Hey everybody. I got a chance to check out the new Champions Square a good bit, so I was going to let you know what it was like. And well, it was pretty damn fun!

 

I didn't have a ticket to the game but was already in town. I had heard about the new fan area so I decided to check it out. earlier in the day it was blocked off. I asked one of the crew guys, who was setting up, when it would be open. He said a couple hours before the game. So I showed up at 5 o clock and the place was already about halfway full of people. 

 

I entered through the entrance off of Poydras and it was impressive. Not completely finished but impressive. The set up included:

 

• a glass building with a patio on the left side
• a stage in the far corner
• food vendor tents along both walls to the left and right of the stage
• a big screen above the stage
• big banners of Drew and PT
• a network of scaffolding that held some banner material and smaller video panels and lights
• large palm trees throughout the whole area
• Wide stairs leading from the square up to the Dome

When I got to the square, the band was already playing. It was a bunch of local musicians, you could tell, who were excited for the game. They called themselves, "The Connection". They were pretty good and played some Temptations, ZZ Top (in honor of the Texans), Stevie Wonder, and of course our anthem (see video at end). 
There was a wide variety of food options. I saw WOW chicken, Galatoire's, Acme, and probably about 5 others. Each one of them had a couple of different menu items like poboys, gumbo, etc. for about $8-10. And they had a couple of beer stations set up in the middle of the square as well...and  they were cold! 
The glass building had a bar inside with some tables to sit down at and watch the stage through the big glass walls. There was AC in there but it was still hot inside with people coming and going through the doors. Outside there was a decent sized deck with some more tables and chairs. Thats where I spent the second half of my time, after I got tired of standing down in the square. 
Also, there was a big screen above the stage. While the band played it zoomed in on the musicians and the crowd. Howver, when the thunder forced the band to take a break, the screen showed championship and other big moments that happened at the Dome including: Tracy's pick six, Benson hoisting Lombardi, Les Miles hoisting trophy, Ali knocking someone out, and Juge's boy CP3 at the all star game. (see pics below).
It was fun hanging out down in the middle of the square and I was hoping I could just watch the fame up on the big screen on top of the stage. However, about 30 minutes before the game some lady came on and thanked everybody for coming out and directed us to go ahead into the Dome. I asked one of the vendors if they were gonna show the game up on the screen and they said they couldn't because the NFL wouldn't let them. Wow, big suprise huh?! So I headed down to that pizza place down Poydras to watch the game. I didn't stay for the whole thing to see if it was open post game as well. That would be a pretty cool place to celebrate. 
"My Girl"

New Orleans Saints - Champions Square - My Girl (via ReggieVilma)

 

 

Stand Up and Get Crunk

New Orleans Saints - Champions Square - Stand Up an Get Cru (via ReggieVilma)

 

 

Entrance from Poydras

 

 

View toward stage from entrance

 

 

View to left of stage from the entrance

 

 

View to right of stage from the entrance

 

 

The enclosed area and porch

 

 

View of Dome from the square

 

 

The stage up closer

 

 

Homeboy doing a little pregame Benson Boogie

 

 

Big screen showing the band

 

 

Pistol Pete

 

 

Les

 

 

CP3

 

 

Sir Benson

 

 

Tracy and Sharp

 

 

View of stage from patio

 

 

View of Dome from patio

 

 

Hope y'all enjoy. And I hope I didn't disgrace you're "View of" work Dave and not offend Juge with face time for a certain point gaurd.

 

Alright, as someone suggested before, this is a thread to post the pictures of the best Who Dats you have ever seen. Of course there is Saint Moses, Optimus, Whistle Head, and the slightly enthustiastic brother from the washington game. I'll put up the pictures of them, but if y'all know of other top-notch fans put them up here. I love seeing all our 100% Who Dats?!

