Saints to play first home game at Giants Stadium

[leaferfan87]

TSN

Guess who the game is against? The Giants!

Does anyone else find this disgusting. The Giants are taking advantage to get another home game. This Saints should play on a neutral site.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

That is pretty dumb. How the hell do you have an away game at your own stadium??? What, is the East Rutherford police gonna interrogate everyone to make sure they aren't Giants fans??? They should just play at the Astrodome, unless of course people are still in there for refuge. Otherwise, play at one of Louisiana's college stadiums, or even the damn stadium in LA. You could actually see what kind of turnout you could get because there have already been rumors floating around for a couple years about the Saints moving to LA anyways.

[J.R.]

This is the wrong move. The best idea I have heard this week was to play the game close as to New Orleans as possible and have free tickets and transportation to those affected by Hurricane Katrina's wrath. That way it would allow them to get out to a football game and at least for a few hours they may forget what has happened back home. Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge has a capacity of 90,000, which is way more than enough seats for an NFL game. But to hold it on the road away from Louisiana and give the other team another home game is a disgrace for the NFL. Shame on them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Tigerstadium04-07.jpg

[Amoroq]

They are playing the Giants anyway and its been agreed that a portion of the gate will help fund relief efforts. They are moving the game out of state and away from the gulf coast becasue they don't want to be a burden or hinder the opreations that are on going. As for the idea of giving free tickets to the victoms I would think that a football game is the farthest thing from their minds atm. And even if you got 90,000 people to go, imagine the transportation nightmare that would involve? IMO the money raised from the game as well as the money saved from transporting 90,000 people to and from Baton Rouge would be better served in a relief fund so these poor people can rebuild their lives.

Besides, the game in question is only 15 days away, I don't think the State of Louisianna is ready to hold an event that will surley draw the attention of the world as the first event since the storm.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Wouldn't San Antonio work?

[Mel]

That is pretty dumb. How the hell do you have an away game at your own stadium???

It wouldn't be the first time. What do you think happens when the Giants play the Jets "on the road"?

@ leaferfan87 -
How are the Giants "taking advantage" ? It's not even up to them where the game is played.

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."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2150014

Frankly, I don't see what's so disgusting about it. The Meadowlands is accomodating the NFL and the state of Louisianna by hosting the game. There are complications because the Jets and Giants share the stadium and typically when one is on the road the other is home... as is the case on September 18th. The Jets already have a game and may have to move the start time. Otherwise the Giants/Saints game will be played on a different day.

To suggest the Giants organization is taking advantage of the hurricane situation to weasel an extra home game is preposterous. The NFL chose Giants Stadium... if the NFL said the game will be played in some other city, then the Giants would have traveled there for the game.

[Iced Tea]

Wouldn't San Antonio work?
Yes it would. The Alamodome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamodome) with a seating capacity of 59 - 65 thousand for football, has been discussed as a temporary home field for the Saints.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

OK, fine don't have the game in Louisiana or the Alamodome, try getting it to LA though.

I also realize that there have been times in previous season where teams had an extra home game or two but I just don't think it's right. They should find somewhere else to play. And the Ginats playing the Jets is slightly different from the Saints playing the Giants. Sure, the Giants are supposed to be on the road but at the stadium when they play the Jets there is a good mix of Jets and Giants fans. This game will be 99% Giants fans and MAYBE 1% Saints fans. People often express the advantage of having home games, so giving a team an extra home game gives them an advantage over everyone else.

[Mel]

OK, fine don't have the game in Louisiana or the Alamodome, try getting it to LA though.

I also realize that there have been times in previous season where teams had an extra home game or two but I just don't think it's right. They should find somewhere else to play. And the Ginats playing the Jets is slightly different from the Saints playing the Giants. Sure, the Giants are supposed to be on the road but at the stadium when they play the Jets there is a good mix of Jets and Giants fans. This game will be 99% Giants fans and MAYBE 1% Saints fans. People often express the advantage of having home games, so giving a team an extra home game gives them an advantage over everyone else.

So complain to the NFL - don't blame the Giants. They did not orchestrate this hurricane or this change of circumstance that switched an away game to their home field. They have absolutely nothing to do with this decision - except for the fact that they agreed to host the game. That's all I'm saying. Send your complaints to Tagliabue... not the New York Giants. FO-Shizzle gimme a dizzle break!!!! They did nothing wrong.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

When did I say it was the Giants fault??? I'm just mad that the NFL, the league that wouldn't let Jake Plummer wear Pat Tillman's # on the back of his helmet in remembrance of one his best friends and teammates, would let this happen. It's not OK if Peyton Manning wears black top shoes to commemorate one of the best QBs ever, Johnny Unitas, but the Giants can have an extra home game and advantage over the rest of the league.

[Mel]

When did I say it was the Giants fault??? I'm just mad that the NFL, the league that wouldn't let Jake Plummer wear Pat Tillman's # on the back of his helmet in remembrance of one his best friends and teammates, would let this happen. It's not OK if Peyton Manning wears black top shoes to commemorate one of the best QBs ever, Johnny Unitas, but the Giants can have an extra home game and advantage over the rest of the league.

