NEW ORLEANS
The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, marking the 20th anniversary of the franchise's return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Grammy Award-winning singer Irma Thomas will perform the national anthem, joined by 16-year-old New Orleans pianist River Eckert.
The original "Domecoming" game two decades ago symbolized the city's resilience after the hurricane forced widespread evacuation and relocation. That Monday night matchup against the Falcons was the Saints' first home game back in the city, and a victory that signaled a return to normalcy.
The team's subsequent era, led by head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, established the Saints as an offensive powerhouse for more than a decade.
Festivities begin at 3 p.m. CT with a second line walking parade starting at Lafayette Square and concluding at the Caesars Superdome. The first 500 attendees will receive commemorative Rebirth handkerchiefs. Mayor Helena Moreno will deliver remarks, and Brees will attend the celebration. Thomas's performance with Eckert will air live on ESPN.
Thomas, a native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, is known as the Soul Queen of New Orleans and performed the national anthem at the original Superdome reopening game after Hurricane Katrina.
