NEW ORLEANS - The Saints and the city of New Orleans shared a common story during the teams Super Bowl bid. Both struggled to make it back after Hurricane Katrina.
"Not only the city, the whole state and Louisiana, by way of New Orleans is back, this shows the world we back, we back, the whole world back," said Saints owner Tom Benson as he hoisted the Lombardi trophy Sunday night.
"Our victory last night was the culmination of four years of hard work and a lot of adversity, a lot of ups and downs and more important than that, representing a city that has been through so much," said Super Bowl MVP and Saints Quarterback Drew Brees at a news conference before leaving Miami on Monday.
Brees often compares the Saints resurgence to that of his adopted city.
Tourism leaders are feeding off of the positive publicity.
"It's a story like no other," said Mary Beth Romig, spokesperson for the Greater New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's time like no other."
Romig says people from across the country now want to be part of the city's feel good story.
She expects Mardi Gras to be huge this year, as well as other major events in the city.
"People will want to be here for all the great events, for French Quarter fest, for Jazz Fest, people just want to come to New Orleans because they are seeing how well we're doing and their seeing what a great city this is," said Romig.
Mavis Early from the local hotel and lodging association says the city's hospitality business is basking in the glow of the Saints Super Bowl win.
"I think everybody wants to be where people are happy," said Early. "Everybody's happy here now. This is where the party is."
As visitors leave the city after an exciting Super Bowl weekend, many say they will be back and encourage others to make the trip as well.
"It was totally worth the trip, coming down here," said Ray Berwell of Houston, Texas. "I'd do it again in a minute."
"It was a wonderful weekend," said Karen Deane of Lafayette. "Such a good time. Such a good energy. We had such a great time and we don't want to go home, but we have to."
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