Saints owner Gayle Benson got a close-up look at the French government’s view of Sunday’s historic matchup before the teams ever took the field.
Benson met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron during a luncheon at the Élysée Palace in Paris as the New Orleans Saints get ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first game in France. Steelers owner Art Rooney II was there as well.
According to Saints executive Greg Bensel, the meeting ran about two hours and 15 minutes, and Macron stayed locked in on the conversation the entire time. Bensel said Macron was “exceptionally engaged throughout the discussion, demonstrating a strong personal interest in the NFL, its two participating teams and the league’s broader international strategy.”
Security was naturally part of the conversation, given the unrest in France. The country has been dealing with a wave of protests that have turned violent and led to thousands of arrests, and more activity is expected over the weekend. Paris Saint-Germain’s game against Lyon, originally set for Sunday night, was pushed to Monday night by order of the Paris Police Prefecture.
A Steelers fan event planned for Saturday in Paris was also canceled.
Even with that backdrop, the NFL and the Saints have continued to insist that the game itself is on track. Bensel said Macron offered the teams “assurances” on Friday that preparations for Sunday’s matchup remain on schedule.
The discussion also touched on the Stade de France and the work done to modify it for an NFL game, plus the growth of flag football in France. Benson also emphasized the Saints’ commitment to supporting the sport both locally and abroad.
Another topic on the table was how to raise the NFL’s profile in France, including the possibility of creating an academy for French athletes and expanding media coverage.
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