ILS1
09-02-2005, 05:45 PM
NEW YORK -- The New Orleans Saints, driven from the Superdome by Hurricane Katrina, will play their home opener against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium.
It is not clear, however, when the game will be played.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Friday the game, scheduled for Sept. 18, is being moved to the Giants' home in East Rutherford, N.J.
The New York Jets, who share the stadium with the Giants, are scheduled to play at home against Miami on Sept. 18. As a result, the Giants-Saints game most likely will be played Saturday, Sept. 17, or the following Monday.
The league said it was possible the game could be played as part of a doubleheader Sunday, with the one game at 1 p.m. and the other at night. The Jets are now scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m.
"We are in the process of working out the specific arrangements, including the day and kickoff time and plans for television coverage," Tagliabue said. He added that information on tickets will be announced in a few days by the Giants.
He said the Saints and Giants had agreed to donate part of the gate receipts from the game to the hurricane relief fund.
The Saints, who spent the past week on the West Coast, are moving their headquarters to San Antonio for the immediate future.
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."
The Saints will open at Carolina on Sept. 11 before playing the Giants.
"Our main concern is with the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region who have experienced the recent tragedy," Benson said. "We are attempting to carry on in these difficult times and are looking out for the best interest of our coaches, staff, players and their families. My prayers are with each of those who have been adversely impacted."
The last game to be moved was two years ago, when wildfires in Southern California caused a game between Miami and San Diego to be moved from San Diego to Phoenix. Last season, the starting time of a game in Miami between the Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers was moved from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. to allow Hurricane Jeanne to move through south Florida.
Saints 'Home' Opener Moved (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2150014)
It is not clear, however, when the game will be played.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Friday the game, scheduled for Sept. 18, is being moved to the Giants' home in East Rutherford, N.J.
The New York Jets, who share the stadium with the Giants, are scheduled to play at home against Miami on Sept. 18. As a result, the Giants-Saints game most likely will be played Saturday, Sept. 17, or the following Monday.
The league said it was possible the game could be played as part of a doubleheader Sunday, with the one game at 1 p.m. and the other at night. The Jets are now scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m.
"We are in the process of working out the specific arrangements, including the day and kickoff time and plans for television coverage," Tagliabue said. He added that information on tickets will be announced in a few days by the Giants.
He said the Saints and Giants had agreed to donate part of the gate receipts from the game to the hurricane relief fund.
The Saints, who spent the past week on the West Coast, are moving their headquarters to San Antonio for the immediate future.
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."
The Saints will open at Carolina on Sept. 11 before playing the Giants.
"Our main concern is with the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region who have experienced the recent tragedy," Benson said. "We are attempting to carry on in these difficult times and are looking out for the best interest of our coaches, staff, players and their families. My prayers are with each of those who have been adversely impacted."
The last game to be moved was two years ago, when wildfires in Southern California caused a game between Miami and San Diego to be moved from San Diego to Phoenix. Last season, the starting time of a game in Miami between the Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers was moved from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. to allow Hurricane Jeanne to move through south Florida.
Saints 'Home' Opener Moved (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2150014)