Saints coach Sean Payton on hand for West Virginia bill signing

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While a trumpeter blared, "When the Saints Go Marching In," New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton paraded into the governor's parlor Thursday and touted The Greenbrier resort as its new training camp home.

Sporting a diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring, Payton praised the move that will keep the Saints training at The Greenbrier at least through 2016. Payton said West Virginia offers a cooler climate, as the team splits training camp with humid summertime Metairie.


Though widely separated on a map, the Saints have looked at The Greenbrier for years. They also had ventured out of Louisiana for camp, having trained in locations from Vero Beach, Fla., to southern California.

Payton said the team's executive vice-president/general manager, Mickey Loomis, first looked at The Greenbrier about three years ago. Talks with owner Jim Justice stirred up again about six months ago, and Payton said he started talking with Justice every other day.

Payton also caddied for pro golfer Ryan Palmer at the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic at the resort last July.

"I don't know. I bit off more than I can chew," Payton said. "That was hard work."

Justice said two natural grass practice fields and one synthetic field are being built at the resort, in addition to a 55,000-square-foot building with kitchen and dining facilities, meeting rooms, weight and locker rooms, training and physical therapy accommodations.

The tourism bill would offer a break on some new sales tax from Saints camp.

"This investment tax credit was surely entered into my decision making as to whether to have them come or not," Justice said.

Justice has estimated the Saints would train at the resort from July 18 to Aug. 16. Admission will be free.

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