A bigger deal than it seems

The Superdome

New Orleans ready for NFL return

The NFL's New Orleans Saints make an emotional return to their Superdome home on Monday as they host Atlanta.

The Superdome became a symbol of the devastation inflicted on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina last year.

It housed up to 25,000 increasingly desperate homeless people in conditions that degenerated into squalor.

But a major refurbishment programme means the venue is now ready to host NFL games again, with all Saints' home matches sold out this season.

Saints running back Deuce McAllister said: "The city of New Orleans couldn't be more excited to show the world it's back."

This means a lot, more to New Orleanians than outsiders. The Saints ARE New Orleans's team, win, mostly lose, it is their team and to have the Superdome back means the city won't be forgotten.

Football is so important that people were watching the Saints in shelters. New Orleans is far, far from back, but the Superdome and the Saints means there's some
hope it may come back.