Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on sharing AT&T Stadium with the Saints
Jerry Jones may be the face of the Dallas Cowboys, but his son Stephen Jones is a big-time decision-maker as Cowboys executive vice president. And when the New Orleans Saints came calling for help, they answered the call by welcoming the Saints to practice at AT&T Stadium for three days upon evacuating from Hurricane Ida before it struck the Louisiana coast.
The younger Jones joined “K&C Masterpiece” on KRLD-FM 105.3 “The Fan” to preview the 2021 season and discuss the Cowboys’ involvement with welcoming the displaced Saints to AT&T Stadium. Here’s what he said:
“Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis reached out to us, and asked if they could practice here in Dallas. As it turned out, we did have our stadium available and they were able to secure accommodations and just great that we’re able to help them. As you said, it’s a heartbreaking situation what’s going on to everybody there in south Louisiana and more. It’s just a very, very difficult for anybody living in that area. Our prayers go out to all the families and certainly even for the ones who ended up leaving, I’m sure they’re on pins and needles when you think about your home being in harm’s way. That’s a difficult situation.
“We certainly pray for the ones who weren’t able to get out, whatever the reason that they hopefully worked their way through it, and are able to make it through this storm and come out the backend. We want to do anything and everything we can to help the Saints organization. We obviously have great proximity to their market, and want to do anything and everything we can to help them.”
The Saints explored multiple options, including a potential flight to Indianapolis. But the Cowboys’ home stadium ended up being the best candidate. With so much uncertainty in the weeks ahead as New Orleans begins to recover from Ida’s wrath, it’s worth noting that AT&T Stadium is available for Week 1 with the Cowboys visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to kick off the season. If the Saints aren’t able host the Green Bay Packers at the Caesars Superdome, it’s possible they end up starting the 2021 season at a neutral site in Dallas instead.