 

The Saint Moses.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/183248/IMG_5829.JPG

 

Optimus with shields fully generated.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/10/16/saints-chief.jpg

 

This one is sooooo literal.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0810/nfl.fans.week5/images/saints-fan.jpg

 

He saved on parking.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/10/16/optimus-saint.jpg

 

Who Dat from the grave.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XU9x8G7khv0/SsEw_ZIFOCI/AAAAAAAAJpY/EzWfi_RCUSU/s400/saints-fan(5).jpg

 

I can't copy the who dat from the washington game, and the one from the other fanpost won't copy.

What have y'all found?

So it seems like the "Broken Toy", which is what cp likes to call Mr. Reginald Alfred Bush II, has worked quite well lately. Over the past three weeks he has scored a TD in each game. Two were outside goal line runs and ther other has shown up on several air traffic controlers' radar. In this span, he hasn't even given a hint at fumbling. During the monday night game, he didn't dance once and elected to lower his shoulder and fall forward twice instead of jumping out of bounds. Over the same span, PT has 2 TDs and 1 fumble, and Mikey Bell has 1 TD and 1 very innoportune fumble. Now, I'm not saying take these other guys out of the equations because they do what they do very well. But it seems like were underutilizing a player that can make some big plays with a small chance for failure. I'm not sure what the best way to work him in more is. Do y'all have any ideas?

Poll

Should Reggie's role increase?

52%

Yea, he's earned it and would improve the power of the offense

36 votes

36%

No, it wouldn't improve anything

25 votes

10%

Well, it depends if it was actually a goaltending call on the free throw shot that Donte Stallworth shot over Walter Payton because his YPC was slightly higher than a 2nd string LB

7 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

Alright. I'm sure y'all are getting tired of seeing Vick all over ESPN today and can't wait for it to go away like me. I personally think he should be allowed back into the league. He served almost two years in prison, which is a lot more than what Pacman had to do to show "reform". But anyway, I was watching ESPN and Mortenson was listing off teams that Vick would be a fit in. And that sun of a gun said the Saints! He said Brees was established enough not to feel threatened, and Vick would be great to pair with Reggie. I nearly hit the ceiling! I don't see how he could be more wrong. He definately won't ever play QB under Sean P, and Reggie needs to be paired with a blocker or pounder (we don't need two Reggies).  The number one offense shouldn't gamble that much on a new scheme, with a running QB/Wildcat. Sean P could tinker and experiment with this using Reggie and not have to commit to a rusty player. I just don't see how that move could benefit us. Do y'all?

Poll

Would Vick help us?

28%

Yay

28 votes

71%

Nay

70 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed

Just curious to see what everybody thinks. Who will be the two starting corners that line up against Detroit for the opener? Will speed win out? By that I mean Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer, who both run 4.3's? Or will Physicality win out? By that I mean Jenkins and possibly Gay? I am being told I need to write another 24 words so all else I got to say is. O-doyle Rules!

Poll

Who are the two gloves gonna be?

43%

Porter and Greer

88 votes

28%

Porter and Jenkins

57 votes

4%

Porter and Gay

9 votes

19%

Greer and Jenkins

39 votes

2%

Greer and Gay

5 votes

0%

Gay and Jenkins

0 votes

1%

Anybody and David :)

3 votes

201 votes | Poll has closed

Hey y'all. So with the upgrades around the division at the tight end position, barring the Panthers, who really has the advantage at that position? Is it Tampa with the young super-athletic, pro-bowl, accident waiting to happen Winslow? Is it Atlanta with the record breaking, pro-bowl, aging Gonzalez.? Or is it the Saints with the bad boy, pro bowl, (I'm not gonna say the "i" word in hopes of not jinxing him) Shockey? I really am curious to see what y'all think.

 

 

via i386.photobucket.com and Sports Illustrated

Poll

Who is the best?

56%

Shockey

95 votes

35%

Gonzalez

60 votes

7%

Winslow

12 votes

1%

Whatever chump Carolin's got going this week

2 votes

169 votes | Poll has closed