This week's Monday Night Football game between the Falcons and Saints is much more than a sporting contest. It's the first event in the grand reopening of the Louisiana Superdome, a symbol of the recovery of one of America's great cities.
The Superdome restoration is unprecedented. Never in the history of US stadiums has a facility been so heavily damaged and rebuilt in one year.
The Superdome will be "football-ready" for the Sept. 25 Monday night game, with final finishes and enhancements to be competed by July 2007.
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.
"The world is going to come back and see a rebuilt Superdome," says Paul Griesemer of Ellerbe Becket, sports consultant to the Louisiana Superdome Renovation Joint Venture Team. "It's been a Herculean effort, just like this whole city and whole community have gone through a Herculean effort, and it's going to be a symbol of these people to get something done."
The first change fans will notice is the new LED ribbon boards that add visual excitement to the seating bowl by sporting brighter and more versatile graphics. Additional upgrades include:
A new state-of-the-art public address system will be one of the most versatile and sophisticated of any stadium in the country.
Thirty-eight permanent concession stands have a bright new look with stainless steel countertops, new menu boards and graphics and new lighting.
Improvements to the premium seating, suites and ballroom areas to be completed in 2007.
"We've exceeded expectations in just about every avenue we've tackled," said Griesemer.
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco toured the facility in late summer with (then) NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Saints Owner Tom Benson. "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. It absolutely proves that the people of Louisiana have the strength, fortitude and dedication to overcome what no other people in this nation have had to endure."
