The Saints came home after Katrina. What happened next changed New Orleans
Chris Bumbaca
USA TODAY
USA Today - Vertical
Jeff Anding, the Louisiana State Museum executive management officer for marketing and communications, describes how much the Saints' electric victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 25, 2006, meant to the city that was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina 13 months earlier.
NEW ORLEANS — The gates to Caesars Superdome opened at 1:26 p.m. local time before the New Orleans Saints hosted the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 27. The fans first on the premises calmly walked toward the glass door that leads to the 70,000-seat arena.
A crowd gathers outside the Superdome to celebrate the re-opening of the facility before the start of the New Orleans Saints' "Monday Night Football" game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 25, 2006, in New Orleans.
Fans take photos at the statue outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sept. 26, 2016, commemorating Steve Gleason's punt block during the first New Orleans Saints game played after Hurricane Katrina on Sept. 25, 2006.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees scrambles away from Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney during the second half at the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, in New Orleans.
A crowd gathers outside the Superdome to celebrate the re-opening of the facility before the start of the New Orleans Saints' "Monday Night Football" game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 25, 2006, in New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees scrambles away from Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney during the second half at the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, in New Orleans.
Fans take photos at the statue outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sept. 26, 2016, commemorating Steve Gleason's punt block during the first New Orleans Saints game played after Hurricane Katrina on Sept. 25, 2006.
