News from the NFL that the New Orleans Saints will not be traveling for a game in Germany was something positive for many fans to wake up to stateside, but it’s a tough break for fans in Europe who were hoping to see their team in person. The New England Patriots are going to “host” a different opponent than the one which had been reported in local outlets.
So when will the Saints be playing overseas again?
It could be as soon as 2024, but the good news for New Orleans (especially season-ticket holders) is that the Saints will not be losing a home game for an international matchup until 2030. When the NFL rolled out its 17-game schedule in 2021, it determined that every team would take the role as the “home” team for one international game every eight years.
Since the Saints were hosts in 2022 (traveling to London to face the Minnesota Vikings), they won’t lose another home game at the Caesars Superdome until 2030.
This means the Saints could play a game abroad in 2024, 2025, 2026, and so on. We’ll have to wait and see. Where an international game could be played is just as unclear; the league has scheduled games in London, Munich, Frankfurt, and Mexico City as it continues to make inroads to other markets around the world.
Regardless of that future scheduling, this is good for the Saints in the short term. Because they won’t be taking the role as the home team and losing a lucrative game in New Orleans, they’ll finally enjoy the benefits of a 17-game schedule with nine home games in 2024:
- 2021: 7 of 8 home games in New Orleans (relocated to Jacksonville due to Hurricane Ida for Week 1 vs. Green Bay Packers)
- 2022: 8 of 9 home games in New Orleans (assigned to London for international game in Week 4 vs. Minnesota Vikings)
- 2023: 8 of 8 home games in New Orleans (No changes expected)
- 2024: 9 of 9 home games in New Orleans (No changes expected)
