NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – On Friday (March 27), the New Orleans Saints officially launched their campaign to get Who Dat Nation — both in Louisiana and abroad — excited about the upcoming season’s international game in Paris, France.
Saints owner Gayle Benson traveled to France with quarterback Tyler Shough and offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga to introduce themselves to French media ahead of the game this October.
“We are very proud to be the only team in the NFL to have marketing rights in France and I promise you the New Orleans Saints will do anything we possibly can to be France’s NFL team,” Benson said.
Saints owner Gayle Benson spoke exclusively to FOX 8 on the Saints’ historic game in Paris
Shough says he is excited to play in Paris against the Cleveland Browns, marking the first-ever NFL game in France — and the most unique away game for the Black and Gold.
“We want to represent you all. We want to represent the people of France. That’s the best thing about Louisiana in my opinion — the people, the culture,” Shough said.
The Saints will play in the Stade de France, an 80,000-seat venue that has hosted FIFA matches, rugby, concerts and more.
Fuaga says he is excited to play on the same turf as other historic athletes.
“You see many international players, many guys on PSG, all over. It’s crazy to see those guys be on that field. Being able to be on that field is a blessing,” Fuaga said.
With many season ticket holders already set to make the trip this year, the French Consulate in New Orleans wants to make sure they know how to properly cheer on their team abroad.
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“They can say, ‘Allez les Saints’… Go Saints. And I think the French people know ‘Who Dat’ as well,” Consul Rodolphe Sambou said.
Sambou says he has fallen in love with the New Orleans Saints since his consulship started two years ago, and he believes New Orleanians who make the trip to France will find many similarities between New Orleans and Paris.
“Everything is about food. The river is important. The climate is great. You have wonderful monuments. I think they will feel like I did when I got (to New Orleans) — like I’m home you know,” Sambou said.
Since the announcement of the international game, he says he has been seeing interest from people all over France.
“I never recieved that many phone calls from Parisians like ‘I saw the saints are going to play!’ My phone has been ringing since the announcement. Its wonderful,” he said.
The New Orleans Saints are set to play the Cleveland Browns in France on Oct. 25.
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