2.5 - Before the Fall

[Felis]

There will be much to do in patch 2.5, and before we bombard you with more in part 2, we’ll be offering players a change of pace with patch 2.51, which focuses on the introduction of the Gold Saucer. It bears mentioning, however, that the establishment is known as the Manderville Gold Saucer in Eorzea. You’ll have to check it out for yourself to figure out where this moniker came from. Including chocobo racing, chocobo breeding, and the return of the FF card game Triple Triad, you can look forward to a fun and relaxing time in the Gold Saucer.

Chocobo Breeding with Golden Saucer confirmed ^^
Maybe connected with Racing like in VII, where you start with an average Chocobo and have to breed faster Chocobos with it.

You heard correct, Nero and pretty much any garlean figure in eorzea from the XIVth or VIIth legion are exiled. XIVth for invading eorzea against the high legatus's orders and VIIth for putting their faith in a primal and almost destroying the world.

For the VIIth legion it was more because they ignored every order from Garlemald after Nael death to fulfill Nael last order.