The Saints and Pelicans are "still finalizing an agreement to put up money for capital improvements at both the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Smoothie King Center," according to Terrance Harris of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District Board Chair Ron Forman yesterday was asked to "sign two Memorandum of Understandings to conditionally approve the work to get the ball rolling on the projects." The MOUs were presented to the LSED by SMG, which manages both facilities and has put up $5M of its own money "for capital improvement work" at both venues. This marks the "first major contribution" the Saints and Pelicans "have made toward improving both venues in which they respectively play." Improvements include a new "state of the art HD room that will service video boards" in both venues. SMG Exec VP/Stadiums & Arenas Doug Thornton yesterday also announced "plans for energy efficient contracts which will be aimed at substantially reducing the cost of using energy but updating the lighting technology" in both venues (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/26).
