The Superdome could be getting a major renovation as part of the contract to keep the Saints in New Orleans.
The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (LSED) board has awarded the first contracts for the project.
Regulators on Wednesday hired the Broadmoor construction firm for the initial steps in what they are calling the 2019 Master Plan. The contract includes Broadmoor providing "pre-construction services."
It is one piece of a plan designed to keep the New Orleans Saints playing football in the Superdome until at least 2035.
The preliminary renovation plan calls for nearly half a billion dollars in upgrades over four years. The cost would be split; with the LSED providing about $200 million, the Saints paying $150 million and another $93 million coming from state coffers.
Those promoting the project say it would cost more than a billion dollars more to build a new stadium. They also note that surveys show Louisiana taxpayers are fond of the Superdome and have not supported plans in the past calling for building a new facility.
"It will bring it to where the standards need to be to make this city competitive with the Atlantas, and Dallases, and other places, to make the city competitive now to bring in events," said Superdome spokesman Mike Hoss.
The overhaul would include new extended lobbies on both Poydras Street and heading into the Superdome from Champions Square, the elimination of the interior ramps that lead attendees up and down the levels of the Superdome, the addition of more escalators, more box suites at field level and on the 300 level of the dome, two more club lounges, standing areas overlooking the field from the end zone corners, expanded concourses and more retail space.
"(Constructing) Larger concourses, removing some interior ramps, creating new vertical transportation, and creating a new commissary to have better food throughout the Superdome," explained Hoss.
If it can clear all of the hurdles, construction would begin in January of next year. Work would continue during the football offseason in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
It would be complete in time for the Super Bowl in New Orleans in February of 2024.
Officials say the building would be mostly closed to events over that stretch except for the NCAA football championship in 2020, the men's college basketball Final Four in 2022 and the annual Essence Music Festival.