Overview
- As of Monday, Oct. 19, the NFL and the New Orleans Saints say the Stade de France game on Oct. 25 is planned to proceed and team sites have reported no disruptions.
- French officials have described widespread unrest, with roughly 2,000 arrests nationwide, large-scale looting and arson in Paris and police and firefighters reporting hundreds of injuries.
- The NFL and the Saints say they are working with local security partners and have staff on site, and news outlets report possible relocation options to New Orleans or to London stadiums if the situation deteriorates.
- A rapid decision is likely because the Saints are due to arrive in Paris soon and moving a regular-season game on short notice would require redoing travel, visas, broadcast slots and finding an available stadium.
- Thousands of traveling fans face possible disruption and authorities’ next safety assessments will determine whether the league keeps the schedule or triggers contingency plans.