Saturday’s preseason game in New Orleans between the Saints and Arizona Cardinals has been canceled due to approaching Hurricane Ida.
Some weather forecasts have Ida possibly being a Category 4 hurricane when it reaches the Gulf Coast on Sunday.
Earlier Friday, the time of the game was moved up seven hours to noon CDT. But as conditions worsened, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards requested the game not be played.
“Due to the intensification of the hurricane throughout the day and after the most recent tropical update, the team’s leadership has made the decision in the best interests of all personnel that may have been directly and indirectly affected by the storm,” the Saints said in a statement. “This announcement comes after constant communications with City of New Orleans officials, the National Weather Service, Homeland Security, Gov. Edwards and leading state officials and the National Football League.
“The team encourages all residents of the region to take precautionary measures to remain safe throughout the impending hurricane.”
Ida is expected to make landfall on Sunday, 16 years to the day that Hurricane Katrina did the same in Louisiana.
