Saints have sold out Superdome for 6th straight year

The lockout hasn’t impacted football fever in Louisiana.

Not for the New Orleans Saints, anyway.

The Saints announced that they have sold 73,000 seats in the Superdome for the 2011 season, marking the sixth consecutive season the franchise will have sold out the entire season. According to James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, it dates back to Sept. 25, 2006, the first time the stadium was re-opened following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

But the ongoing NFL lockout means it’s anyone’s best guess whether or not the 2011 season opener will be played Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field between the Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

“Our renewal rate was at 98 percent or higher, during a time when there was labor uncertainty front and center in the news,” Saints spokesman Greg Bensel told Varney. “This is consistent with years prior. It speaks to the passion of our fans.”
 

It’s a strong sign, too, because per the report NFL season ticket sales have declined each of the past three seasons. Now, the owners and players simply have to get down to the business of ensuring there will be football in 2011.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune