The old city took care of itself, and the Quarter looks pretty similar to how it's looked for years. It had been months since she and Doug Thornton, then the general manager of the Superdome, had spent five days trapped in the arena with 30,000 evacuees after Hurricane Katrina. The Louisiana Superdome, once a mighty testament to architecture and ingenuity, became the biggest storm shelter in New Orleans the day before Katrina’s arrival Monday. But 10 years after the hurricane, now that both the Superdome … Because the renovation isn't entirely done, access to a few unfinished sections will be blocked for this weekend's music festival, but concert spectators will sit in many of the new seats. The multi-phase $336 million project begun after Katrina wrecked the building in 2005, stripping away part of the roof and dumping water throughout, allowing mold to grow unchecked. The Louisiana Superdome was used as a "shelter of last resort" for those in New Orleans Restrooms are new and their capacity doubled. During a recent stroll through a new, field-level bowl that now have most of its 24,500 seats in place, Thornton reflected on how much the Superdome had changed since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005. The youngest … In a week filled with dreadful scenes of desperation and anger from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina some stories stood out. Evacuees stewed in the summer heat without air conditioning or working bathrooms in a scene that epitomized the chaos of the disaster. After the levees failed during the hurricane, thousands of evacuees escaping … New York also added former Eagles RB Corey Clement to its roster. Here's how they got here, NFL experts pick best matchups, biggest winners from schedule release, 2021 NFL schedule: Analysis and a bold prediction for all 32 teams, NFL families seek equal brain injury treatment, Chris Long poses as airline on Twitter to troll Texans RB Mark Ingram, The 2021-22 NFL schedule is here, and teams are pumped. An ASM Global Managed Facility; Ada Services; Superdome Facebook; Superdome Twitter; Superdome YouTube Videos; Superdome Instagram Photos; General Inquires: 1-800-756-7074 or 1-504-587-3822 Events and Tickets. The Superdome and the Super Bowl I lived in New Orleans for a year, from 2012 to 2013, arriving in the city on September 1, 2012, four days after Hurricane Isaac. By then, all lower-bowl seats will have been installed in a changed configuration that hugs the rectangular shape of the football field, bringing many sideline spectators closer to the field than they were in the old, semi-oval layout. Most evacuees milled around field-level stands, which have been deconstructed, removed and rebuilt atop a new steel support system as part of $50 million in … The past two weeks have Mike McCarthy expecting Dak Prescott to be an active participant in them. […] near Abramson High School Monday, September 12, 2005, nearly two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Here is some oral history from several celebrities. Victims of Hurricane Katrina fight through the crowd as they line up for buses to evacuate the Superdome and New Orleans, Sept. 1, 2005. More women are … The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. "It has been absolutely a key part of the whole process ... and will be a major feather for New Orleans' next bids," Cicero said. The Superdome has become a symbol of the city's recovery since the massive hurricane that destroyed much of the city. Bobby Jindal said after a tour. Under the sideline sections are new, 7,000-square-foot lounges. For years after Katrina, Carter's memories of the Superdome were so powerful that she refused to return there. The French Quarter, which most tourists associate with New Orleans, was not structurally damaged by Katrina. Dave Cohen was one of the few reporters to stay in New Orleans as Katrina bore down on the city, and continued broadcasting as the floodwaters rose. Mercedes-Benz Superdome. "It's not just a roof," he says. Even with its gleaming new cover, the Superdome remained a symbol of Katrina's misery. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. The altered configuration has increased capacity from a little less than 70,000 to nearly 73,000 for Saints games, and the main concourse has been completely rebuilt. Footbridges that linked the old concourse to the seats are gone. The concourse is now about three times wider with new tile flooring and brighter cove lighting overhead. Tens of thousands of storm victims suffered there in withering heat after … Even the outer shell looks new. The multi-phase $336 million project begun after Katrina wrecked the building in 2005, stripping away part of the roof and dumping water throughout, allowing mold to … For several years, Thornton has referred to the Superdome as a symbol of the city's recovery. Also nearby is a Hyatt hotel, which became a symbol of Katrina's devastation when dozens of its floor-to-ceiling windows were blown out, leaving exposed curtains flapping in the wind. Rescuers in eastern New Orleans tow a boat loaded with three corpses down Read Blvd. The floors are a combination of polished granite and carpet, and white leather furniture completes a look similar to a contemporary boutique hotel lobby. Most evacuees milled around field-level stands, which have been deconstructed, removed and rebuilt atop a new steel support system as part of $50 million in work performed during the last five months. NEW ORLEANS -- It's hard to believe now that the Louisiana Superdome was once filled with water, mold and tens of thousands of evacuees escaping the flooded neighborhoods of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The Superdome is scheduled to stage its seventh Super Bowl in February 2013, capping a 13-month span in which it also will be home for