Saints in San Antonio

[remingtonbo2001]

Fox News just reported that the New Orleans Saints will be playing in San Antonio. Just thought some would like to know. It seems like everyone is coming here.

[mouse]

Moving to NFL forum in 3...............2.............

[fraga]

http://www.websophist.com/WelcomeToLastWeek.jpg

[Marcus Bryant]

I think this is different than the Saints are practicing in SA, so it's not 'old news'.

[TheWriter]

http://www.websophist.com/WelcomeToLastWeek.jpg

It was never a sure thing that they would "play" in SA. So this isn't old news.

[fraga]

It was being talked about all over the place that they would be playing here...at least the news I'd heard and people I've been talking too...

[Big Pimp_21]

any links?

[TheWriter]

It was being talked about all over the place that they would be playing here...at least the news I'd heard and people I've been talking too...

Sure, but itwasn't confirmed by the NFL or the Saints, it was just talk. The NFL had all sorts of other locations they also could have put the Saints. So it seems now it is to be, the Saints will play in the Dome.

[Big Pimp_21]

I'm looking everywhere and can't find confirmation of this....where did you see it?

TV, internet, radio, telegraham, psychic?

[goliath]

Not official word but they are discussing it on a saints board

http://www.saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=172479

[Marcus Bryant]

Not official word but they are discussing it on a saints board

http://www.saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=172479


Those fans are paranoid about the Saints leaving. Frankly, there's no way the Saints can relocate permanently after this.

[BillsCarnage]

Those fans are paranoid about the Saints leaving. Frankly, there's no way the Saints can relocate permanently after this.

Why not? The lease is up at the Superdome after this year and LA wants an NFL team. If the Saints were ever going to move - after this season would be it.

[Marcus Bryant]

Bailing on a city due to a natural disaster? Um, no. Whatever problem the Saints had with the Superdome, now the funds will be there to upgrade it.

[T Park]

The funds will go to rebuilding the city, wayyy before it goes to rebuilding the Superdome.

Gauranteed.

[Marcus Bryant]

The 'dome is a part of the city.

[Big Pimp_21]

but an insignificant part compared to everything else that the city lost

[TheWriter]

The 'dome is a part of the city.

You're not that fucking stupid?

[Marcus Bryant]

No, I don't jack off to pictures of San Antonio that I post on a NSYNC forum.

Of course the city's infrastructure is going to be rebuilt and guess what? The Superdome is a part of that.

Even you should be able to figure that out.

[BillsCarnage]

Bailing on a city due to a natural disaster? Um, no. Whatever problem the Saints had with the Superdome, now the funds will be there to upgrade it.

Refund the ticket owners $$ (you know they could use it), Play in SA for a season and then move to LA.

Sure the dome is part of the city, but it's how old and how many true domes are left? Not many.

[T Park]

The 'dome is a part of the city.

come on marcus.


They arent gonna give two shits about that stadium.

That will be the LAST thing they fix.

I gaurantee they will want to fix freakin houses, hospitals, and city hall, waaayyyy before a stadium.

Get real.

[TheWriter]

No, I don't jack off to pictures of San Antonio that I post on a NSYNC forum.

Of course the city's infrastructure is going to be rebuilt and guess what? The Superdome is a part of that.

Even you should be able to figure that out.

Do you fucking think the government is going to give two shits about the Superdome when they start rebuilding. That will be the last thing on their mind.

[TheWriter]

Holy Shit, TPark and I posted virtually the same fucking thing. I feel dirty. I'm gonna have to take a shower.

[Marcus Bryant]

The cost of repairing it is still going to be a fraction of what it would cost to build a new one. Considering the amount of the $ that NO is going to get from the Feds as well as the state it's not hard to envision funds being appropriated to rebuild the dome.

[Marcus Bryant]

Do you fucking think the government is going to give two shits about the Superdome when they start rebuilding. That will be the last thing on their mind.

Absolutely. One part of redressing the damage done to NO by Katrina is to address the economic impact to the city. Since the city's economy is heavily reliant on tourism and the Superdome has been the site of numerous major sporting events it is not hard to see the support there for state and/or federal funds to fix the 'dome.

Any questions?

[T Park]

I feel dirty. I'm gonna have to take a shower

dont worry, I wont copy it and put it on the NYNSYNC forum like some would.

[BillsCarnage]

Fixing the 'dome is completely valid, but it won't be fixed for the NFL. More like a central staging location for storage/refugees/equipment/etc.

[TheWriter]

dont worry, I wont copy it and put it on the NYNSYNC forum like some would.

If you do, please give proper credit.

