A $450 million renovation to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is moving forward, as the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District approved the first phase of construction Thursday.
Home to the New Orleans Saints, the Superdome has been eyed for a major renovation project that will take place over multiple phases. Among the renovations that are expected to be completed when the whole project concludes include new vertical atriums in the northeast, northwest, and southeast corners of the Superdome; field-level end zone boxes (such as the one shown in the rendering above); concourse improvements; new standing room only areas; and more.
Those plans took a step forward Thursday, with the LSED approving a first phase of construction that is currently estimated at upwards of $100 million and will focus mostly on back-of-house upgrades. The first phase of the renovations will begin in January, with the exact starting date depending on whether the Saints host the NFC Championship Game. Work on the total project is expected to run through the start of the 2023 NFL season. More from NOLA.com:
Work will commence early next year, after either the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Jan. 13 or the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 19, if the stadium hosts that event. Work is expected to continue through the start of the 2023-24 season, which will culminate with the Superdome hosting that year’s NFL Super Bowl.
“Today is parallel to kicking off the football for the beginning of the game,” said Kyle France, chairman of the Superdome Commission. “This is the start of what we need to get this project rolling.”
The renderings were made by Trahan Architects, the design firm for the renovation, which has been working on the project for more than a year.
The first phase, estimated to cost as much as $100 million, will be “the enabling phase” consisting of back-of-house work that will not be noticed much by fans, according to Victor “Trey” Trahan, CEO of Trahan Architects.
The financing package calls for the Saints to contribute up to $150 million to the project, with $210 million coming from the LSED, and the remaining $90 million from the state, if needed.
Discussions also continue on a lease extension with the Saints. The extension would see the team commit to the Superdome until 2035, with options potentially extending the agreement to 2055.
Renderings courtesy Trahan Architects.
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