Superdome ready by September?

saintswhodi · 12-30-2005, 11:55 AM

Marching back home
Saints set to train, and maybe play, again in Lousiana
Posted: Friday December 30, 2005 12:10PM; Updated: Friday December 30, 2005 12:18PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints will go back to their Louisiana practice facility next month and might even be able to play in the hurricane-ravaged Superdome by September.

"Today we are very pleased to advise our entire organization -- coaches, players and staff -- that we will be returning to Metairie in January," owner Tom Benson said Friday in a memo circulated to the team. "We are working in Louisiana to play as many games as possible in the Superdome, which may be ready in September."

State officials in Louisiana had estimated the Superdome could be open by November.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue was meeting with Saints players and coaches Friday. The agreement to move back to Louisiana was worked out with the NFL late Thursday, team officials said. The move was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday night.

Benson's memo said the team has already reviewed with the NFL the Saints' preliminary 2006 schedule and that it includes "significantly reduced away-game travel."

After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in late August, the Saints moved their training camp to San Antonio, then played one "home" game in New Jersey, three in San Antonio and four in Baton Rouge, La.

Benson said several details still need to be worked out.

"Many complex questions still need to be resolved in this area, and we expect to have answers to these scheduling questions early in the offseason," Benson said in the memo.

Benson planned to fly from San Antonio to New Orleans later Friday and scheduled a news conference there.

"Recently I met with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and told him that I wanted the Saints to resume operations in our training and practice facility in Metairie," Benson said.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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12-30-2005, 11:55 AM	#1
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Superdome ready by September? Marching back home Saints set to train, and maybe play, again in Lousiana Posted: Friday December 30, 2005 12:10PM; Updated: Friday December 30, 2005 12:18PM SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints will go back to their Louisiana practice facility next month and might even be able to play in the hurricane-ravaged Superdome by September. "Today we are very pleased to advise our entire organization -- coaches, players and staff -- that we will be returning to Metairie in January," owner Tom Benson said Friday in a memo circulated to the team. "We are working in Louisiana to play as many games as possible in the Superdome, which may be ready in September." State officials in Louisiana had estimated the Superdome could be open by November. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue was meeting with Saints players and coaches Friday. The agreement to move back to Louisiana was worked out with the NFL late Thursday, team officials said. The move was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday night. Benson's memo said the team has already reviewed with the NFL the Saints' preliminary 2006 schedule and that it includes "significantly reduced away-game travel." After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in late August, the Saints moved their training camp to San Antonio, then played one "home" game in New Jersey, three in San Antonio and four in Baton Rouge, La. Benson said several details still need to be worked out. "Many complex questions still need to be resolved in this area, and we expect to have answers to these scheduling questions early in the offseason," Benson said in the memo. Benson planned to fly from San Antonio to New Orleans later Friday and scheduled a news conference there. "Recently I met with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and told him that I wanted the Saints to resume operations in our training and practice facility in Metairie," Benson said. Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html