Saints owner Gayle Benson meets Macron before Steelers game as PSG-Lyon moves

A luncheon at the Élysée Palace

Saints owner Gayle Benson sat down with French President Emmanuel Macron for about two hours and 15 minutes on Friday, two days before the Saints play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's first game in France. ^[1] The meeting was a luncheon at the Élysée Palace in Paris, and it matters to every fan heading to the game. ^[1]

Steelers owner Art Rooney II also attended. ^[1] NFL executives Peter O'Reilly and Brett Gosper took part as well. ^[1]

Saints executive Greg Bensel said Macron was exceptionally engaged throughout the discussion. ^[1] He said Macron showed a strong personal interest in the NFL, its two participating teams and its international strategy. ^[1]

Security was on the table

Part of the discussion was security, with France embroiled in protests that have turned violent and resulted in thousands of arrests. ^[1] Bensel said Macron gave the teams assurances on security on Friday. ^[1]

The NFL and the Saints have said security issues have had no impact on their preparations and that the game will go off without a hitch. ^[1] A Steelers fan event scheduled for Saturday in Paris was canceled. ^[1]

The stadium and the plan for France

Other topics included the readiness of the Stade de France, which was modified to host an NFL game. ^[1] The group also discussed the growth of flag football in France, with Benson highlighting the Saints' commitment to supporting the game at home and internationally. ^[1]

They talked through options for making the NFL more visible in France, including an academy for French athletes and an increased media presence. ^[1]

Bensel described the meeting in a text message as meaningful and productive. ^[1] He said it reinforced the significance of the NFL's presence in France and the Saints' role in growing the game internationally. ^[1]

Protests and the PSG-Lyon move

Police resources in Paris are stretched, with mass protests planned for the weekend. ^[2] Last Saturday, 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across France to protest rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. ^[2]

The weekend before that, France's worst rioting in years affected city halls, other public buildings and thousands of businesses across the country. ^[2]

The French league said on Friday that the PSG-Lyon match was moved from Sunday to Monday evening at the request of Paris police. ^[2] It was scheduled for 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, only hours after the NFL game, and is now set for 8:30 p.m. local time on Monday at Parc des Princes. ^[2] The new time conflicts with the Ballon d'Or ceremony set for London. ^[2]