feature wasn't used because it wasn't available, thus the grade. If only a few players answered that question it doesn't take much to affect the grade. That's been one of the caveats of the survey. Sometimes ONLY the squeaky wheels are heard in all categories. That said, the food has been provided by a food service and not area chefs and the facilities have been in the plans to be overhauled for a couple of years anyway.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Excellent decision. Way to support the local franchises. 2030 right around the corner. Kinda looks like they are scouting for a new home.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Wonder what grade the medical staff would receive

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Too bad that's not included in any survey.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

:roflmao:

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

I think the Saints still have him on speed dial.

It wouldn't surprise me to see hiim re sign in N.O. after the draft.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

He might work in Kubiak's system if he can stay healthy. He's always been good at getting downfield to block and that's essential for the Shanahan/Kubiak offense. But it would have to be a prove it contract. For sure. Although, he did play fairly well last year. So, we'll see what Kubiak thinks about him after the draft.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

It would be funny if the Saints cafeteria was bad on purpose because of past issues with players getting fat, and then they fixed it and players got fat. New Orleans is definitely not known for its health food outside the team facilities, so you combine that with too good of a buffet inside the facilities too, and watch out.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

I'm pretty sure they have a nutritionist/dietician on staff.....maybe working with a New Orleans chef.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

There was a specific category for Nutritionist/Dietician in the survey. The Saints scored a B- there.

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Considering how good the food in New Orleans is that is not a bad grade. I played rugby with USM's dietician and I was surprised with how good the food tastes as compared to say.....hospital food. :chef:

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Any word on if fans can attend training camp in Cali yet?

Re: Saints moving training camp to renovate F-graded cafeteria
 

Not that I see yet. I know they want to but some silly priority rules are in the way since other more locally stationed teams have camp in the same vicinity or something along those lines. I'll post here when we get word. Season ticket holders always get first access to those things.