[remingtonbo2001]

No, the actual source was Fox News.....Some reporter claimed that the Saints will be playing in San Antonio because no place could be found nearby that was available. Most of the surrounding sites are being used to house hurricane refugees. That's what was reported. I'm not sure where they got this from.

[exstatic]

While it would be a bad thing to move, the Saints aren't happy with the Superdome. Why would they be happy with a patched up/repaired Superdome?

[timvp]

Um ... the Saints can't leave New Orleans now for a good ten years. It's the principle of the matter now. The NFL would never go for the public out cry that would occur if the Saints leave Louisiana.

That would never fly. And honestly, it shouldn't. There are some long time Saints fans that would be cheered up by going to a Saints game and seeing their lives return to normalcy.

It'd be dirty to screw over New Orleans like that.

[TheWriter]

Um ... the Saints can't leave New Orleans now for a good ten years. It's the principle of the matter now. The NFL would never go for the public out cry that occur if the Saints leave Louisiana.

That would never fly. And honestly, it shouldn't. There are some long time Saints fans that would be cheered up by going to a Saints game and seeing their lives return to normalcy.

It'd be dirty to screw over New Orleans like that.

What if only a fraction of people go back to New Orleans to live? What if the people can't support the team after everything is said and done? Why would they stay?

They're a business first, and business 101, if you're not making money you're going to fail.

If the city can come back 100% and be like it was before the storm, then great, but that just seems so unlikely.

[TheWriter]

It'd be dirty to screw over New Orleans like that.

So if something happened to SA and all that was left where the residents of the southside, do you think the Spurs would stay in SA? No.

[timvp]

What if only a fraction of people go back to New Orleans to live? What if the people can't support the team after everything is said and done? Why would they stay?

They're a business first, and business 101, if you're not making money you're going to fail.

If the city can come back 100% and be like it was before the storm, then great, but that just seems so unlikely.

Dude, think about the people. How would you like if San Antonio flooded and everyone had to evacuate and then you come back months later and the Spurs new permanent home was St. Louis?

It would be a major blow for the city on top of what mother nature struck. You don't kick a city while it's down.

Think.

[TheWriter]

Dude, think about the people. How would you like if San Antonio flooded and everyone had to evacuate and then you come back months later and the Spurs new permanent home was St. Louis?

It would be a major blow for the city on top of what mother nature struck. You don't kick a city while it's down.

Think.

Again, the future of New Orleans is SOOO up in the air? How long before it's even 20% back to normal? How long before all those homes will be rebuilt?

Sure the Downtown survived but when 80% of your city is under high water for weeks on end, those homes are not going to be fine to live in.

Of course you don't kick a city when its down, but this isn't like that. This is just basic business, just like people who are leaving New Orleans forever. Are they kicking the city? No. They know that No job + no home = not survivable.

[timvp]

Again, the future of New Orleans is SOOO up in the air? How long before it's even 20% back to normal? How long before all those homes will be rebuilt?

Sure the Downtown survived but when 80% of your city is under high water for weeks on end, those homes are not going to be fine to live in.

Of course you don't kick a city when its down, but this isn't like that. This is just basic business, just like people who are leaving New Orleans forever. Are they kicking the city? No. They know that No job + no home = not survivable.

The NFL will help the Saints if it comes down to it. They will not ruin their reputation and move the Saints when the city actually needs them.

For whatever the city becomes, the Saints and other sports teams will help the city unify again. Sports means more to a city than just money. It'll be a way for the New Orleans community to feel whole once again.

Ten or fifteen years down the line if the city is significantly smaller and all the businesses are gone, then yeah they'll move. But not anytime soon.




P.S.

Plus with all the government aid going to NO, they'll probably be richer than they were before this hurricane. It was an incredibly poor city to begin with.

[TheWriter]

The NFL will help the Saints if it comes down to it. They will not ruin their reputation and move the Saints when the city actually needs them.

The city needs a football team? What? They need a lot more important things besides a football team.

[timvp]

The city needs a football team? What? They need a lot more important things besides a football team.

Alright, we'll see who is right.

I'll bump this thread when the Saints are playing their home games in New Orleans next year.

Next.

[ShoogarBear]

Anyone who thinks the NFL would use a natural disaster as an excuse to move a team permanently is nuts. The PR backlash from that would be massive.

[TheWriter]

Alright, we'll see who is right.

We will.

I hope you're right. I hope New Orleans comes back to its feet. But I also realisticly don't see it happening.

[timvp]

Anyone who thinks the NFL would use a natural disaster as an excuse to move a team permanently is nuts. The PR backlash from that would be massive.

Exactly.

This reminds me of the time TheWriter said the NBA would never have anything to do with Las Vegas.