The Giants are 4-12 at home the past 2 years. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[Amoroq]

There is now talk of the saints moving to San Antonio permenantly.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Skip Bayless also said something about the Saints moving to San Diego because the Chargers may be moving to LA. Supposedly the owner of the Chargers has been interested in going to LA for a while and that would give the Saints a possible home.

[Bob burns]

Yes it would. The Alamodome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamodome) with a seating capacity of 59 - 65 thousand for football, has been discussed as a temporary home field for the Saints.

That seems like a great idea. Is there a good reason not to have their games played there?

[Mel]

That seems like a great idea. Is there a good reason not to have their games played there?
According to Tagliabue from the article I posted above...
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.
I'm not sure if it's still being used, but of course that would take precedence over foot ball games, as long as they could use it for shelter as needed.

[KB in Kelowna]

I wonder how long it will take someone to blame this on Bush, and for FOXNews channel to devote 24 hours of contniuous coverage rebutting the Liberal Lies aand Smears? :rolleyes:

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Well it looks like the Superdome will be torn down.

Tom Benson is for playing this season's home games in Baton Rouge if it doens't affect relief efforts. Now since Tiger Stadium won't be available for awhile, and the Alamodome is currently being used for people who lost their homes in the hurricane the most likely scenario would be the Saints playing most of their home games at their opponents stadium this season.

[Bob burns]

I wonder how long it will take someone to blame this on Bush, and for FOXNews channel to devote 24 hours of contniuous coverage rebutting the Liberal Lies aand Smears? :rolleyes:

Could you expand?

http://troll.freeservers.com/japant.jpg

[Bob burns]

According to Tagliabue from the article I posted above...

I'm not sure if it's still being used, but of course that would take precedence over foot ball games, as long as they could use it for shelter as needed.

Makes sense.

[J.R.]

After week two, the Saints will split "home" games at LSU and San Antonio.

Week 2 -- New York Giants (East Rutherford, New Jersey).
Week 4 -- Buffalo (San Antonio, Texas).
Week 6 -- Atlanta (San Antonio, Texas).
Week 8 -- Miami (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
Week 9 -- Chicago (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
Week 13 -- Tampa Bay (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
Week 15 -- Carolina (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
Week 16 -- Detroit (San Antonio, Texas).

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NO/8837856


This is sad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/bucfan556/thedome.jpg

Anyone want to offer up some memories from a great facility in one of the United States' great event cities?

Super Bowl XXXVI has to be right up there. It was moved into February because of Semptember 11th and appropriately enough the Patriots beat the Rams, who were favoured by 14 point (IIRC) on a game ending Vinatieri field goal. It felt magical. I can still hear Pat Summerall yelling "UN-BELIEV-ABLE." That's right up there as one of my great sports memories ever.

There's been plenty of Final Fours, Super Bowls, Sugar Bowls, etc. for memories to share.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

The site of Brett Favre and Packers' SuperBowl victory over the Pats.

[PDO]

There were two superbowls there not even 10 years apart from each other? :conspire:

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

The NFL doesn't like having the Superbowl in cold climates. So they keep it in the south, and basically eliminate half the teams in the league from ever getting one.

[leaferfan87]

I think that the NFL should really experiment with a Super Bowl in a snowy climate. Imagine the game being played at Lambeau Field, Soldier Field or Ralph Wilson Stadium. The game is in Detroit this year, but is of course in a dome.

[KB in Kelowna]

I think that the NFL should really experiment with a Super Bowl in a snowy climate. Imagine the game being played at Lambeau Field, Soldier Field or Ralph Wilson Stadium. The game is in Detroit this year, but is of course in a dome.


What and have it resemble a Grey Cup game? ;)

[J.R.]

I think that the NFL should really experiment with a Super Bowl in a snowy climate. Imagine the game being played at Lambeau Field, Soldier Field or Ralph Wilson Stadium.Uh, no. That wouldn't work. The NFL relies on corporate sponsors for a lot of their revenue and if they place the greatest annual North American event in some city that going to be freezing, they'll lose out big time. Also the NFL wants the best possible conditions for the game. They do not want a controversy about field troubles on game day.

Some day I wish to go to a Super Bowl and if I do I want to be somewhere warm so it can feel like a vacation. I like the idea of having it at Lambeau Field or I.F. at Mile High, but only if it was in July.


The four criteria Super Bowl host cities must possess.
- An NFL team must play in the area.
- The stadium must have a minimum 70,000 saleable seats, after an auxiliary press box is set up in the stands.
- The average temperature must exceed 50'F in late January or early February. Otherwise, the stadium must be a dome.
- Within a one-hour drive of the stadium, there must be hotel rooms equaling 35 percent of the number of seats for the game.

The NFL should just switch between San Diego and Miami. You can't get anymore perfect than those two cities.