TITANS OPEN NEW STADIUM; SAINTS PLAY IN SUPERDOME ON GRASS

In Nashville, the story is the stadium. In New Orleans, it’s the sod.

On Friday night on national television, the Tennessee Titans open their new 67,000-seat Adelphia Coliseum against the NFC-champion Atlanta Falcons (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).

On Saturday night, the New Orleans Saints play on something that has never been on a dome floor for an NFL game before – real grass.

Stadiums are indeed a big story in the NFL this week, the third full week of the preseason.

In Nashville, the Titans’ new open-air, natural-grass stadium sits on 105 acres on the east bank of the Cumberland River overlooking downtown Nashville. The second new NFL stadium to open in as many weeks (Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 21), Adelphia Coliseum’s playing field is covered with Bermuda sod, which grew for a year before being put down in May.

"This is what the National Football League is all about," says Titans head coach JEFF FISHER about the new excitement surrounding his team. "We’re fortunate to have our final two preseason games and our first two regular-season games at home. This gives us a head start."

At least 41,000 Titans fans turned out to watch the team practice at Adelphia in early August.

"We couldn’t ask for a better situation than we have now," says Titans running back EDDIE GEORGE. "I honestly believe it will carry over onto the field of play."

At the Louisiana Superdome Saturday night, the "field of play" is going to look…feel…and smell different than ever before.

When the Saints host the Green Bay Packers, they will do so on real grass for this game only. It is believed to be the first use of a grass field for an NFL game in a domed stadium.

Approximately 40 trucks delivered the rolled-up turf from Southern Turf Nurseries in Robertsdale, Alabama on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, the field will be completely installed.

After the game, the turf will be rolled up and shipped back to Alabama to be rejuvenated by nature. The hope is that the removable grass eventually can be stored near the Superdome, laid down for each Saints game, then removed for other events in the dome.

"Our players are definitely looking forward to this game," says Saints President BILL KUHARICH.

Two other games this week involve intra/inter-city rivalries, one that is being renewed.

On Saturday, the New York Giants, in their 75th season, play the New York Jets, in their 40th. Through 30 preseason games, the Giants lead the series 16-13-1. It will be a preview of the regular season. The teams – with the season series tied at 4-4 – meet on December 5.

In Oakland on Monday night (ABC-TV, 8:00 PM ET), the San Francisco Bay series starts anew when the Raiders welcome the San Francisco 49ers. The teams played in preseason for 27 consecutive years through 1993 (Raiders lead 15-12). That year, 82,908 fans turned out for a 27-0 Niners victory at Stanford Stadium.

"It was an exciting series and it makes all the sense in the world to continue it," says Raiders Chief Executive AMY TRASK. "It’s good for both the teams and fans."

Other games this week include:

• KANSAS CITY at JACKSONVILLE (Thursday, CBS-TV, 8:00 PM ET): Xs vs. Os! Chiefs new no-huddle offense against Jaguars new zone-blitz defense.

• PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA (Thursday): Two of 1999 rookie quarterback class meet – Eagles’ DONOVAN MC NABB (No. 2 overall) and Vikings’ DAUNTE CULPEPPER (No. 11).

• CHICAGO at CLEVELAND (Saturday): Two more rookie QBs meet – Bears’ CADE MC NOWN (No. 12) and Browns’ TIM COUCH (No. 1).

• DENVER at DALLAS (Sunday, FOX-TV, 8:00 PM ET): These teams have won five of nine Super Bowls in the ’90s.