:lol

[Dex]

Don't make me find the 'arguing over the internet' jpg again.

[TheWriter]

Anyone who thinks the NFL would use a natural disaster as an excuse to move a team permanently is nuts. The PR backlash from that would be massive.

If losing a large amount of your population, if it takes years for the economy of NO and all of the gulf shore to become somewhat recognizable, if losing thousands of homes, if all that isn't enough for a business like professional sports to say, well we won't be able to survive in NO, I don't know what would.

[goliath]

Isnt the Saints in NO for 10yrs contingent on the city paying Benson like $10-$15 mil a year?

After this, I would think it would be hard for the city gov to justify spending millions to Benson and not rebuilding.

[50 cent]

I love this post....


They're using the Freeman Coliseum for the refugees, not the Alamodome.
You're probably right about the Cowboys, but think about how the San Antonio fans are going to rally around this team. They'll feel like they're taking in a lost stray dog, feeding it, housing it, taking care of it. That may make the Saints quite endearing to the San Antonio fans, almost like the Saints are their own. 8 sell outs at the Alamodome, a playoff game there, and an untentable situation back home...... all adds up to the San Antonio Saints to me.

I thought that was great as well.

[JsnSA]

The league will NOT use this as an excuse to move the team.

That being said...if LA can not support an NFL team anymore (which might actually be the case)...then they will have NO CHOICE but to leave. At least until the city is rebuilt and back up to speed.

Government money is going to go to rebuilding the city...not buying tickets. It will all come down to the people. Right now..it doesnt look good for enough people to have the money to splurge on pricey football tickets in the next few years. They already had troubles selling tickets there.

However. At worse I think it would be like when the Oilers or Browns left. A team would come back eventually..maybe with the Saints name...maybe not.

But the league is NOT going to keep a team there if they cant support it. It doesnt matter why they cant support it. If they cant support the team after a year goes by...the team wont stay there. Its as simple as that.

[TheWriter]

I think if the Saints had to leave, the way the NFL would handle PR would be to promise New Orleans another team as soon as the city was able to support one.

[Kori Ellis]

Saints eyeing Baton Rouge for home schedule
ESPN.com news services


NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue says it's unlikely the New Orleans Saints will play in New Orleans this season after the devastation Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath inflicted on the city, but the team told ESPN that keeping games in Louisiana is a priority.

"At this point you have to proceed on the assumption … that they may be unable to play in New Orleans at all for the entire season," Tagliabue said Thursday in an interview with CNBC.

"If things evolve in a positive way, then that would be something that we could adjust to. But our assumption is that for planning purposes, we should assume it will be difficult if not impossible to play in New Orleans at all this year."

The Saints will move into a hotel in San Antonio, Texas, this weekend and practice in San Antonio in preparation for their regular-season opener at Carolina Sept. 11. They have spent this week in San Jose, Calif., and played their final exhibition Thursday night in Oakland.

But it still hasn't been decided where they will play their regular-season opener Sept. 18 against the New York Giants or play the rest of their games.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis on Thursday told ESPN's Colleen Dominguez the team would prefer to play this season's home schedule in Louisiana and the logical choice would be LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Loomis expects a decision to be reached in a matter of days.

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which runs Giants Stadium, has offered to host the upcoming Giants-Saints game in New Jersey. It would likely be played Monday, Sept. 19 because the Jets will play Miami that Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Tagliabue said moving the game to New Jersey was one possibility.

He also said games could be played at another NFL stadium or at a non-NFL stadium. He didn't name any specifically, but the Alamodome in San Antonio seats 65,000 for football, about the same as the Saints' regular home at the Superdome in New Orleans, which was heavily damaged by Katrina.

Tagliabue, who announced on Wednesday that the NFL was donating $1 million to the recovery effort, added that the emphasis should be the total recovery of the region hit by the hurricane. So did Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association in a statement released on Thursday, although Upshaw did not immediately say what form the union's help would take.

"We want to really emphasize above all that sport is a small part of life," Tagliabue said. "We want to use are visibility and the respect we have with the public and the respect our teams have to support the national recovery program. That's the big thing."

[fraga]

I think I heard the reports on ESPN from some dude actually from Louisiana...and I think the Alamo Dome was his #2 choice...but the way he explained it...the first choice wouldn't work cause of scheduling conflicts...so he thought the Alamo Dome would probably be the place...

[Guru of Nothing]

My 2cents ... San Antonio should push hard to get the Saints on loan for a year. The benefit from the attention would be HUGE.

Ideally, San Antonio could parlay this into a long term deal to permanently host the Super Bowl at a neutral site, but alas, Henry C's vision comes up a little short, given the limited seating in a football config (65,000 ??)

