Saints in the Broken City

Telling the story of Saints football in New Orleans is a way to understand larger social, political and economic conditions during pivotal moments of the city’s history. This book is the first to explore the team’s role in rebuilding the city following Hurricane Katrina. The author documents New Orleans’ initial efforts to attract professional football, the Katrina disaster and some successes and failures during 10 years of post-disaster recovery. The narrative of community recovery and cohesion crafted by Saints fans transcends racial divides and illustrates the relationship between professional sports and the American city. The voices of female fans—largely overlooked in the study of sports—compel a more inclusive definition of football fandom.

Casey Schreiber is assistant professor of urban studies and public policy at Dillard University in New Orleans.

Casey Schreiber

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 216
Bibliographic Info: 26 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6260-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2605-5
Imprint: McFarland

Preface  1
1. When the Saints Came Marching In  5
2. Hurricane Katrina and the Shelter of Last Resort  24
3. Saints Win the Super Bowl  55
4. We Are the Who Dat Nation  80
5. Female Fans of Saints Football  110
6. Cultural Economics of Saints Football  133
7. Rebuilding the Broken City  160
Chapter Notes  193
Bibliography  201
Index  205

• “Furnishes an important evaluation of the role of the Saints in rebuilding New Orleans and the colorful rituals and language of its fans”—Journal of Sport History

• “A major contribution…. a natural disaster and catastrophe happened in a city with a unique history, unique people, and unique fans. Very compelling…well-written and flows nicely.”—Dr. C. Keith Harrison, University of Central Florida.