San Antonio not among Saints' contingencies
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In response to numerous calls about their contingency plans for Tropical Storm Gustav, the New Orleans Saints issued a statement from General Manager Mickey Loomis early this afternoon.
Loomis said the Saints have no plans to return to San Antonio, which is where they spent the 2005 season after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and New Orleans and made the Louisiana Superdome unplayable. Saints coach Sean Payton said Tuesday the team has several options for evacuating in case Gustav becomes a threat to the region, but he declined to name them at that time.
“We have a number of cities that we have contacted as part of our contingency planning for hurricanes,” Loomis said in a statement. “San Antonio is a city in which we are familiar and was a terrific host in 2005. However, our plans call for us to consider an alternate location at this time. This is a decision that I have made after consulting with our head coach, Sean Payton, and our football operations staff, keeping in mind our goal of giving the football team its best opportunity to prepare for the opening game.
“It is critical that not only the Saints, but the people of our state have a plan in the event a storm enters the Gulf,” Loomis added. “Our goals are to implement our plan as efficiently as possible keeping in mind the safety of the people in our organization and their families. In the event we have to evacuate, we will return to New Orleans as quickly as possible to prepare for the 2008 season.”
The Saints close out the preseason schedule tonight against the Miami Dolphins in the Superdome and the team is scheduled to open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, in the Superdome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said the team will have no further comment on its plans until the team gathers more information on the path and timing of Gustav.
Loomis said the Saints have no plans to return to San Antonio, which is where they spent the 2005 season after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and New Orleans and made the Louisiana Superdome unplayable. Saints coach Sean Payton said Tuesday the team has several options for evacuating in case Gustav becomes a threat to the region, but he declined to name them at that time.
“We have a number of cities that we have contacted as part of our contingency planning for hurricanes,” Loomis said in a statement. “San Antonio is a city in which we are familiar and was a terrific host in 2005. However, our plans call for us to consider an alternate location at this time. This is a decision that I have made after consulting with our head coach, Sean Payton, and our football operations staff, keeping in mind our goal of giving the football team its best opportunity to prepare for the opening game.
“It is critical that not only the Saints, but the people of our state have a plan in the event a storm enters the Gulf,” Loomis added. “Our goals are to implement our plan as efficiently as possible keeping in mind the safety of the people in our organization and their families. In the event we have to evacuate, we will return to New Orleans as quickly as possible to prepare for the 2008 season.”
The Saints close out the preseason schedule tonight against the Miami Dolphins in the Superdome and the team is scheduled to open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, in the Superdome against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said the team will have no further comment on its plans until the team gathers more information on the path and timing of Gustav.
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