GumboBC

Saints hitting up Falcons fans for extra game


Published on: 6/22/04

Falcons fans planning on buying tickets for the Saints game in New Orleans Dec. 26 have a surprise coming.

To see the Falcons in New Orleans, they will also have to buy tickets for the Saints game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 12.

"It makes me feel terrible to have this happen to fans in Atlanta," said Oscar Cleveland, a Falcons fan who has made the trip to New Orleans for the past 26 years. "That's almost a 30-year rivalry."

It's apparently an attempt to boost ticket sales by leveraging the interest of Falcons fans, thousands of whom invade New Orleans each season. None of the other Saints games are sold in such a package. Saints ticket manager Michael Stanfield could not be reached for comment.

Falcons fans might be interested to know that their team treats opposing fans similarly. When Falcons ticket office staffers see a "504" or "813" on Caller ID -- the area codes for New Orleans and Tampa, respectively -- they won't sell seats. It's been that way since Arthur Blank bought the team in 2002.

-- Ken Sugiura

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BlackandBlue

Good- they deserve it

kenpersons

The best deals on tickets are found walking to the dome as kickoff approaches. Veteran Falcon fans already know that, but at least casual travelers might be discouraged.