Go Spurs!

Puro San Antonio!

[TheWriter]

WOAI reported that the Saints players will begin to look for housing and schools when they arrive. Read into that as you will.

[blaze89]

WOAI reported that the Saints players will begin to look for housing and schools when they arrive. Read into that as you will.

The Saints are basing their operations here in San Antonio, doesn't exactly mean they are playing games here.

Although it would make sense but with so many things happening at the same time, who knows.

[TheWriter]

The Saints are basing their operations here in San Antonio, doesn't exactly mean they are playing games here.

Although it would make sense but with so many things happening at the same time, who knows.

You don't look for housing or schools if you're going to be in a city for 2 weeks tops. That was how long they'll be here if they don't play their home games here.

[scott]

The city of New Orleans as you know it is history. No major corporation will ever move back to 8 feet below sea level. With out big business, all you have left is... Kerrville. Kerrville can't support an NFL team.

[blaze89]

You don't look for housing or schools if you're going to be in a city for 2 weeks tops. That was how long they'll be here if they don't play their home games here.

They can base their operations here and play elsewhere in Louisiana. Situation is changing by the day, it appears.

[SequSpur]

Turn on the news and realize that New Orleans is fucked up for along time. It is going to be damn near impossible to open a McDonalds anytime soon.

NFL teams are businesses owned by owners. They are free to do whatever the hell they want to.

First of all...... businesses in New Orleans are fucking gone and might not ever go back. WTF are they going back to? Looting? Guntoting Gangs? Waterfilled streets? Death?

Are people going to complain because Joe Blows Business left because of a wiped out city? Uh... fuck no.

As for the Superdome, that place is fucking wasted. The foundation is under water, the roof is about to collapse, the infrastructure is majorly damaged.

I don't think a few million and a couple of months is going to fix that or take priority over lets say life needing items like water, sewage, food, housing, hospitals, etc. etc..

The Saints are fucking gone from New Orleans. It will be a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGTIME before that place is functional as a city again.

It's not greedy to wish that the Saints come here, it's a fucking necessity to the growth of this city.

That team is on the move, Baton Rouge???????????? LMAO. Baton Rouge blows and they couldn't sell $10 tickets in that city, there is no cash there......

It's time to hope and give support for the San Antonio Saints.

[AlamoSpursFan]

The more I hear the shit coming out of the NFL the more pissed I get. They don't have a lick of respect for this city, and they never will.

Paul Tagliabue and his stuffed suit cronies can go out back and play hide and go fuck themselves.

[FromWayDowntown]

The more I hear the shit coming out of the NFL the more pissed I get. They don't have a lick of respect for this city, and they never will.

Paul Tagliabue and his stuffed suit cronies can go out back and play hide and go fuck themselves.

Why commit to playing games in the Alamodome when it may be that the Alamodome will have to be used for housing refugees? Particularly with the Astrodome no longer taking in anybody? It seems pretty realistic to me that the Alamodome will get enlisted to put some people up, at least for a little while. Let's make sure people get situated safely and then worry about trivial things like the NFL.

And why not try to find the Saints a place to play in Louisiana? If the SBC Center was somehow damaged and the Spurs were displaced, I doubt most here would be particularly happy if the NBA sent the Spurs to play in Shreveport or someplace like that.

[scott]

Futhermore, it isn't entirely sure that the Alamodome is open on the Sunday's required. It makes sense that LSU is the #1 choice, can't blame the NFL for that.

[SequSpur]

The Alamodome has events going on, they aren't going to open that place up to refugees.

I can see maybe some convention center space, freeman coliseum, etc. etc..

What about all the empty Kmarts, Albertsons, etc.etc...??

They could house thousands as well.

[TheWriter]

Futhermore, it isn't entirely sure that the Alamodome is open on the Sunday's required. It makes sense that LSU is the #1 choice, can't blame the NFL for that.

The man in charge of Dome operations has said all home dates would be open.

[TheWriter]

The Alamodome has events going on, they aren't going to open that place up to refugees.

I can see maybe some convention center space, freeman coliseum, etc. etc..

What about all the empty Kmarts, Albertsons, etc.etc...??

They could house thousands as well.

Exactly.

[Guru of Nothing]

What about all the empty Kmarts, Albertsons, etc.etc...??

They could house thousands as well.

Throw in a few abandoned Wal-Marts, and you make an extremely poignant point.


...One that bears repeating.

[Solid D]

I don't know if someone has pointed this out yet, but although San Antonio is stepping up big-time (Kelly USA facility, etc.), as is Houston and other cities, to deal with the influx of people...it's an 8-hour drive on a good day.

