The Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District on Tuesday “voted to approve an LED lighting system outside” the Superdome, according to Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The new system, which will cost “about $1.6 million and will be paid for out of the current $85 million renovation budget, will illuminate the outside of the Dome in different colors.” Superdome officials said that although it “seems costly,” the lighting system will “save money over the long haul because it’ll reduce the cost of the monthly energy bill.” Stadium officials added that the system will be “used permanently, and on a nightly basis, reflecting multiple colors off the stadium while further enhancing its place in the New Orleans skyline.” SMG Senior VP Doug Thornton, whose company manages the Superdome, said, “This is all part of the re-branding of the Dome. We think the Superdome will be a destination for people to see.” LSED Commissioner Robert Bruno was so “enamored with the fancy lighting system that he suggested SMG look into adding the features to the New Orleans Arena and Zephyr Field.” Superdome Project Manager Pat Tobler told LSED members that construction crews will “turn the stadium back over to SMG officials by Thursday and will be doing just clean-up until the June 28 deadline.” The LSED also voted Tuesday to reimburse the Hornets “up to $150,000 of the money the team spent on its ‘I’m In’ season-ticket campaign.” LSED Chair Ron Forman, in voting to approve the resolution, said that it is “in the best interest of the state to help the Hornets market season tickets because of the team’s current lease with the state.” The “I’m In” campaign, which included “commercials and print ads, cost the team about $534,000.” Since beginning the campaign, the Hornets have “pushed their season-ticket totals to about 8,600 for next season, up from 6,300 in 2010-11” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/22).
