Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium likely to host Saints-Packers game if Ida forces move
The New Orleans Saints are practicing at AT&T Stadium this week after fleeing ahead of Hurricane Ida.
And the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium could end up being the site of the Saints’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers, currently scheduled to take place in the Superdome on Sept. 12 at 3:25 p.m.
Ida hit the Louisiana coast on Sunday and the storm left much of the city without power and dealing with floods.
Saints coach Sean Payton contacted the Cowboys about using AT&T Stadium several days in advance of the storm’s landfall.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that discussions with the NFL about hosting the Saints’ opener are ongoing.
“That’s certainly possible,” Jones said on KRLD/105.3 “The Fan” Tuesday morning. “We’re having discussions. There’s a lot of moving parts, but we certainly have a kinship with the Saints because of our proximity to Louisiana. It’s a natural for us.”
The Saints practiced in Arlington on Monday, and will again on Tuesday and Wednesday before reassessing the situation, Payton said. He suggested that returning to the team’s practice facility in Metairie, Louisiana, later this week is unlikely.
“They were able to secure accommodations [in the area],” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on KRLD/105.3 “The Fan” on Monday. “It’s just great that we’re able to help them. It’s a heartbreaking situation with what’s going on there in south Louisiana. It’s just very difficult for anybody living in that area.”
Payton said he expects to know whether returning to Louisiana is an option by Thursday.
“We’re pretty sure [we’re] not going to be returning to Metairie anytime soon to start practices,” he said. “I think that’s unrealistic.”
Payton told reporters that no decision had been made on whether the season opener will be moved. The NFL is likely waiting to assess the lingering fallout from the storm.
“Obviously, we’ll have a Plan B,” Payton said. “A lot of things from a priority standpoint are more important for our city. We fully anticipate starting the season with Green Bay and the question is where will it be at.”
Jones offered his prayers to the Saints and all those affected by the storm.
“Our prayers go out to all of the families, and even for the ones who ended up leaving,” he said. “Certainly they’re on pins and needles when you think about your home being in harm’s way, that’s a difficult situation and you pray for the ones who weren’t able to get out for whatever reason.”
The Cowboys, who open the season Sept. 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida, typically practice at The Star facility in Frisco. The only events scheduled at AT&T Stadium in the next 15 days are the All-State Kickoff Classic featuring Kansas State and Stanford on Sept. 4 and the Latin band Los Bukis on Sept. 15.
The Cowboys don’t play at the stadium until Sept. 27 on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. On Sept. 25, the stadium hosts the Southwest Classic between Arkansas and Texas A&M. Other than that, however, the stadium is free.
AT&T Stadium would be an option for the NFL if New Orleans isn’t prepared to host the season opener on Sept. 12.
“Hopefully they work their way through it and able to make their way through this storm and come out the back end,” Jones said. “We want to do anything and everything we can to help the Saints organization. We obviously have great proximity to their market and want to do anything and everything we can to help them.”
This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 4:32 PM.
