NFL fans visiting Paris in high spirits for Saints vs. Steelers game, undeterred by protests

Lifelong friends and Saints fans Sindhu Pandit, Shruti Menon and Pramod Menon said they never felt the game would be canceled. Pandit said the key to their own movements around the city was to stay informed.

“I think we were all given quite a bit of good information from the the different platforms that we were subscribed to,” Pandit said. “And as well as, you know, staying on local news as well — the concierge services at the different hotels were quite good at keeping us informed.”

Pramod Menon added that locals were “incredibly hospitable” and considerate of the fact that they were visitors. The friends said they came to support both the country and their team, a sentiment his wife shared.

“We’re so excited to be here in Paris, and what a perfect place for for New Orleans, the home of the French,” Shruti Menon said. “And so it’s wonderful to be here.”

Sean Warner, a Steelers fan since 1974, may not share the Menons’ taste in teams, but he also told NBC News that he and his wife, Saroja, were having a “wonderful” time in Paris.

“We were concerned about the riots and everything that we had heard about and read about, but quite honestly, it’s been amazing,” he said. “The experience has been fantastic. … Paris has really tried to work hard to, you know, make people feel safe and comfortable, and then enjoy the experience.”

The Washington, D.C.-based couple, who have visited Paris several times, spent Saturday walking around the city. Saroja Warner said it was a bit sad to see some businesses with boarded-up windows, but any clashes seemed “localized.”

“We walked around Paris all day till about 6 o’clock at night … and we didn’t see any unrest, any crazy stuff,” she said. “It just felt like a lot of folks trying to have a nice time on a rainy day in Paris.”

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