Opening Day Sept 9 Skins @ Saints
 

Hello All. Skins Fan coming in peace for a bit of a discussion. I will be headed to NO for the opening game and I must say I can not be more excited. I absolutely love the city and the people are always friendly. I have heard from a lot of Redskins fans about the experience from the Superdome, but I would like to get some Saints perspectives.

We plan on hitting Bourbon St. on Friday and Saturday nights wearing our jerseys. Is this asking for trouble? Or is it something that could maybe spark some beers and friendly discussion/ light trash talking (in the spirit of fun of course) about the game the next day? How is the walk to the Superdome?

I am really looking forward to visiting one of my favorite cities and having a good time meeting new people. Cheers!

Shouldn't be a problem for you, we welcome opposing fans without incident(even Falcon and Cowgirl fans). On that note, we share a mutual dislike of the Cowgirls anyway. To be safe if your set on wearing your jersey out, get a hat that says "Screw You Goodell" to go with it.

You'll be fine. Philly-type fan behavior is rare down here, especially around Bourbon Street (which is mostly tourists, anyway). Expect gentle ribbing from vendors & bartenders, unless you're simply being obnoxious.

And you should have no trouble walking from the Quarter to the Dome, my wife & I have many times.

As others have said, you'll have no trouble in the Quarter. If you venture into other areas you'll be fins as well. Expect ribbing wherever but extremely unlikely to run into total ass clowns (especially since you won't be wearing a falcons jersey). Trust me, New Orleans is insanely friendly for opposing teams. I've gone to a bunch of Hornets games in Magic gear and was always respected and treated well throughout the city, even having multiple food and drinks bought for me. I've never seen anything different at Saints games.

Walk to Superdome is cake. Even easier if you stay on Canal St or try a place in the Business District.

Have fun dude.

Start the count down.

I know.... Like watching a pot waiting for it to boil. Can not wait for this game. If anybody is interested I will be on Bourbon Saturday night, I'd like a cool place to hang out, and the first round is on me.

I think you'll be just fine, as the other posters have already said, most likely our fans will want to talk to you about the game, your team and whats going on with them etc. Just be sure to come back after the game, win or lose to tell us all about your trip, the highlights and fun you had etc. I always enjoy reading stuff like that b/c invariably everyone has a good time on game weekend.
Also the Superdome is gonna be insane, its gonna really be rocking for opening day. Make sure you get there at least by 10:30 or 11:00 at the latest to enjoy hanging out in Champion Square and the area just outside the gates. Theres live entertainment going on, and everyone is having a good time eating and drinking and partying out there. Once inside and in your seats you'll see just what a great venue for watching a game the place really is.
Have a great time !

Welcome to the board! You'll find nothing but over-the-top friendliness and the time of your life! Like pumpkindriver said, stick around here and tell us about your trip... we'd love to hear about your experience (what you remember about it lol.)

Unlike fans in many other cities, Saints fans have CLASS. You'll be treated with respect and you'll be shocked at how many Saints fans thank you and wish you a good game.

Don't forget Pat O'Brien's for a hurricane or three!

Alaska

I live in ATL but my dad (in FLA) and I make it to 2 games a year. I usually sell my tix to the opener and marquee games and then go to the ones where the tickets won't sell for as much.
That said, I wouldn't miss this opener even if I could get $2500 for my seats. I cannot wait but the first game for our 'Saints against the World' season.

I'll take you up on that drink- will you be wearing a Theisman or Jurgenson jersey?

Sounds good ScottyF. Both me and my ball and chain will be wearing contrasting RG3 Jerseys. She will be rocking the white, me the burgundy and gold. This is the second year in a row I bought a rookie jersey before they took a snap. Last year I grabbed a Kerrigan and was not disappointed. Maybe now as a Skins fan I can know what it feels like to have an elite QB. Been jealous of the Saints for far too long ;)

A lot of the guys over on the Skins board (extremeskins) are planning on meeting up at Johnny Whites. Although I thought I read something about them going out of business?

Welcome to B&G!

You should be fine... If you cant find a hat telling Goodell where to go, I suggest you drink your beverages from a Saints container just to confuse anyone who might be hell bent on harassing you... Sorry, every city and team has those, problems usually occur when people cant hold their liquor... Your in New Orleans, a place where EVERYONE can hold their liquor :beatnik:.

Just a word of advice which would be given to anyone going to any major city on this planet... Stay away from dark alleys, and keep your party together. All major cities are safe if you keep in mind there are just some places you do not go in the dark.

Enjoy!

