Saints rent 4 floors of hotel for optional use during training camp

The New Orleans Saints are renting four floors of the Loews Hotel in downtown New Orleans as an optional residence for their players and staff during training camp, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.

Saints head coach Sean Payton described the environment as a "sequester," not a bubble.

Payton estimated 150 of the team's 180 employees could opt to stay at the site, including players, coaches, executives, and other personnel.

"The message from the league is, 'The show must go on,'" Payton explained. "If so, we've got to do everything we can to be sure that happens."

Team owner Gayle Benson is paying for the rental.

No Saints players have tested positive for COVID-19 since last week, and the team is expected to begin strength and conditioning work Monday.