Yahoo Finance NFL reportedly making plans to possibly move Saints game to Indianapolis due to hurricane
The NFL is considering moving the New Orleans Saints’ Week 5 game to Indianapolis due to Hurricane Delta, per a report by The Athletic’s Zak Keefer and Jeff Duncan.
The Indianapolis Colts were reportedly “told by the league there is a possibility” the Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football” will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Colts have been told by the league there is a possibility the Saints and Chargers play a game at their home stadium Monday night, source said, and as @JeffDuncan_ reported. NFL might have to move the game due to Hurricane Delta. Nothing definite at this point.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 7, 2020
The Colts are in Cleveland to play the Browns on Sunday, leaving their facilities open for the Saints if needed.
“We always have contingency plans for all games,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, via The Athletic. “We had plans for the wildfires in California last month but never had to act on them. But we will continue to monitor developments in the area. It’s very early in the process.”
Saints, NFL monitoring Hurricane Delta
The Saints and league officials are reportedly monitoring the storm throughout Wednesday before deciding if they will evacuate on Thursday. The team is off Wednesday and would travel via charter after a Thursday workout if the game is relocated, per The Athletic.
Hurricane Delta made landfall in Mexico’s Caribbean coast early Wednesday as a category 2 storm with estimated winds at 110 mph. It was a category 4 on Tuesday and is headed for the Louisiana coast, where it’s expected to land on Friday night. It will likely strengthen again over open waters.
Hurricane watches and storm watches are likely to be issued on Wednesday. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards already declared a state of emergency.
Saints previously relocated to Indianapolis
The Saints evacuated to Indianapolis in 2008 when Hurricane Gustav hit. They spent a week at the Colts stadium before their season opener. They were stranded in town in 1998 after Hurricane Georges’ landfall forced the New Orleans airport to close.
They’ve also used other facilities. In 2004 they spent three days in San Antonio during the preseason and relocated there for the entire 2005 season after Hurricane Katrina. They spent a few days in Cincinnati in 2012.
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