San Antonio seems like it is closer to New Orleans than it actually is because it is the next state over. It is roughly 550 miles between the two cities. Dallas is closer to New Orleans. Little Rock is closer. To put it into perspective, it's just as close to San Antonio as it is to Jacksonville, FL where Interstate 10 runs out of room on the Atlantic coast.

[CubanMustGo]

The NO refugees are going to be located at the old Kelly AFB, not the Alamodome (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/nation/stories/MYSA090205.1A.katrina_refugees.185f9ecd.html)

The Saints want to play in Baton Rouge this season: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2149071

and they are talking seriously about playing a game in fricking NEW JERSEY, of all places. Yeah, that's close by.

[Kip Fanatic]

It makes sense for the Saints to play their home games here this year. The NFL isn't going to lose a lot of money because of that. They may not make as much as they were if they were to play in New Orleans with all the season ticket holders, but that is impossible now. I would say almost all of the season ticket holders live in the New Orleans area. Where are those people now? Who knows. Even if they were to rebuild/fix the Super Dome, which fans would want to go there to watch the Saints play? A dome where murders have taken place. Rapes have taken place. A place where people have died. I know I wouldn't and I doubt the players would want to return there. That city is far from going back to the way it was. Its sad, but true. I think football is far from the minds of people there as it should be. There are no jobs there in New Orleans. Its empty. If the NFL is interested in making as much money as they can (which they are) then the best choice is San Antonio in my mind. I seriously doubt LSU will be the choice. The field would be bad after LSU plays on it the night/day before the Saints do. If they play in Houston, do you think the city is going to support two NFL teams? I don't think they can. Same with Dallas. San Antonio is the 7th or 8th largest city in the U.S and should be able to support this team. At least for this season. However, despite all this the most important thing is to help all the people whose lives have been destoyed by this hurricane. Innocent children, babies, eldery, and regular Joes are in desperate need here. Its unbelievable. The more I watch and read the more my heart goes out to them. Its like their lives never existed and they have to start all over. Let's worry about the people first and then worry about where the Saints play.

[Rescueone]

Throw in a few abandoned Wal-Marts, and you make an extremely poignant point.


...One that bears repeating.


Excellent ideal... :tu :tu Besides, putting the over flow in a non air conditioned, no running water warehouse will make things the same as the Superdome in two days. The opening of all these empty K-marts, Albertsons, old Wal Marts around the city should be explored before the Plan B warehouse. Put in a few water buffalos for showers and you have a fuctioning facility.

[Notorious H.O.P.]

In terms of repairing the Superdome, the city should feel a slight responsibility to rebuild it considering that they used it to house all of those refugees. Not only from a standpoint of feeling responsible to fix what they broke (not counting the wind and rain damage) but from a standpoint of the structure representing something. It allowed the city to give a fighting chance of survival for all the people that went there. The building has become more than just a football stadium, it is a symbol of something greater. In addition, with all of the recent storm activity that seems to increase year after year, they may need the Superdome again in the future to house people.

It seems unlikely that the Saints will play in NO next year considering the damage in the area and the lack of money people in the area will have while they go through the rebuilding process. Insurance won't cover everything and it will be a long time before any of these people will have the disposable income necessary enough to attend games.

The NFL will probably promise to move the team back to NO as soon as it can support a team. In the mean time, their best thing to do is to put a team someplace where they may have pondered putting a team before but wasn't sure they could support it. This gives an alternate location 2-3 years to prove it, the Saints go back to NO and when a new franchise is awarded or an existing franchise needs to move, it can possibly go to the alternate city. Could this be San Antonio? Maybe. But I'm not convinced the NFL considers SA a long term possibility.

[Rescueone]

What better way to repay a city for taking in some of their own than to play a game in front of them and some of their fans. It's been reported that San Antonio will now house some 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans. Houston the same. It just makes too much sense to play in front of your displaced fans. Not New Jersey. I think the Giants are just trying to get another home game out of this. The NFL owes it to the people of New Orleans to play here where some of them are. Give them something they can relate to.

[Notorious H.O.P.]

Excellent ideal... :tu :tu Besides, putting the over flow in a non air conditioned, no running water warehouse will make things the same as the Superdome in two days. The opening of all these empty K-marts, Albertsons, old Wal Marts around the city should be explored before the Plan B warehouse. Put in a few water buffalos for showers and you have a fuctioning facility.

I think the reason they don't immediately come to mind is that they are private spaces and even though relief organizations might be interested in renting them for this type of situation, the building owners probably don't want to risk damage to their buildings by having them used in a manner that they were not build for. Plus, when you have frustrated people with idle time, some people start becoming destructive.

