When the Saints’ 2010 home season begins today things will be more different than ever before. First, the Saints are reigning Super Bowl Champions (to be evidenced by the dropping of the Champs banner to the annoyance of the Vikings), the Dome will have a brand new gold exterior and Phase I of Champions Square presented by Verizon will be complete. “Great,” you say, “but what does this have to do with food?” This has everything to do with food, for your game day experience will not be confined to hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken fingers. In a city long known for its love of food and its love of the Saints, it is about time the two loves were combined. Enter Champions Square and some phone company.

If you’ve spent any time rocking in the Dome during the preseason, you know that Champions Square has set up shop where the old New Orleans Centre mall was. The former Bud Bridge, which connected the Superdome with the New Orleans Centre, is now a large stairway leading from the Superdome’s Gate C to a new pedestrian mall on LaSalle street. The pedestrian mall gives way to Champions Square (NOLA.com artist rendition available here). The artist rendition really doesn’t do the Square any justice. It has a big time feel to it, like it is one of the highly polished events surrounding a Super Bowl. Only this is for every home game we have. When I first saw Champions Square, my thoughts, exactly, were: “It’s like we’re a real city now. We’re big time.”

“Fantastic,” you say, “but I’m still waiting on the championship food you’ve promised.” Well here it is: Champions Square will showcase many great restaurants. Galatoire’s, Drago’s, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Acme Oyster House and Redfish Grill are just a few of the fine establishments that are invading your game day experience. Trade in your foam finger for spinach risotto with tasso and shrimp, ditch the face paint and work on some shrimp and grits or toss your Saints flag and chow on a prime rib cheesesteak. On second thought, just put the flag in your pocket or hand it to a fellow Who Dat!

Thanks to Champions Square, this weekend you can take on great New Orleans food (in your Drew Brees jersey) before the the Vikings and some old guy (try to) take on the great New Orleans Saints. Championship food finally joins our championship team.

On other great thing about Champions Square is that the beer is cheaper. With cans available for a mere $5.00 (can you believe that highway robbery is comparatively cheap?), you should have a little extra cash to afford some of the food.

For full schedule of restaurants and vendors
in Champions Square click here.

Some content originally appeared on GoNOLA.com.