GOOD NEWS FOR WHO DAT NATION: BENSON FAMILY ANNOUNCES HISTORIC $5 TICKET DAY AT CAESARS SUPERDOME
In a move being hailed as one of the most generous gestures in New Orleans Saints history, team owner Gayle Benson and her family shocked fans Tuesday morning by announcing a $5 Ticket Day at Caesars Superdome—an initiative designed to open the gates for thousands of low-income families who have never experienced a live Saints game.
The event, scheduled for next month during a home matchup against the Carolina Panthers, will make 35,000 seats available at the nearly symbolic price of five dollars.
Within minutes of the announcement, social media exploded with videos of fans crying, cheering, and scrambling online to reserve seats.
One lifelong New Orleanian wrote, “I’ve waited 42 years to step inside the Dome on a Saints Sunday. Mrs. Benson just made that dream possible.”
During a press conference held on the Superdome turf, Gayle Benson—flanked by youth leaders, community advocates, and several current players—said the idea had been brewing for over a year.
“This city gave our organization everything,” Benson said. “It’s time we open these doors wider than they’ve ever been opened before. Football belongs to everyone in New Orleans.”
The $5 Ticket Day will also include free public transit on game day, courtesy of a partnership with the Regional Transit Authority.
Families will be greeted with a festival-like pregame experience, including local brass bands, giveaways, face painting, and player meet-and-greets for children selected through neighborhood community centers.
Saints linebacker Demario Davis, known for his community involvement, praised the initiative. “You can feel the heartbeat of this city in the stands,” Davis said. “Imagine the energy when thousands of new voices—people who never thought they’d be here—get their chance to chant ‘Who Dat’ with us. It’s going to be electric.”
Local nonprofits were equally enthusiastic. The New Orleans Youth Rising Foundation plans to distribute over 1,000 tickets to teens from under-resourced neighborhoods. “Sports can change lives,” said director Candace Robichaux. “For many of these kids, stepping into the Dome is like stepping into possibility.”
Economists estimate that, despite the dramatically reduced ticket revenue, the city will see a tourism ripple effect, with restaurants, hotels, and shops expecting a spike in foot traffic. Yet Benson insists that the financial impact is secondary.
“Some things you do because they’re good for business,” she said. “Some things you do because they’re good for people. This is the latter.”
With the event already being called the most generous moment in team history, fans are hoping it becomes an annual tradition. As one father of three said after securing his tickets, “My kids are finally going to remember what I only watched on TV—our city coming together, cheering together, believing together.”