The New Orleans Saints announced today that the team will not host fans at the first home game this season (September 13 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers), due to the state of Covid-19 infections throughout the region.
Since the onset of this crisis, the Saints have partnered with a world-class team of medical experts and health and safety professionals from Ochsner Health (Ochsner), state and local authorities and the NFL to determine how, if we could safely host fans this season at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Our first priority is the health and safety of our fans, our staff, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome staff and all coaches and players. Working with Ochsner, our partners at ASM Global (managers of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome), the NFL and other health and safety experts has resulted in a set of comprehensive health and safety guidelines and protocols that allow us fans to attend our games . These standards meet, and in most cases meet, the requirements set forth in the NFL’s Prepare to Watch Health and Safety Guidelines issued to all clubs, as well as CDC requirements. In this process, we have worked closely with our state and local officials to ensure that our policies comply with all current health and safety regulations, including those of the CDC.
“Ms. Benson has appointed an in-house management team that oversees all elements of our business related to our Covid-19 planning, protocols and responses,” said Dennis Lauscha, president of New Orleans Saints. “Every morning she is informed about the latest programs and plans and about our daily communication with ASM Global. Her overriding guideline and priority is the health and safety of our fans, our staff, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome staff and all coaches and players. . “
This week, team officials met with health and safety experts, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to share the comprehensive plan for health and safety to allow fans to attend Saints home games. Discussed in the meeting were the key trends that indicate how effectively we combat Covid-19, such as the number of confirmed new positive cases, positivity scores of tests and the ability of our health system to treat those infected. These are some of the primary indicators used by our state and local government in determining what activities are allowed during this pandemic.
Unfortunately, the trends in our state and region at this time do not meet the standards of health and safety that we have established with our health care and government partners to host fans in the stadium for the first home game. While state numbers are trending in the right direction, further reduction of cases is needed and a reduced infection period is needed for the team to welcome its fans back. While there is a strong desire to see Saints fans back in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, local and state leaders are clear in their communication that significant improvement is needed to prevent it. The team, along with health and safety experts, will continuously monitor trends to determine if fans are watching the September 27 vs. Green Bay will be able to attend. While the current guidance we have received from our government leaders suggests that this is unlikely, we remain ready to host fans as permitted.
The Saints, Governor Edwards and Mayor Cantrell have continuously encouraged all Gulf South residents to take precautionary measures such as wearing a mask in public, exercising regularly at social distances and washing hands. In addition, residents are encouraged to remain alert to all symptoms associated with Covid-19 and self-isolate if they become ill or exhibit symptoms. Also, seek medical help as soon as possible.
The Saints’ third home game is on Oct. 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers in a national television show Monday Night Football game at 7:15 p.m. Or fans can watch that game, as well as others later in the season, depending on the status of the above mentioned trends and the direction of local and state leaders.
“While we have put together a comprehensive plan that will allow us to host fans safely at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, that plan has always depended on how effectively we, as a community and region, fight with Covid-19,” Lauscha said. “We have given this situation so much time to see the kind of improvement needed to welcome fans into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but unfortunately medical experts indicate that trends are not improving fast enough for us to finish the season. start with fan presence As we have noted, although we did not allow fans in the first home game, we remain cautiously optimistic that fans might participate in our September 27 game against Green Bay, but insist that fans should remain flexible and adaptable in We do not know it. We are aware of the great advantage of the home field that our fans provide our team, and we are as eager as anyone to welcome them back. We remain optimistic and are committed to responsible and safe measures for everyone who attended a Saints game We are very confident in our plans that fans will return safely to the building, but are also dependent and dependent on a marked improvement f and our community wellness numbers. all that is a difficult decision to make, it is made with the number one goal of health and safety of our community and region. It will ultimately be the driving factor to get our fans back in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Our community and fanbase have shown extraordinary strength and resilience as we face challenges throughout our history and know we can face this new challenge as well, as we bring the same sense of fighting and determination into our fight against Covid-19. “
“I want to thank the New Orleans Saints for developing a comprehensive plan that is thought-provoking and thought-provoking by both the players and football fans as we continue to fight the Covid-19 in our entire state,” Gov. John Bel Edwards. “There’s nothing like watching the Saints play in the Superdome, and I know that expectation is high for the kickoff of the season. However, when it comes to hosting sporting events for the loyal fans from New Orleans and in Throughout Louisiana, it’s important that we make wise decisions that are in the best interests of everyone’s health and safety. This is not easy for everyone, and I appreciate the care that the team takes in this process. has been a great partner for the state of Louisiana, and I appreciate their efforts to help all of us slow down the spread of Covid-19. “
“The City of New Orleans and all our fans are ready for football season and to cheer on our Saints, but the safety of fans, players, and the many staff members of the team and Superdome must come first,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We are starting back in the right direction, but we are not where we need to be yet. As I said from the beginning of our response to this pandemic, our decisions will be guided by data, and until we get to where “We must be, we must support the Saints from the sidelines at home.”
In conjunction with the fan-free opening game, all associated publicly accessible areas at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will be closed to the public and fans, including parking garages, Champions Square, the Saints’ Hall of Fame and the Saints Team Shop. Season ticket holders have the option to receive a credit or fee for all games played without the presence of fans. If the Saints fans can host later in the season, Season Ticket Holders who have not opted for the opportunity to purchase tickets this season will receive instructions on the process of purchasing tickets at a future date. Earlier, the Saints announced that if fans could attend games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the venue would only meet a crowd of reduced capacity.
Lauscha added, “We must do everything in our power to improve current trends, not only so that we can attend games together, but so that our children can return safely to school, so that commerce and our economy can reopen and so can generations of Saints fans can safely play games together.We believe in the fight for our fans and all the economic benefits for our city.We need our community to place all its important determination in fighting this virus, and hopefully we will have a season -long return of fans to our games. “
The Saints reiterate to their fans that NFL-required protocols are subject to change and may be updated based on game-by-game as conditions change, which includes the number of cards available for each game. The Saints remain optimistic about having fans at the remaining games in the 2020 season and reiterate the team’s desire to welcome as many fans back to the Saints home as possible. The team remains confident that once infection rates are lower our plan and protocols will create a safe environment for attending games.
