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Adventures in NOLA- Part Deux

In response to mikaloyd's comment on my previous blog, I am continuing with more on my experience in the Dome on game day.

Firstly, there is no more spectacular, breathtaking, beautiful NFL dome or stadium in the world than the Mercedez Benz Superdome. She really puts all others to shame. Let's face it, what stadium or dome can even hope to compare to her? I don't care what they may build, none will ever match her timeless elegance and splendor. With her shimmering golden panels and pristine white dome top, she towers above all the rest. I love the Dome. I was glad when Mercedes Benz became her sponsor because the name is befitting as it speaks to her quality and craftsmanship. A truly great match, I think.

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As I was making my way toward the Dome on Poydras Sunday morning, September 8, 2013, I found myself surrounded by throngs of others whose destination was the Dome as well. There were lots of Who Dats geared up and representing but there were also a lot of Falcons fans in their mostly-red-mixed-in-with-a-few-black jerseys and what not. More than I expected to see, but that's because I'd never been to a Saints-Falcons game at the Dome.

I wish I had thought to take some pics but we were all moving at a fairly rapid clip so I didn't want to hinder our progress, and I was eager to get to the Dome. Before long I was at the Dome and going up the ramp to Champions Square. I took in the view and snapped a couple of pics then turned to go in to the Dome. After clearing security with my lovely (not) clear vinyl shoulder bag I made my first entrance into the Dome.

The first person I saw was a tall man selling game day programs. Foolish me, I told him I'd be back in a few minutes to buy one.... tragically, I forgot to go back and after the game was over there were none to be had. Lesson one: always buy a game day program before you go to your seat. :covri:

Walking up the ramp into the bowl of the stadium felt like a dream to me. Here's a shot I took after the game (not the exact walkway I took to get to my seat but they all look alike pretty much).


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Reminded me of a scene from an old Coke commercial where Mean Joe Greene limps off the field after a hard game and the little boy offers him a Coke (yes, I am old, lol).

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As I entered the bowl I gawked at the size of it. The field looked so amazing in real life. The trademark Fleur De Lis smack dab in the middle, the SAINTS logo in the end zones. I had arrived! I saw players in black warmups on the field and got excited... only to realize they were Falcons. :angryrazz:

Finally, those Falcons left the field and here came my Saints in all their glory, white jerseys and gold pants. My favorite unis second to the throwbacks. As I watched them I realized how blessed I was to be there. I drank it all in and gave thanks to God for my long-awaited dream now realized.

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I was surprised how quickly time passed. Pregame warmups, pregame show, national anthem all were done and before you knew it, we were being led in the now-immortalized Who Dat chant by Coach Payton and Steve Gleason, with Scott Fujita standing nearby but at a respectable distance. I loved it. We all loved it.

The coin toss happened, the players took the field and we were off to the races. Each time Thomas Morstead (aka Legatron) kicked off, I yelled, "Boot it out of the end zone, Morstead!" When you see a punt on TV it looks very different from watching it from the stands in the stadium. I remember thinking how it didn't seem to go as high as I thought it would, but it was just an illusion of perspective. Being able to see the entire field and ceiling of the Dome made it look short when it really was booming. Love Morstead. Here he is practicing a punt in pregame warmups.

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I bought a souvenir cup full of diet Coke and was very glad I did. My throat got dry fast from all the whooping and hollering during Defensive series as well as after the TDs. That Coke lasted me the entire game! Also, since I didn't get a game day program, I was happy to see that they left souvenir newspapers on the seatbacks of all the seats in the stadium for the patrons. I figured they'd probably give us something and I thought it might be a game day towel or something I could wave wildly from my seat, lol. The newspaper is a keeper.

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I can get pretty intense while watching a Saints game at home on TV. Being in the Dome at a season opener against the Falcons, I was even moreso at times. I don't like people trying to talk to me while I'm watching the game. I prefer to immerse myself totally and try not to miss a beat. Of course, I had a few short conversations with the people sitting next to me (all of them were season ticket holders, the couple to my left came from Texas). But since I was wearing earplugs, I didn't hear them too well so sometimes I have to admit, I just smiled and nodded my head, lol! :hihi:

One of the best things about being there was how all of us would cup our hands around our mouths and yell at the top of our lungs whenever the defense was on the field. There was one guy in a black Brees jersey sitting a couple of rows down from me to my right who was our section's self-designated motivator. He would flap his fully extended arms upward to let us know we should yell on defense, then he would signal for us to be quiet on offense by extending his arms and hands motioning downward. Reminded me of a symphony conductor. I appreciated him!

Needless to say, I didn't take but a couple of pics during the game. Just can't stop to do that when I'm watching. I couldn't believe how great my seat was. In the end zone right in front of me, both Jimmy and Marques scored TDs. And if that wasn't amazing enough, the game ending goal line stand happened right in front of that end zone as well. I think we were all busting our guts to yell and I am convinced it really helped our team to hold and win.

Seattle touts their 12th man. Well, they don't have a thing on the Dome's 12th man. We don't need to call ourselves that. We just know we are. What a deafening roar we made!

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