Saints, NFL, and City Face Dilemmas After Hurricane Ida

The New Orleans Saints, NFL, and City of New Orleans must address business questions after the destruction of Hurricane Ida.

Owner Gayle Benson, EVP/GM Mickey Loomis, and the New Orleans Saints organization have not released an official statement regarding the impact of Hurricane Ida on the City of New Orleans and the rest of the southern Louisiana region.

Aug. 29 is not a particularly kind date for many Gulf Coast residents.  Sixteen years after Katrina, over 1 million citizens of Louisiana are left without power from Hurricane Ida's visit.  

The state's largest and most populated city, New Orleans, has no definite timetable for electrical power restoration. Hurricane Ida dealt a significant blow, and after the initial survey of the damage, citizens and businesses can expect a long time before normalcy returns.

The roads are empty around downtown and the Superdome as the effects of Hurricane Ida begin to be felt in New Orleans on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. Nolaidasun01 © Michael DeMocker / For USA TODAY Network via Imagn Content Services, LLC

THE BUSINESS REALITIES

The business realities for the New Orleans Saints, NFL, City of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana are unavoidable. The NFL's 2021-22 regular season will begin within two weeks.  The critical questions for the Saints and City of New Orleans center around Week 1 vs. the Green Bay Packers at Caesars Superdome. 

Sean Payton addressed the elephant in the room with Saints reporters:

Payton on Week 1: "We don't know relative on Week 1 in the Superdome. ... We'll have a Plan B. There's a lot of things from a priority standpoint that are more important to our city."

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 30, 2021

Can the team and city support hosting the Packers, fans, and broadcasting networks on Sunday, Sept. 12?  Or, perhaps, will the NFL and Saints seek to play the Week 1 contest at a different venue?  

The New Orleans Saints relocated to Dallas before Ida's arrival. Players, coaches, and administrators left their homes and, in some cases, families behind during the exodus.  Certainly, many will be allowed to return and secure safe accommodations for their families and loved ones until power is fully restored within the metropolitan area limits.

The Superdome appears to have survived #HurricaneIda without any major structural damage, said Doug Thornton, the VP of stadiums for ASM Global. Thornton said Superdome staff conducted a walk-through damage assessment this morning & initially found only one "little window leak."

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) August 30, 2021

At the moment, the likelihood of the city, its infrastructure, and auxiliary businesses having the capability to support an NFL game is unlikely. Surveying possible damage to the event structure itself is another concern. During Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome was severely damaged. Millions were spent to repair the structure and allowed the Saints to return in September of 2006.  But no reports of significant damage to Caesars Superdome have been reported from the arena nor city officials.

Sean Payton says he's not aware of any damage to the facility or the Superdome. Still waiting to hear on the status of players' homes.

— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) August 30, 2021

Bourbon Street only attracted a few visitors as the effects of Hurricane Ida begin to be felt in New Orleans on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. Nolaidasun15  © Michael DeMocker / For USA TODAY Network via Imagn Content Services, LLC

SEVERAL QUESTIONS

If the New Orleans Saints cannot return for several weeks, will they temporarily operate from the Dallas Cowboys facility in Frisco, Texas or elsewhere?

Could the NFL consider rescheduling or forfeiting the game if another venue cannot be located for the season-opener on Sept. 12?

Will the NFL allow New Orleans time to recover and grant an exemption from the contest?

BACK TO BUSINESS

Today, the New Orleans Saints must continue their preparations to start the regular season as planned.  Head coach Sean Payton told reporters, "There's a good chance when we start up Monday (next week), it'll be somewhere other than Metairie."

Payton: I think to some degree, going out and being able to practice today will be good for everyone. From a distance, there's only so much you can do.

— John DeShazier (@JohnDeShazier) August 30, 2021

According to the NFL, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List and submitted to the league before the 3:00 PM CT deadline on Aug. 31. Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 53 players, clubs with players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform.

The most vital aspect of all scenarios is for the New Orleans Saints organization, families, and citizens of Louisiana to return home safely and in good health after the wrath of Hurricane Ida.  One thing about the citizens of the Gulf Coast and Who Dat Nation, is that they are resilient and tend to come together after natural disasters hit the Gulf Coast region.

---

READ MORE SAINTS NEWS

• Saints to Move Team Operations in Preparation for Hurricane Ida, per Report
• BREAKING: Saints-Cardinals Preseason Game Canceled Because of Hurricane Ida
• Saints Sign DT Damion Square, According to Source

PARTNER SPORTS NEWS

• Confident NCCU Eagles Upset Alcorn Braves at MEAC/SWAC Challenge
• Mr. First!  James "Shack" Harris
• Top 10 HBCU NFL Prospects