college football's BCS national championship next January and the NCAA men's basketball Final Four the following spring. Many people had planned to weather the … I haven't seen a finer stadium in the country.". "This is the Superdome. New Orleans After Katrina . The Lucas Oil Stadium built in 2008 in Indianapolis cost $720 million. "We've been working nonstop for, really, six years to reinvent the dome, and when you look around now, it does make you think about what's going to happen," Thornton said. I did not think we would rebuild it and certainly I didn't think we would be hosting another Super Bowl here." In October, it is finally expected to reopen after a $275 million renovation of 1,200 rooms and 200,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space. Next to the dome is an office high-rise that Saints owner Tom Benson bought as part of an agreement locking the franchise into the dome through 2025. Charles Evans was just 9-years-old when he said, 'we just need some help out here' and became the face of relief efforts in New Orleans. The changes to the field-level stands represent the latest of numerous upgrades since the restoration of the stadium began in late 2005. He escaped the chaotic shelter a … Event Calendar; New Orleans Saints; Ticketing Information; Plan Your Visit . He said renovating the Superdome was half the cost of building a new stadium. NFL footage © NFL Productions LLC. "I think we're a … Within the next 18 months the Superdome will host the 2012 BCS Championship and NCAA Final Four and the 2013 Super Bowl. New York Jets rookie Zach Wilson catches a tough break, Saints rookie Nolan Cooney overcame cancer, then learned to punt with help from YouTube, 3-year evolution of American sports betting: From taboo to revenue, LaFleur: We want Aaron Rodgers back in the worst way, What's gone wrong between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? "Many of the bad memories of Katrina have been suppressed. It reopened in time for the Saints' Super Bowl-winning season, and the refurbishing has come as the city continues to rebuild. COVID-19 INFORMATION; Directions & Parking; A-Z Guide; Football … Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation director Jay Cicero said the winning bids he developed for the 2013 Super Bowl and 2012 Final Four would have gone nowhere if not for the transformation of the Superdome and the surrounding development it has spurred. The New Orleans Saints and the Superdome celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the re-opening of the dome after the destruction and havoc wrought by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Ian Rapoport reported that Green Bay is signing Kurt Benkert, who was trying out for the team at rookie minicamp. The 73,000-seat facility has gone through several renovations, including a massive rebuild after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the building, ripping away part of its roof, in August 2005. During the hurricane, a barge broke … "We have a state of the art, modern stadium and we've saved the taxpayer money," Gov. Last year, the original aluminum siding, faded a dull gray by three-plus decades of Louisiana sun and dented by flying storm debris, was replaced. Ticket-holders in those areas will be able to use an exclusive entrance to the stadium, passing through a set of glass doors, above which wide strips of cherry wood paneling follow the contour of the ceiling to a bar across the lounge. Although 90 percent of New Orleans’s pre-storm population is back and much of the city has been rebuilt, neighborhoods such as the Lower Ninth Ward have not had the same amount of post-Katrina growth. Since the Superdome reopened in 2006, events there have had a fiscal impact of $4.1 billion on the Louisiana economy, according to a study by the University of New Orleans. The Packers are adding another quarterback to their roster. Lt. Gen. Honoré, Who Evacuated The Superdome 15 Years Ago, Talks About Laura On Katrina Anniversary 09:43 Seats have been replaced or refurbished, and new ones added; there are new club facilities and restrooms, and new video systems and scoreboards installed. 2008–present Further renovations. It's probably the most infamous roof, and now famous roof… The new siding restored the hulking, downtown stadium to the original champagne color it had when it was host to its first Super Bowl in 1978. The Giants signed the former first-round wide receiver to play tight end following a tryout at rookie minicamp this weekend. In the days during and after Katrina, the Superdome became the symbol of a city falling apart; the lights went out, the roof ripped open and the flooded streets outside made it … The New Orleans Saints' preseason home schedule would begin Aug. 12 if it's not delayed by the NFL lockout. The Cowboys will begin OTAs in less than two weeks. Moreover, McCarthy believes his QB will be full-go by training camp in July. "People in this area kind of think of the Superdome as an extension of their home because they've spent a lot of their weekends here," Thornton said. The Dallas Cowboys' stadium, built in 2009, ran $1.3 billion, and the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, completed last year, was $1.6 billion. Hyatt general manager Michael Smith said the Superdome's restoration was a primary reason -- particularly during a national recession -- that financing went through for the hotel. I’ve just selected a few here. The inscription "Mercedes-Benz Superdome" went on to the sides of the stadium in late October 2011 . © 2021 NFL Enterprises LLC. "It doesn't look like the same building it did in 2005, that's for sure," said Doug Thornton, vice president of SMG, the company that manages the state-owned stadium. Was the Superdome rebuilt after Katrina? 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