Saints and Superdome officials see renovation as necessary to modernize the stadium and extend its lifeGETTY IMAGES
Saints and state of Louisiana officials are "working toward an agreement" that will keep the team there through '35 and include a "transformative" $450M renovation of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The deal would "extend the Saints' current lease agreement with the state another 10 years and feature the most elaborate and expensive overhaul of the iconic stadium in its 44-year history." Saints and stadium officials said that the renovation is "necessary to modernize the Superdome and extend its life for the team and as a competitive venue to host major events for the next 15 to 20 years." The project is the "lynchpin to a long-term agreement between the state and the team." The costs for the project "will be shared" by the Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District ($207M), Saints ($150M) and state ($93M) in a "creative funding plan that still needs to be approved by the state bond commission." The renovation would be approximately $1B cheaper than the market cost of building a new stadium, as officials said that has "little political or public support across the state." The most "dramatic feature of the work would be re-imagined entry lobbies at the corners of the stadium." Other renovations would include:
- Removal of the sideline pedestrian ramps leading fans to the loge, club/suite and terrace levels of the building, and replacing them with additional escalators.
- New east and west sideline club lounges.
- Expanded 300 level luxury box suites.
- New end zone field level box suites.
- Expanded plaza, loge and terrace level concourses.
- New end-zone corner standing-room-only viewing decks.
- Expanded team store, retail outlets and Saints HOF.
- New visiting team locker room (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/2).
MOVING FORWARD: In New Orleans, Anthony McAuley in a front-page piece reports LSED selected local contractor Broadmoor to "manage what will be the first phase of the upgrade." The initial phase is "estimated to cost" $100M. All four phases of the renovation are "expected to be completed" before the Superdome hosts Super Bowl LVIII in '24. Superdome Commission Chair Kyle France said that his organization and the Saints are "hoping to keep costs in check so any request for taxpayer dollars will be as small as possible." Additional funding, if needed, will "come directly from the state and is still being negotiated," though Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has "voiced support for the overall project." The Superdome "hasn't had a major renovation" since a $376M multi-phase project to "fix the stadium in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 5/2).