Also, those places have a very limited amount of toliets and running water sources to seriously consider them without the idea of bring in port-o-lets and other water sources. And they just don't have the infrastructure to provide services to the people in them. That is why we're seeing the use of stadiums. Secure storage and staging areas, high number of bathrooms, multiple distribution points for supplies, multiple water sources, etc.

[MadDog73]

In the end of the day, Benson is going to move that team.

I don't know where, but the Saints won't be playing in New Orleans.

Sure, the NFL could stop any deal from being done, but do you really think it's fair to force the people of Louisiana to pay $15 million a year to keep the Saints (under the current deal?)

Do you think Benson is that generous to change the deal?

[Kip Fanatic]

Benson talks a bunch of crap. He says he wants to move it here, but only says that to get more money out of New Orleans, however, that's not possible anymore. I say you let them play here and let the residents from here watch the game free. Why move them to Miss. or Baton Rouge? Like people from New Orleans are going to drive over there or have the money to do that at this time. Paul T. is a jerk and very greedy.

[Solid D]

I'm hearing that some residents of the New Orleans area, who have sought refuge elsewhere, are being told that they should check back in about 6 months. How'd you like to be told to wait a half a year to check if your house is still there?

[SpursWoman]

You don't look for housing or schools if you're going to be in a city for 2 weeks tops. That was how long they'll be here if they don't play their home games here.

They didn't say where the players would be looking for homes, just that they had the weekend off to do so, FWIW.

[SpursWoman]

The city of New Orleans as you know it is history. No major corporation will ever move back to 8 feet below sea level. With out big business, all you have left is... Kerrville. Kerrville can't support an NFL team.


Hey, man....Kerrville has James Avery.... :spin

[CubanMustGo]

Hey, man....Kerrville has James Avery.... :spin

Not to mention HEB #1 :lol

[dawn]

Saints will play home opener at Giants Stadium. No San Antonio for this one.

NEW YORK -- The New Orleans Saints, driven from the Superdome by Hurricane Katrina, will play their home opener against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium.




It is not clear, however, when the game will be played.



NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Friday the game, scheduled for Sept. 18, is being moved to the Giants' home in East Rutherford, N.J.



The New York Jets, who share the stadium with the Giants, are scheduled to play at home against Miami on Sept. 18. As a result, the Giants-Saints game most likely will be played Saturday, Sept. 17, or the following Monday.



The league said it was possible the game could be played as part of a doubleheader Sunday, with the one game at 1 p.m. and the other at night. The Jets are now scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m.



"We are in the process of working out the specific arrangements, including the day and kickoff time and plans for television coverage," Tagliabue said. He added that information on tickets will be announced in a few days by the Giants.



He said the Saints and Giants had agreed to donate part of the gate receipts from the game to the hurricane relief fund.



The Saints, who spent the past week on the West Coast, are moving their headquarters to San Antonio for the immediate future.

The Alamodome in San Antonio, which holds 65,000, had been considered a strong possibility for the game.



Tagliabue indicated, however, it was best to get the game out of the area struck by Hurricane Katrina. The Alamodome and other facilities in the San Antonio area, a little more than 500 miles from New Orleans, are being used to shelter hurricane victims.



Tagliabue said he made the decision to move the game to the Giants' home stadium after consulting with Saints owner Tom Benson and other officials.



"There are many reasons for this decision," Tagliabue said, "including recognizing that the overwhelming priority for public and private resources in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region in the weeks ahead must be the essential needs of the public and restoration of the area's infrastructure."



The Saints will open at Carolina on Sept. 11 before playing the Giants.



"Our main concern is with the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region who have experienced the recent tragedy," Benson said. "We are attempting to carry on in these difficult times and are looking out for the best interest of our coaches, staff, players and their families. My prayers are with each of those who have been adversely impacted."



The last game to be moved was two years ago, when wildfires in Southern California caused a game between Miami and San Diego to be moved from San Diego to Phoenix. Last season, the starting time of a game in Miami between the Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers was moved from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. to allow Hurricane Jeanne to move through south Florida.

[TOP-CHERRY]

:depressed

[SequSpur]

Alamodome is being used for refugees?

I thought they were going to practice there and the San Antonio Sports Complex?

Fuck that. I would use all the facilities for the refugees and tell Benson and Tagliabue to Fuck off.

Fuck the NFL.

[timvp]

:lol @ gullible San Antonians who thought the NFL would let the Saints desert New Orleans for San Antonio.

[TOP-CHERRY]

:lol @ gullible San Antonians who thought the NFL would let the Saints desert New Orleans for San Antonio.
Hell, I just wanted to go to a freaking NFL game.

