When the Saints play, New Orleans pays. Football season isn’t just about the game, it’s a major boost for local businesses. Shops, restaurants, and bars all feel the impact when the black and gold take the field.
Lauren Thom, owner of the local favorite Fleurty Girl, says business is closely tied to how well the Saints are doing.
“When they win, we can sell black and gold well into the night,” Thom said. “But when they lose, it gets really quiet.”
Thom notes there was a burst of sales at the start of the season as fans stocked up on fleur de lis gear, but that wave of optimism has slowed.
Still, other home teams like LSU and Tulane help soften the blow though Thom is surprised to see that purple and gold is outselling black and gold.
For her, no matter the season or the scoreboard, the spirit of New Orleans fans remains clear: “It’s forever, go Saints!”