A little over a year after Hurricane Katrina seriously damaged the roof of the Superdome in New Orleans, its football-ready reopening is set for the Sept. 25 Monday night game.
Stadium Manager SMG and the Superdome Commission conceived a plan in the aftermath of last fall's hurricanes to include significant upgrades as part of the repair process. Cost for the repairs and improvements is $185 million, according to Ellerbe Becket, sports consultant to the Louisiana Superdome Renovation Joint Venture Team.
Besides repairs to the roof, additional upgrades include a new versatile public address system, thirty-eight permanent concession stands with stainless steel countertops, new menu boards and graphics, improvements to the premium seating, suites and ballroom areas, and LED ribbon boards that sport brighter and more versatile graphics.
Never in the history of U.S. stadiums has a facility been so heavily damaged and rebuilt in one year, Ellerbe Becket says. "What I'm looking at here is nothing short of a miracle and is symbolic of the great rebirth that this city and this state are experiencing,” says Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. Final finishes and enhancements are expected to be completed by July 2007.
