Gayle Benson thanks fans after Saints’ Paris visit
Gayle Benson, owner and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, published a letter Oct. 28, 2026, thanking fans, partners and public officials who traveled to Paris for the club’s Week 7 regular-season game on Oct. 25, 2026, at the Stade de France. She called the trip extraordinary and expressed appreciation to those whose planning and commitment made the outing possible. Benson said the support of fans and guests made the occasion especially meaningful as the organization returned home. The letter was posted on the Saints’ official website alongside related coverage.
In the letter, Benson acknowledged the wide range of people who joined the trip, from devoted fans and corporate partners to business leaders, community advocates and elected officials. She noted that the outcome on the field was not what the organization had hoped for but said there remained much to be proud of from the club’s international presence. Benson praised the energy and hospitality that Saints supporters brought overseas. She said those displays reinforced the team’s bond with its fan base.
Benson singled out the National Football League and Commissioner Roger Goodell for their leadership in bringing a regular-season game to France and extended gratitude to the club’s French hosts for their hospitality. She said conversations among government, business and cultural leaders during the visit opened doors for business development, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between Louisiana and France. Benson described those emerging ties as a key, lasting benefit of the trip beyond the game itself. The letter framed the visit as both a sporting and community engagement effort.
The Saints’ official website accompanying the letter included photo galleries and related coverage of the team’s Paris events, highlighting clinics, fan activities and community programming that occurred around the game. Benson emphasized the personal connections formed during the trip and thanked familiar faces and new friends for sharing the occasion. She closed the letter by expressing her appreciation for the continued loyalty shown to the New Orleans Saints and to the city and state the franchise represents. The posts on the site collected images and reporting from events before and after the Oct. 25 game.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Benson’s letter serves as a formal acknowledgment of the club’s international outreach following the Saints’ Week 7 trip to Paris. By highlighting discussions among government, business and cultural leaders, the message underscores potential economic and cultural opportunities between Louisiana and France. Her public thanks to the NFL and French hosts recognizes the logistical and diplomatic work required to stage a regular-season game overseas. For supporters and partners, the letter frames the Paris experience as more than a single game and emphasizes lasting relationships built during the visit.