Saints expect to be in New OrleansAssociated Presshttp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2260153NEW ORLEANS -- Saints players say a recent meeting with NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw left them with the impression that they'll most likely report to work at the team's undamaged training headquarters in suburban New Orleans next season.Upshaw met with Saints players in San Antonio and said he favored returning them to their training facility in Metairie and having them split their eight regular season home games between Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Superdome, if possible, players said."That's the feeling we got. It's all subject to change," cornerback Fred Thomas said. "He's not the man who'll make the decision. ... They're basically telling us that to give us some light at the end of the tunnel."League officials are focusing on Louisiana as the home for the Saints next season, but are waiting until early next year to make an official announcement because they want to make sure that recovery efforts take priority.The Louisiana Superdome should be ready to host pro football by Nov. 1, officials who manage the stadium announced this week.NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who called the condition of the Saints' training facility "excellent" after a recent tour, said no decision has been made and no announcement will be made until January.Players' homes fared relatively well with the exception of rookie Jammal Brown, whose eastern New Orleans home was ruined by flooding. Most players have homes west of the city, where there was little or no flooding."Based on what I heard, it was more yeah than no that we'll be back in New Orleans next year, about 70 to 30," receiver Donte' Stallworth said.But receiver Joe Horn said Upshaw could not tell players for certain "whether to renew our lease and get prepared to stay here, or don't renew the lease and get prepared to move back.""That's what everybody wanted to know, and Gene couldn't tell us that," Horn said. "The closest he got to telling us was that we'll know our schedule by January."
Louisiana wants Saints to return to training headquarters http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9113269Dec. 22, 2005CBS SportsLine.com wire reports NEW ORLEANS -- The state of Louisiana has formally requested that the New Orleans Saints return home.An attorney for the agency that oversees state-owned sports facilities made the request in a letter sent to the Saints, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and NFL Players' Association director Gene Upshaw.The letter asks the Saints to uphold their contract with the state by returning to their Louisiana training headquarters as soon as the current regular season ends in early January."As you know, the NFL representatives (including Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Players' Association leader, Gene Upshaw) toured the facility on December 5th. Both gentlemen deemed the facility to be in 'excellent condition' and publicly confirmed its 'readiness' for the team to return in early 2006," wrote Larry Roedel, an attorney for the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District. "The State and the LSED consider the Training Facility Lease to be valid and in effect."Roedel also sent along copies of letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard stating that they no longer need the Saints practice headquarters, which they had used as a relief base after Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area on Aug. 29.The state has spent millions of dollars on the training facility, which includes corporate offices, several outdoor practice fields and a full-size indoor practice field. The Saints pay rent of $1 per year, plus day-to-day operational costs, to use it.Attorney Phil Wittman, who represents the Saints, confirmed Thursday that the club had received the letter.He told WWL-TV that the team has been negotiating with the state and that returning to the facility remains an option.Wittman said Saints owner Tom Benson would not make a final decision until after the season ends.The Saints play their final scheduled home game Saturday in San Antonio, where the team has been temporarily based since Katrina. The season concludes the following weekend for the Saints (3-11), who will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NFL kicks in $20 million for Superdome repairsNEW ORLEANS (Jan. 31, 2006) -- The NFL will contribute up to $20 million to the effort to repair the Hurricane-battered Superdome in time for Saints games next season.The decision was made last week at a league meeting in Orlando after a request by team owner Tom Benson and talks between Superdome officials, the NFL and the team."This would be a positive step in the overall rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.The donation followed several weeks of talks, said Superdome spokesman Bill Curl. The effort has also helped identify long-term solutions to keep the Saints in New Orleans, he said.The Superdome was used as a shelter for between 25,000 and 30,000 people following Hurricane Katrina. Repair costs are estimated at about $140 million and most of that is expected to be covered by the state's insurance and FEMA.On Monday, FEMA announced it was providing $6.3 million to the Superdome to be used for the removal of standing water and water-related damaged items.The Superdome's structural frame was not affected by the hurricane. The building lost 70 percent of its roof, however, which resulted in major damage as rain poured into the building.All of the carpet -- about 53,000 square yards -- must be replaced, as well as 30 percent of the drywall and 15 percent of the ceiling tiles.Much of the upholstered furniture was damaged by water and mold, including all the furnishings in the box suites. About 35 percent of the seats in the arena had water damage.Eleven of the Superdome's 38 escalators and six of the 15 elevators will be replaced, along with the building's telephone system and its four main scoreboards.Officials have said that the facility can be repaired and ready to reopen for games by Nov. 1.</div>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9199712
It will be interesting to see what the new Stadium looks like they might add some extra features to it as soon as they repair the roof should be nice.
I doubt it will look all that different, just will be a lot more reinforced for stuff like storms ripping it to shreads.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JHair @ Feb 2 2006, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I doubt it will look all that different, just will be a lot more reinforced for stuff like storms ripping it to shreads.</div>Yeah, most likely just rebuilt and reinforced.I dont think they want to change it on the Saints fans, just give them their place back.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Saints will return to action in New Orleans much earlier than originally hoped or expected.The Saints will host their first game at the Louisiana Superdome, severely damaged in Hurricane Katrina, on Sept. 24 when they host the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL announced Sunday."Superdome officials are pointing to the Falcons-Saints game on Sept. 24 as the first event in the building since Hurricane Katrina," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "We are pleased that this historic reopening will feature the annual renewal of the traditional Falcons-Saints rivalry."A 40-foot by 150-foot mural with the news of the Saints' 2006 home opener was completed on the outside of the Superdome just hours before kickoff of Super Bowl XL in Detroit.The mural contains the date of the Saints' first regular-season home game in the Superdome since 2004, Saints and Falcons helmet logos, and a "Go Saints" slogan. It took four workers nearly five days to complete the project, amid high winds and winter weather in Detroit this week.The Superdome was used as a shelter for between 25,000 and 30,000 people following Katrina. Repair costs are estimated at about $140 million and most of that is expected to be covered by the state's insurance and by FEMA.The Superdome's structural frame was not affected by the hurricane. The building lost 70 percent of its roof, however, which resulted in major damage as rain poured into the building.All of the carpet -- about 53,000 square yards -- must be replaced, as well as 30 percent of the drywall and 15 percent of the ceiling tiles.Much of the upholstered furniture was damaged by water and mold, including all of the furnishings in the box suites. About 35 percent of the seats in the arena had water damage.The football turf also was damaged by contaminated water and will be replaced.Eleven of the Superdome's 38 escalators and six of the 15 elevators will be replaced. The four main scoreboards must be replaced. And the building's telephone system flooded and must be replaced.The original timetable for repairing the Superdome set Nov. 1 as the date the facility would be ready for hosting major football events.The Saints' first two regular-season games will be played on the road, with the locations and dates of those games, as well as the rest of the Saints' and Falcons' 2006 schedules, to be announced by early April.The Saints also plan to play two of their four 2006 preseason games in the Gulf Coast region.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2320490
If ANYBODY can get me that picture of the side of the superdome with the big banner on it saying We're coming back! or something to that nature lol.PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Send it to me lol.
