In 1966, New Orleans was awarded a NFL franchise, the Saints. The team needed a stadium to play at choosing Tulane Stadium as their home. On September 17, 1967 the Saints played their first game at Tulane Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. By 1970 talk began about building a domed stadium near downtown New Orleans. A new stadium for the Saints, the Superdome, was constructed and built in time for the 1975 NFL season. The Saints played their last game at Tulane Stadium on December 8, 1974 against the Cardinals. The final game ever at the stadium was Super Bowl IX in January 1975. Tulane Stadium was the home of the Tulane Green Wave and the annual Sugar Bowl game for near a half a century before both were moved to the Superdome. Tulane Stadium was demolished in 1980 and is now the site of a recreation and athletic center.