Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin welcomed the New Orleans Saints to their preseason training camp, underway at the new facility in White Sulphur Springs. Training camp is set to last until Thursday, August 14, and will bring visitors and fans from across the nation to West Virginia, an opportunity to showcase all the Mountain State has to offer.
“I am proud to welcome the New Orleans Saints players, coaches, staff and fans to West Virginia,” Gov. Tomblin said. “This state-of-the-art facility is exciting news for the Mountain State and offers tremendous opportunities – not only for the team to train, but for us to showcase all of the wonderful things we love about our state. The investments we are making to support our state’s robust tourism industry help us to grow our local economies and provide visitors with an opportunity to experience all that’s wild and wonderful about West Virginia.”
While training at The Greenbrier, the team will undergo strength and conditioning tests and workouts – a total of 20 practices and a scrimmage on Saturday, August 2. In addition, The Greenbrier is offering events for West Virginians and visiting Saints fans alike, including a picnic with the Saints this Saturday, July 26. This event is an opportunity to meet New Orleans Saints players and staff and tour the new facilities.
“We are very excited about this new opportunity with the New Orleans Saints, which will benefit all the people of West Virginia, bringing in tourism and new jobs,” said Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier. “I encourage all Saints fans and West Virginians to join us tomorrow afternoon to see a practice session, tour the new training facilities and celebrate the kickoff of this summer’s training camp with a picnic with players and coaches.”
The new training camp facilities were made possible with the signing of the West Virginia Tourism Development Act, which provides opportunities for new economic development projects and the expansion of existing tourism-related attractions and facilities. During the 2014 legislative session, the Legislature extended the act and increased the total amount of tourism development expansion project tax credits for all approved companies, both large and small.
“I am pleased to have been able to play a role in this project,” Senate President Jeff Kessler said. “The Senate overwhelmingly supported the amendment to the West Virginia Tourism Development Act that made the dream of this day a reality. We are very excited about this opportunity with the 2009 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. It will benefit all West Virginians by bringing in tourism and jobs.”
The new training facilities include a total of three practice fields and a 55,000-square-foot multi-purpose complex, which is equipped with weight rooms, locker rooms, training and physical therapy accommodations and dining facilities.
“The arrival of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints to The Greenbrier for part of its 2014 training camp is a wonderful new chapter for West Virginia’s tourism industry,” House Speaker Tim Miley said. “The enthusiasm surrounding the Saints’ training camp will attract thousands of people from around the country and world into West Virginia, who will then discover what we have always known – that West Virginia is a terrific destination for living, working and, of course, playing.”
For more information or to view a complete schedule of events, visit www.greenbrier.com/saints.
