SPchief
09-12-2005, 03:34 PM
Saints to play four games in Baton Rouge, three in San Antonio
September 12, 2005
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints will play four home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., and three in the Alamodome in San Antonio this season.
The Saints, displaced when Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area and their Superdome home, will play the weekends of Oct. 30-31, Nov. 6-7, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 17-19 on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. The San Antonio games will be on the weekends of Oct. 2-3, Oct. 16-17 and Dec. 24-26.
Specific days and starting times for those games have not been determined.
``I think the time frame gives our fans time to get tickets or do whatever they have to do to get to the stadium,'' coach Jim Haslett said from the team's temporary practice facility in San Antonio.
The four home games at Baton Rouge will be against Miami, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Carolina. The San Antonio games will be against Buffalo, Atlanta and Detroit.
Haslett initially wanted to play as many games in Louisiana as possible. But after spending last week getting settled into their new routine in San Antonio, he began hoping for more games to be at the Alamodome.
``It would have been nice to play here,'' he said. ``It's more of a travel issue. I know what their agenda was, to play as many games as possible in our home state. Our players like that, too. ...
``I'm not really worried about the location,'' he said. ``Our first concern is just to win football games.''
No decision was made on the site of potential Saints home playoff games this season.
Agreement on the schedule was reached after a meeting Monday in Baton Rouge involving Saints owner Tom Benson, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe and other school officials.
``We had an excellent meeting this morning and quickly developed a dual consensus,'' Tagliabue said. ``The first was to continue to give priority to the needs of the region and the second to the scheduling of Saints games in a way that made sense under the total circumstances. ... We also appreciate the cooperation of the Alamodome officials and the hospitality of the people of San Antonio for their support of the Saints at this difficult time.''
Benson scheduled a news conference for later Monday.
The Saints won their season opener 23-20 at Carolina on Sunday. Their first home game was set for this coming Sunday, but was moved to Monday night and will be played at Giants Stadium against the Giants. Saints season-ticket holders and anyone who had purchased tickets for the Giants-Saints game at the Superdome were given first call for tickets to the relocated game. After that, however, Giants season-ticket holders were given priority, meaning it will be a true road game for the Saints.
The manager of the Superdome has said it will take months before the building's future can be determined. It's possible to stadium will be torn down, leaving the Saints to find a new home.
During Hurricane Katrina, with thousands inside seeking refuge, three large holes were blown through the roof. In all, about 70 percent of the roof failed and water poured into the building during the storm, along with debris.
link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-saints-homefield&prov=ap&type=lgns
September 12, 2005
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints will play four home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., and three in the Alamodome in San Antonio this season.
The Saints, displaced when Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area and their Superdome home, will play the weekends of Oct. 30-31, Nov. 6-7, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 17-19 on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. The San Antonio games will be on the weekends of Oct. 2-3, Oct. 16-17 and Dec. 24-26.
Specific days and starting times for those games have not been determined.
``I think the time frame gives our fans time to get tickets or do whatever they have to do to get to the stadium,'' coach Jim Haslett said from the team's temporary practice facility in San Antonio.
The four home games at Baton Rouge will be against Miami, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Carolina. The San Antonio games will be against Buffalo, Atlanta and Detroit.
Haslett initially wanted to play as many games in Louisiana as possible. But after spending last week getting settled into their new routine in San Antonio, he began hoping for more games to be at the Alamodome.
``It would have been nice to play here,'' he said. ``It's more of a travel issue. I know what their agenda was, to play as many games as possible in our home state. Our players like that, too. ...
``I'm not really worried about the location,'' he said. ``Our first concern is just to win football games.''
No decision was made on the site of potential Saints home playoff games this season.
Agreement on the schedule was reached after a meeting Monday in Baton Rouge involving Saints owner Tom Benson, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe and other school officials.
``We had an excellent meeting this morning and quickly developed a dual consensus,'' Tagliabue said. ``The first was to continue to give priority to the needs of the region and the second to the scheduling of Saints games in a way that made sense under the total circumstances. ... We also appreciate the cooperation of the Alamodome officials and the hospitality of the people of San Antonio for their support of the Saints at this difficult time.''
Benson scheduled a news conference for later Monday.
The Saints won their season opener 23-20 at Carolina on Sunday. Their first home game was set for this coming Sunday, but was moved to Monday night and will be played at Giants Stadium against the Giants. Saints season-ticket holders and anyone who had purchased tickets for the Giants-Saints game at the Superdome were given first call for tickets to the relocated game. After that, however, Giants season-ticket holders were given priority, meaning it will be a true road game for the Saints.
The manager of the Superdome has said it will take months before the building's future can be determined. It's possible to stadium will be torn down, leaving the Saints to find a new home.
During Hurricane Katrina, with thousands inside seeking refuge, three large holes were blown through the roof. In all, about 70 percent of the roof failed and water poured into the building during the storm, along with debris.
link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-saints-homefield&prov=ap&type=lgns