The New Orleans Saints will head to Paris for Sunday’s international matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers under tighter security after violent civil unrest shook the city last weekend.
The league said the game at Stade de France remains on schedule, and executive vice president of club business, international and league events Peter O’Reilly said the NFL’s security team has already been on the ground. He added that officials are working closely with Parisian and national authorities.
O’Reilly also said there was never a point when the game was in danger of not being played.
The concern comes as the Saints are trying to steady themselves after a three-game losing streak, one they just snapped with a 34-27 win over the New York Giants.
Paris was hit by major unrest over the weekend, with rioters clashing with police, setting cars on fire, storming public buildings and engulfing a historic city hall in flames. The violence and looting spread through major cities, and authorities said about 2,400 people were arrested.
Officials also said thousands of businesses were damaged or looted. The rioting came as demonstrations over rising living costs and poor school conditions drew hundreds of thousands of peaceful marchers.
For the Saints and Steelers, that has meant extra caution going into the trip. The NFL said security will be heightened for the game in Paris.
There’s also a notable connection for New Orleans beyond the football itself. The Saints’ French heritage and history from past exploration hundreds of years ago give the trip a built-in storyline, especially with many Louisiana natives tracing their ancestry back to France. New Orleans will be hoping to leave Paris with a win in a country where many of its current citizens still have ties today.
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