Welcome to the board and as everyone else has said you will be fine. We usually take a picture with opposing fans as they walk past us. I think they may have more places open this year by Champions Square but will have to confirm for gameday. Rocking the RG3 jerseys huh! It would have been more fitting if you would have rocked a throwback say like Kilmer since he was a Saint as well.

Definitely plan on bringing my camera everywhere I go for that purpose as well. Kilmer would make sense and I am sure I would get some warm comments on that one, but I can not remember the last time I have been this excited and actually looking forward to a QB as a Redskins fan.

He has not played a snap yet, and of course there is always the possibility he does not meet expectations, but the kid is special! I may even have to rock the superman socks with the cape all weekend.

Readmyshirt.com Home of the Wear Louisiana Collection: Cajun shirts, Honey Badger t-shirts, Free Payton shirts

Just found this gem of a website. I will buy a couple "Free Coach Payton Fire the Commish" shirts and wear them under my jersey for the weekend.

That way if any of the friendly banter turns south I can just pull a superman and reveal my undershirt.

The jury is still out for me on investing in tickets (cuz my hubby won't sit anywhere but club section) for the opening game until/if Drew signs his contract. Granted, I'm a Saints fan no matter what, but if I'm gonna spend that kind of money, I wanna see some real competition! Got tickets ordered for the Saints/40 whiners game, because if our team doesn't beat them, I'll be tempted to step in, too! ;) C'mon, Drew, get that thing signed so I can go ahead and plan the rest of MY season! BTW, welcome, DaveyFoSho!

Wow, when I started making the annual trip to NO 15 years ago Johnny Whites was the first bar we went to. Cheesy sports mural, disgusting restrooms, and there was a dog sitting on a bar stool drinking out of a bowl. It was awesome; we stop in for one every trip now.
I had not heard it closed, but one of the locals might know.

Hey Davey --

Win lose or draw, I think you are in for one of the craziest,most amazing experiences of your life. I have a feeling that the Dome that day is going to be off-the-chain crazy and loud, like a playoff or total-insanity type environment, rivaling the re-opening of the Superdome after Katrina, and I predict you will have a blast. I think it's going to be an awesome, fun trip for you. Except, of course, for the scoreboard!

Johnny White's website says they are going to close June 30. This was news to me, so I will ask around and see what more I find out. (They may have lost their lease, which happens occasionally in the French Quarter to fun or noteworthy places that don't own their own space.)

Have fun!

Im really looking forward to seeing how our defense has changed under sprag, but I am equally interested in how RG3 handles his 1st day as QB. Should be a really fun game.
I wouldn't be to disappointed if RG3 has a tough time though. Its very loud in the Dome, and mosts QB's struggle their 1st year. But he has a good shot at looking decent if our defense plays like last year,lol. We made Smith look like PM.
Brees had a tough 1st year.
I do have to say that at least Skins fans know what gold looks like, unlike Pittsburg fans who still don't understand they are Black & Canary Yellow :)

Youll have a blast. If you lose people will buy you drinks and if you win people will probably buy you drinks,lol. I think most of us are proud of our sportsmanship to other fans , and general good nature. Its not like any sports events Ive been to with opposing fans.
Bringing your kids is encouraged, they will have a ball. Its very family orientated.
Youll get some comfortable ribbing now and then, but thats because we will do anything to talk ball or drink :)
And do make sure to visit the saints fans cooking free food outside the stadium before the game. Don't worry about being forward or feeling out of place they want you there, mingle , talk drink, and have fun. NO is one of the last Southern hospitality places on the planet.

Oh and avoid Larry Flynt's Hustler Club on Bourbon Street, fun place, but heard several guys say they had one drink and didn't remember the rest of the night, found their wallets cleaned out the next day,lol.

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is cool for Bourbon St. And i will def take you up on a drink.

Ha! Do the same w/ my Dad every year though exact opposite for our locations.

Though, it is one of the few places that will let you use their restroom w/o having to buy a drink.....perhaps the two are related....

but if you're in that section of Quarter, do yourself the biggest favor ever and check out ACME Oyster house. Great place and by far the best venue in their chain.

And so it begins! Haha. I definitely love the friendly trash talk and debate. The more that is posted here the more excited I am getting.

A little update. Somebody from NoLa is on the Skins board and says 718 Bourbon street is the place to go. Right next door to Johnny Whites. I know for a fact I will be there around 10pm on Saturday if anybody wants to shoot the s.

If you stick to St Ann Street you will get a very warm welcome. Very nice bar called OZ. :)

718, thats Johnny White's pub. Yummy Beans, rice and sausage :) I forget whats next door to that.

Yep, y'all should hang out there in the Oz & vocally let the clientele know yer representing the 'Skins!!!