[exstatic]

:lol Somewhere, Buddy Holly is slitting his wrists...

Seriously, though, If I'm Hardberger, I tell Benson to pack his fucking team, and GTFO. No more arranged practice facilites for you, trick ass. What an asshole. Hey Tom: enjoy playing those November and December games at the Meadowlands. While you're at it, find somewhere to practice up there.

I think this puts to rest, FINALLY, any thought of an NFL team in SA in our lifetimes. The NFL doesn't even want us to babysit a team for a year, when the SA option makes more sense that having a third team play in the NJ swamp.

[TheWriter]

:lol @ gullible San Antonians who thought the NFL would let the Saints desert New Orleans for San Antonio.

What? This is only the first home game that is being played elsewhere. They haven't even decided where the rest of the home games will be played.

[ShoogarBear]

This makes absolutely no friggin sense.

"We wanted to get the game out of the hurricane area?" Translation: We want to give our New York darlings an extra home game, oh, and by the way, F you SA.

I never thought for a moment the Saints were moving to San Antonio, but this is insulting everyone's intelligence.

[gameFACE]

This doesn't yet necessarily mean that they won't play any games here. The ONLY reason to have them play here is because there just happens to be a stadium that holds 65,000 and, hopefully, a fan base that will fill it up. I don't know if other stadiums in LA are that big. It's giving a temporary home to a team who's city they represent has been virtually destroyed. Anyone who thinks this is an opportunity to show the NFL that SA can support a team is a maggot.

[ChumpDumper]

My guess is the city and the dome simply aren't ready to put on a 50,000+ spectator event on three weeks' notice. Maybe later in the season.

[TheWriter]

My guess is the city and the dome simply aren't ready to put on a 50,000+ spectator event on three weeks' notice. Maybe later in the season.

Exactly, byt the second home game, the Dome should be rolled out for a game should they need to play there.

[T Park]

bullshit.

They could get that Dome ready.

Its the freakin NFL.

Fuck the NFL, fuck Jerry Jones and Fuck the Texans, cause once again, dont think THEY didn't have a say in the Saints NOT playing here.

[timvp]

An NFL game will never be played in San Antonio.

Period.

[TheWriter]

An NFL game will never be played in San Antonio.

Period.


And Michael Finley will never sign with the Spurs.

We got you Nostra. :spin

[timvp]

And Michael Finley will never sign with the Spurs.

We got you Nostra. :spin

Hey, I do what I can.

:hat

[Kori Ellis]

People around town are upset that the saints will not play on sept 18. The reason the game was moved to New York for that weekend was the fact that city officals in San Antonio and Tom Benson are getting a season package together for the 7 home games. The package might take some time to work on so the NFL decided to move the Saints home game to New York for that weekend only. Expect 7 home games to be played at the Alamodome. NFL will come to San Antonio, so be ready to support your new San Antonio Saints.

[T Park]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Ill go, Ill buy tickets and root for them as hard as I root for the Rams.

But I doubt its happening.

[goliath]

Not only does it suck for SA but its sorta unfair for the rest of the NFC.

Giants basically get 9 home games, while everyone else gets 8.

Imagine if the Giants are fighting for a wild card (I know doubtful but...) with say the Cowboys or Packers. The extra home game could be huge.

[hussker]

Hell, I just wanted to go to a freaking NFL game.

If you have to choose between an NFL game involving the Saints or the best 5$ ticket in Sports (Judson vs Madison for example) take the latter! Hey, so it's 12 min quarters...but don;t those kids just play for the love of the game!

TEXAS HS FOOTBALL ROCKS! (And I am a HUSKER!)

[redskinfan]

the NFL does not want SA in the league and its a damm shame they dont want to give us a chance like the NBA did, The NBA didnt want us either but we supported the hell out of the SPURS and the rest is history, They (NFL) are afraid we will support the Saints and force the Saints to move here permanently.

[clubalien]

hmm san antonio saints
san antonio spurs

relgious (catholic) city =saints
OMG this just makes so much since

i am a cowboys fan though so i wouldn;t want a footbal team unelss cows moved here

[King Manu]

NFL can hate the saints coming to san antonio but the fact remains is that tom benson is from san antonio and he wants the saints in san antonio. Tom Benson owns the saints, he wears the pants. LA will not get the saints. LA already lost the rams and raiders. LA also lost out of 3 expansion teams in the browns, jaguars, and texans.


