NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Saints play their home opener against the Raiders on Sunday, and fans are already shopping for gear at the Saints Team Shop at the Caesars Superdome.
Johnny Miller picked out a Tyler Shough jersey as a gift for his son’s ninth birthday.
“I’m gonna get a Tyler Shough jersey for him and I’m gonna get me a new one,” Miller said.
Miller said Sunday’s game will be his first time at the Superdome in a while. He said he hasn’t been to a Saints game since 2006, when the Black and Gold returned to the dome after Hurricane Katrina.
“Sometimes I’ll never forget. The Gleason punt, the punt block, you know, touchdown. I don’t think any team in the history of the league could’ve beat us that night,” Miller said.
Miller said he thinks the Saints have potential this year and has faith in Tyler Shough.
“He’s a man’s man, he takes a hit, he keeps on going,” Miller said.
Howard Bumpus said he is also looking forward to the game.
“They seem to be able to fight their way back if they start getting down in the game and the defense holds their own,” Bumpus said.
Preparations are also underway at Walk-On’s. Manager Isabella Monteforte said the restaurant will be packed with Saints fans this weekend.
“We get everyone going to the game to get ‘to go’ drinks here and then they come and run out, then after they leave everyone and wants to sit and watch the game that’s not going can sit in here,” Monteforte said.
Monteforte said restaurant workers look forward to football season.
“Football season is something that all the servers and all the workers work towards during the summer and our off-season because that is the money time so you really need to show out,” Monteforte said.
New Orleans & Company says the Saints home opener will also give the city a tourism boost.
New Orleans & Company Executive Vice President Alice Glenn said hotel occupancy will be above 95% on Saturday and Sunday.
“Might be a little tough to get a hotel room this weekend,” Glenn said.
Glenn said the Amtrak Mardi Gras line is booked.
“You don’t need a vehicle. You can literally get dropped off in the downtown corridor, walk to the dome, walk to a hotel,” Glenn said.
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