Awesome... Do they supply the assless chaps and glitter there, or is that something I need to pick up prior?

depends how you play your cards

You don't have anything to worry about, Davey. I've been to the following home games in New Orleans since 2007:

vs. the Falcons (2007)
vs. the Cardinals (2007)
vs. the Packers (2008)
vs. the Cowboys (2009)
vs. the Rams (2010)
vs. the Bears (2011)
vs. the Texans (2011)
vs. the Bucs (2011)
vs. the Lions (2011)
vs. the Falcons (2011)

And I can tell you, in NONE of those instances, did I ever see any severe heckling beyond having a few Saints fans scream "WHO DAT??" at them. And as you can see, there are several teams on that list that we Saints fans despise. Point being, most likely you'll do like 95% of opposing teams fans who walk through New Orleans wearing other teams's attire: and that's not get bothered at all.

Yeah, we should probably warn him about that, you will get "WHO DAT?" yelled at you a lot, on the ramps outside the Dome and on the escalators etc, but it's all in good fun and never anything threatening. Given the stuff you read about other stadiums in other cities, people in the Dome are surprisingly relaxed and cool.

I go to the game at the Georgia dome every year, and I have to admit, I don't get much crap from their fans, even with my layers of black and gold. The fact that we win there pretty often helps, but overall it's never a bad experience.

No disrespect intended. BUT, in the spirit of fun. Say the fans surrounding me give me a bunch of "WHO DATS" when the Saints are making their normal awesome plays (On offense ;) )... is it basically asking for it if I give them a friendly WHO DAT right back if the Skins score or do something impressive?

Obviously I am going to be drinking my weight in liquor (no worries I'm a chatty/friendly drunk), just want to know the parameters before I cross a line.

some might disagree, but I say you paid your money, cheer for your team how you choose...
act like a guest and you'll be treated like one

Yeah, Who dat, we dat, beat dat -- it all comes back at us from visiting fans, and it happens all the time -- at least early in the games. But, it's usually just a fleeting, temporary feeling of euphoria for the visiting fans... Keep in mind, we were undefeated at home last year, and the years before that we pretty much only lost ONE home game a year (some years we lost two, one "real" one and one when starters were resting at the end of the year). The last time we lost a home opener was 2007. But seriously, the Saints are a good barometer to see where your team is at. I just worry a little about your Redskins and RG3 walking into a buzzsaw, because of all this off-season hooplah, plus it will be Drew's first game after he gets his new deal done, the first game on the path to the Super Bowl that would take the Saints back to New Orleans, the new defensive coordinator, plus a very angry, ticked-off interim head coach who's been with the team forever, but nobody in the league can scout and know what he is gonna do -- it's like a perfect storm all coming together. The Dome is going to be rocking like a playoff game.

Your idea of the "Free Payton" shirt under your jersey will make you a LOT of friends, I'm sure, probably get a lot of your weight in liquor bought for you, as well.

I fully plan on taking the trip down to NO just to party that super bowl weekend. Would be absolutely amazing if you guys could do it and get a home game. Count me in cheering my butt off for that one.

I do have realistic expectations for RG3. I expect a lot of dazzling plays this year showing his upside, but I also expect 10+ interceptions and some less than inspiring play at times. All part of being a rookie and learning the league. I am coming into this Saints game at 50/50, but that is just the optimistic Redskin fan in me. I will have a great time no matter what the outcome of the game is, and at the very least I will get to see RG3's first regular season snap.

I'm definitely going for a couple of those shirts, but I would really like to find a hat... no such luck yet.

I love this thread, just reading all the comments makes me feel good.

yes, but you are operating under the assumption that the falcons have an actual fanbase.

Me too, other than trying to get me to go to a gay bar you guys are good people!

Oh so very true. The people in the seats around me are very knowledgble, loyal, etc.
But then I look up and see empty seats in the uppers, gold jerseys everywhere (always at least 5-6K saints fans), and fans pouring out headed for home in the 4th quarter.
I have 4 seats if you & your dad want to go this year

Very possible, thanks for the offer.

I used to live in Birmingham, so a few times I made the short drive over to the Georgia Dome when the Saints were in Atlanta.

Never got in a fight or anything, but saw a few break out. Also had a nasty altercation with some FoulCons fans on the MARTA, messing with my sister - who had joined me at the game because my wife wouldn't return to the Georgia Dome after the previous season!

I've found the Georgia Dome a pretty unfriendly place for Saints fans. FoulCons are the only fans I'd support being uncivil toward here, eye-for-an-eye and all that ...

a lot closer to my experiences...but in all fairness, if you take MARTA, you are risking life, limb, and property....regardless of who you are or what team you support...