San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Silver Stars and now
San Antonio Saints

[Rescueone]

I hate to burst anyones bubble about the Saints playing here beyond maybe 5-7 games this year. The Alamo Dome will have to undergo MAJOR reconstruction to get it up to NFL standards. Those luxury skyboxes which are so vital for revenue for team owners just don't exist in the Alamo Dome. The city won't pay millions to get it ready for the NFL next year. The Alamo Dome is just a temporary fix for the Saints. If they have to, I can see them playing all their games on the road next year before going into the red. I would like to see them make San Antonio it's permenet home. Unless Toyota contributes major bank I don't see it happening for the long haul.

[King Manu]

Well the Saints have a 2 year contract left with the city of New Orleans. During the next two years or so if san antonio wants the saints, san antonio leaders must upgrade the alamodome. If the saints are a huge sucess, san antonio might be the next stop. This year the Saints will be giving San Antonio a taste of NFL. By the Saints playing this year in San Antonio. Tom Benson builds up a fan base in San Antonio and people more and more ditch the cowboys for the saints.

[Old School Chic]

I like the sound of the San Antonio "Saints"

[Mark in Austin]

I hate to burst anyones bubble about the Saints playing here beyond maybe 5-7 games this year. The Alamo Dome will have to undergo MAJOR reconstruction to get it up to NFL standards. Those luxury skyboxes which are so vital for revenue for team owners just don't exist in the Alamo Dome. The city won't pay millions to get it ready for the NFL next year. The Alamo Dome is just a temporary fix for the Saints. If they have to, I can see them playing all their games on the road next year before going into the red. I would like to see them make San Antonio it's permenet home. Unless Toyota contributes major bank I don't see it happening for the long haul.


Two things I thought of after reading your post:

First, I think that if put to a vote, the city would vote to fund improvements to the dome if there was a garentee the the Saints would sign a long-term lease. I think the NFL is the only thing that would generate support for higher taxes from a majority of voters here, effed up as that is.

Second, it wouldn't suprise me if the cost to retrofit the Alamodome are actually higher than the Superdome repairs. The Saints leaving NO will have more to do with how quickly the city recovers in terms of ticket buyers and coporate sponsors coming back to town that damage to the Superdome.

[Tek_XX]

Any team that is moving is going to L.A.

I don't see the voters voting to do shit to that huge albatross known as the alamodome.

[TheWriter]

Any team that is moving is going to L.A.

I don't see the voters voting to do shit to that huge albatross known as the alamodome.

It's pretty much up to Tom Benson on where they'll move to if they move.

So LA isn't automatically going to get them.

And you bet your ass people woild vote yes on repairing asnd upgrading the Alamodome if they knew a team would be housed there.

[King Manu]

Tom Benson owns the Saints. Tom Benson lives in San Antonio. Tom Benson has all his businesses in San Antonio. Tom Benson's family loves San Antonio. San Antonio is ready for an NFL team so poooooooooooooooof.

San Antonio Saints. No room for L.A.

[Kori Ellis]

Just so you know, Saints Head Coach Jim Haslett and GM Mickey Loomis are having a press conference here in San Antonio tomorrow (Sunday) at 6pm.

[Dingle Barry]

I wish this city could have built the alamodome with the future in mind. That disaster lacked any kind of foresight. Kind of like the 281/1604 intersection.

[TheWriter]

Just so you know, Saints Head Coach Jim Haslett and GM Mickey Loomis are having a press conference here in San Antonio tomorrow (Sunday) at 6pm.

Do you know what its about?

[TheWriter]

I wish this city could have built the alamodome with the future in mind. That disaster lacked any kind of foresight. Kind of like the 281/1604 intersection.

The city had nothing to do with 1604/281. That's all TXDOT. They're the builders.

And TXDOT was so stupid with the planning that they never excepted the northside to see the growth its has, so they built no interchange.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Tom Benson owns the Saints. Tom Benson lives in San Antonio. Tom Benson has all his businesses in San Antonio. Tom Benson's family loves San Antonio. San Antonio is ready for an NFL team so poooooooooooooooof.

San Antonio Saints. No room for L.A.

Red McCombs would have to invest in them for this to happen. Tom Benson has a nice ranch up in the hill country but he lives in N.O. (or did). He has just as many if not more business interests in N.O. (or did). Don't automatically assume he's all about S.A.

[TheWriter]

Red McCombs would have to invest in them for this to happen. Tom Benson has a nice ranch up in the hill country but he lives in N.O. (or did). He has just as many if not more business interests in N.O. (or did). Don't automatically assume he's all about S.A.

All of Benson interests are in San Antonio.

He lives in San Antonio (Hill Country), he attends weekly mass at UIW (University of the Incarnate Word), and owns many banks in the San Antonio area along with his car dealerships.

[TheWriter]

Any update on the press conference?