Much like the famed ice cream stands, there are 31 flavors of NFL stadium other than the Caesars Superdome, but only a handful were available for the Saints this week.
Sean Payton said the team got to decide where it landed for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, but it "wasn't like Baskin Robbins" before the Saints ultimately chose to play their home opener at TIAA Bank field in Jacksonville.
“The key is preparing for [the temperature] moreso than trying to figure out if it’s an advantage or not," Payton said. "Certainly we don’t want it to be a disadvantage.”
The Saints have set up shop at TCU's facilities in Fort Worth for practice, where they'll travel from for the game as the organization continues to be displaced after Hurricane Ida.
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Reports have indicated several factors, including Aaron Rodgers' history of less-than-spectacular performances in Louisiana played into the choice from the list of potential facilities to play the game. Nearby AT&T Stadium was unavailable due to a scheduled concert, and the game must be played in an NFL venue due to replay requirements.
While the potential heat for the game could provide the Saints some type of advantage, the proximity to the Saints fan base was the biggest factor, Payton said. The team has also been working to get ready for the elements this week.
But on the whole, Payton says he's confident the team will stay sharp despite all the obstacles heading into the start of the year.
"I think we've been in this situation before. We've won in this situation before. I actually think the opposite [of mental burnout] can take place," he said. "With training camps the last ... two years being separate from hotels, now you're actually bringing the team a little closer together and it happens to come at the start of the season."
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The team's facilities didn't suffer significant damage from the storm, but Payton said there hasn't been a specific timeline established for when they'll return to the New Orleans area. Power had begun to be restored throughout the region, but there's still a long way to go before life returns to normal in south Louisiana.
But while the team is away, the Saints are well aware of how important they are to both the area and their role in helping to drive recovery in south Louisiana.
"I don't think anyone who's been a part of this team or been a part of this organization would ever doubt for a second or be able to separate the importance of this team to our community. It's kind of interwoven," he said. " ... I think that's something that players are proud and recognize the unique fanbase and the region that they get to play for."
Saints GM Mickey Loomis said last week the team is hopeful to play a majority of its home games at the Caesars Superdome this season, but it's next opportunity would come in Week 4 when they host the New York Giants. The Saints are on the road in Weeks 2 and 3, traveling to face the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.