Here is an 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.