Supporters of the New Orleans Saints are marching into France, and the wave began early Tuesday when an Air France charter flight carrying Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and others was expected to arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport northeast of Paris.
The Republican governor, wearing a hoodie with the Saints’ trademark fleur-de-lis symbol across his chest, left Louis Armstrong Airport on Monday evening. He spoke with reporters before boarding his flight “with a bunch of folks” who would spend the week in France before Sunday’s NFL game between the Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
Landry seemed confident the trip’s safety risk was manageable — so much so that the group carried the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV Lombardi Trophy on the trip.
“Yeah, look, we’ve been in contact with the State Department and talking to our partners over there,” Landry told reporters. “One thing the NFL does very well is work with the FBI, to use Department of Justice, Interpol, they do a great job of securing new stadiums out there.
“And we waited to hear the comment from the NFL. They said it’s safe. We’re gonna go out there with a bunch of folks from Louisiana and hopefully have a good time.”
The NFL on Sunday released a statement that said the game is still on. but nothing in the statement unequivocally said the situation is safe.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the NFL statement provided to OutKick and Fox News Digital read.
NFL SAYS FIRST REGULAR-SEASON GAME IN FRANCE REMAINS ON TRACK DESPITE GROWING UNREST IN PARIS
“We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”
The Saints traveled to France after their game on Sunday and some fans are obviously following. The Steelers plan to fly to France on Thursday but on Monday afternoon held a Zoom meeting with the league office about the trip. All the players, coaches and even Steelers owner Art Rooney II were on the call.
“That’s part of the normal planning anytime you go abroad,” Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said. “The team is excited to go over there but we’re in contact with the league…
“We are aware of the situations over there, and have a lot of confidence in our plan.”
New Orleans players, already in France, are off Tuesday and free to roam away from their temporary headquarters near Versailles. Some players planned to attend a Paris Saint-Germain FC soccer match in the evening.
This is against the backdrop of the French government imposing a curfew and many businesses and some famous tourist attractions shutting down amid the wave of violence that engulfed sections of Paris and other cites around the country.
Despite all this, Landry is expecting to conduct some business on behalf of the people of Louisiana while in France.
“Look, we do a lot of work and business in Europe, and so we’re very excited,” he said. “We got a number of meetings, a meeting with the CEO of Shell, the CEO of BP, and others.”
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Another meeting Landry hopes to have is with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is scheduled to attend the game. Landry hopes to lobby Goodell to hold another Super Bowl in New Orleans.