Several sites available for Saints

TallySaint · 09-01-2005, 06:45 AM

Several sites available for Saints' home games

Web Posted: 09/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer

An NFL spokesman Wednesday listed San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Baton Rouge, La., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., as candidates to host the New Orleans Saints' home opener Sept. 18 and possibly the remainder of the beleaguered team's eight-game home schedule this season.

"We are exploring options, and San Antonio is clearly one of them," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's vice president of public relations. "But there are others."

While none of those options, including playing in the Alamodome, seemed ideal, a high-ranking Saints official said the team would prefer "from an emotional standpoint" to play in Louisiana.

"But we don't know if that's possible," said Mickey Loomis, the Saints' executive vice president/general manager.

He may be right. Damage from Hurricane Katrina has created a nightmarish reality for much of the state, especially in New Orleans, where water continues to rise after five breaks in the city's levee system flooded the streets of the Big Easy.

Still, the Saints and the league want the team to play as close to its fan base as possible. Other cities reportedly under consideration include Birmingham, Ala., Hattiesburg, Miss., Shreveport, La., and Orlando, Fla. Even Texas A&M has offered the Saints the use of Kyle Field.

"(Playing in or near Louisiana) is just common sense," Aiello said. "That definitely is one of the working principals in guiding us."

Of the proposed sites, LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is the closest. But LSU, 80 miles north of New Orleans, has been a haven for evacuees and rescue personnel working around the clock to save survivors of one of the nation's worst national disasters.

"The scope of this tragedy is becoming more evident as time passes, and LSU's focus is on assisting in the recovery effort of our state," LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe said earlier this week in announcing the postponement of LSU's season opener with North Texas on Saturday. "LSU is a primary evacuation site and we are not going to conduct any activities that could deter from our mission of assisting in the recovery mission."

O'Keefe's comments notwithstanding, Aiello said the league hasn't given up on the Saints playing the New York Giants at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 18.

"We recognize that there may be complications involving LSU, but nothing has been ruled out one way or another yet," Aiello said.

The Saints will base their operations in San Antonio after ending their exhibition schedule in Oakland tonight and are expected to hold practices at the San Antonio School District Spring Sports Complex for at least a week. The Saints open the season Sept. 11 at Carolina.

Alamodome director Mike Abington said the 65,000-seat building can accommodate the Saints for the Giants game but could face scheduling conflicts later in the season.

"I've continuously communicated to the Saints that we have the ability to host those games if desired," City Councilman Roger O. Flores said Wednesday. "If the people of New Orleans and the ownership want their team to continue to play games relatively close to (Louisiana), we have the ability to do that. We would be happy to offer what we have."

Houston owner Bob McNair has offered the Saints the use of Reliant Stadium, but the Texans are home Sept. 18 against Pittsburgh.

The last time the NFL moved a game on short notice was Oct. 27, 2003, when wildfires in Southern California forced the Chargers and Miami Dolphins to play at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., rather than San Diego.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f....12e8224e.html

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09-01-2005, 06:45 AM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	Several sites available for Saints Several sites available for Saints' home games Web Posted: 09/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT Tom Orsborn San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer An NFL spokesman Wednesday listed San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Baton Rouge, La., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., as candidates to host the New Orleans Saints' home opener Sept. 18 and possibly the remainder of the beleaguered team's eight-game home schedule this season. "We are exploring options, and San Antonio is clearly one of them," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's vice president of public relations. "But there are others." While none of those options, including playing in the Alamodome, seemed ideal, a high-ranking Saints official said the team would prefer "from an emotional standpoint" to play in Louisiana. "But we don't know if that's possible," said Mickey Loomis, the Saints' executive vice president/general manager. He may be right. Damage from Hurricane Katrina has created a nightmarish reality for much of the state, especially in New Orleans, where water continues to rise after five breaks in the city's levee system flooded the streets of the Big Easy. Still, the Saints and the league want the team to play as close to its fan base as possible. Other cities reportedly under consideration include Birmingham, Ala., Hattiesburg, Miss., Shreveport, La., and Orlando, Fla. Even Texas A&M has offered the Saints the use of Kyle Field. "(Playing in or near Louisiana) is just common sense," Aiello said. "That definitely is one of the working principals in guiding us." Of the proposed sites, LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is the closest. But LSU, 80 miles north of New Orleans, has been a haven for evacuees and rescue personnel working around the clock to save survivors of one of the nation's worst national disasters. "The scope of this tragedy is becoming more evident as time passes, and LSU's focus is on assisting in the recovery effort of our state," LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe said earlier this week in announcing the postponement of LSU's season opener with North Texas on Saturday. "LSU is a primary evacuation site and we are not going to conduct any activities that could deter from our mission of assisting in the recovery mission." O'Keefe's comments notwithstanding, Aiello said the league hasn't given up on the Saints playing the New York Giants at Tiger Stadium on Sept. 18. "We recognize that there may be complications involving LSU, but nothing has been ruled out one way or another yet," Aiello said. The Saints will base their operations in San Antonio after ending their exhibition schedule in Oakland tonight and are expected to hold practices at the San Antonio School District Spring Sports Complex for at least a week. The Saints open the season Sept. 11 at Carolina. Alamodome director Mike Abington said the 65,000-seat building can accommodate the Saints for the Giants game but could face scheduling conflicts later in the season. "I've continuously communicated to the Saints that we have the ability to host those games if desired," City Councilman Roger O. Flores said Wednesday. "If the people of New Orleans and the ownership want their team to continue to play games relatively close to (Louisiana), we have the ability to do that. We would be happy to offer what we have." Houston owner Bob McNair has offered the Saints the use of Reliant Stadium, but the Texans are home Sept. 18 against Pittsburgh. The last time the NFL moved a game on short notice was Oct. 27, 2003, when wildfires in Southern California forced the Chargers and Miami Dolphins to play at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., rather than San Diego. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f....12e8224e.html 8)