UK_WhoDat

Just got this email:

As a valued Saints fan, we wanted you to read the following
update on the restoration of the Louisiana Superdome,
provided by SMG, the facility manager for the Superdome:

Restoration Update 1/19/06:

Louisiana Superdome: The restoration process has been fast
tracked to have the Superdome ready for reopening in
September. The goal is to have the Superdome ready to
accommodate a capacity crowd for football. Certain aspects
of construction will continue through the end of the year
with ongoing work expected in the box suite &
ballroom/club room areas.

A Construction Manager at Risk will be selected by the
State Office of Facility Planning by Feb. 1. The
manager will be responsible for bidding projects in phases
to various contractors, thus expediting the entire process.
Bids are currently in progress for projects requiring extra
lead time, such as roof replacement, installation of a new
scoreboard/message board/advertising system, and repairs to
the concession areas.

All of the steel decking on the roof will be replaced with a
2 1/2 inch thick layer of polyurethane foam with a
white acrylic top coat. The existing roof was temporarily
repaired to stop further water intrusion after Hurricane
Katrina. Production upgrades include 2 new, larger video
boards in the end zones and a spectacular LED "halo" board
similar to the N.O. Arena board. All 6,000 Loge Level seats
will be replaced & the remaining seats in the Plaza
& Terrace Levels are currently being remediated and
replaced, as necessary.

SMG & LSED officials have been working closely with
FEMA, which will cover nearly 90% of the replacement costs.
In addition, the LSED has begun the process of restructuring
its outstanding bond debt, taking advantage of tax exempt
financing as a result of the 2005 Gulf Opportunity Zone Act.
The restructuring will provide capital for a portion of the
repair and improvement, as well as cash savings to the
annual Superdome operating budget.

The Ellerbe Becket report, completed last month, indicated a
mid-range of $140 million for needed repairs. The report
recommended that certain improvements be considered, since
repair will be taking place in some of these areas anyway.
This would allow the Superdome to take advantage of cost
credits in these areas during repair. Those improvements
could include the expanded scoreboard system, the new Loge
seating, and upgrades to the premium seating areas.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and NFL Commissioner,
Paul Tagliabue, visited New Orleans on January 11, 2006,
where they met with Superdome, state, and local officials to
receive a progress report on the Dome's status. The Saints
and the NFL are preparing for the 2006 regular season to be
played in the Superdome in its entirety.