BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - New Orleans' Superdome, the iconic domed stadium that's home to the Saints football team, will be getting a $450 million facelift before it hosts its next Super Bowl in 2024.
Upgrades to the 44-year-old stadium are part of Gov. John Bel Edwards' ongoing negotiations with the NFL team, aimed at keeping the Saints in Louisiana another 30 years.
State officials on the Bond Commission approved the financing plans without objection Thursday. The vote sets in motion the improvements to the spaceship-like building that became a symbol of New Orleans' recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
Louisiana's current contract with the Saints, negotiated by former Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration in 2009, runs through 2025. Edwards says the Superdome renovations are central to striking a new 15-year contract, with a 15-year extension option.
ov. John Bel Edwards issued the following statement on the State Bond Commission’s unanimous approval.
“For several months, we have been working in partnership with the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District behind the scenes on several business matters, including discussions of improvements to the Superdome.”
“The first major step happened today when the State Bond Commission approved financing for the LSED. I appreciate the Bond Commission’s support for this project, which I believe is necessary to keep the Superdome competitive for decades to come. The state has committed $90 million to this project, over the course of several years, and I am confident we will be able to meet this obligation.”
“Following today’s action, I believe that in short order, we will finalize a long-term lease extension that keeps the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome for many years to come. This is good economic news for the city and our state. Keeping the Saints Home at the Dome will be cause for celebration for current and future generations of Who Dats.”
