NOSaints

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Jazzy plan could be a hit with sports fans, teams
Park means fans could finally tailgate
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer
If the Hyatt Jazz District becomes a reality, it could benefit the local sports scene in all kinds of ways.

The proposed $700 million-plus project announced Tuesday could enhance the game experience for football fans at the Superdome while improving the city's chances of attracting big-ticket sports events like the NCAA men's and women's Final Fours, officials said.

While praising the plan for its scope and creativity, officials said its reach probably wouldn't extend to the Super Bowl, which has avoided New Orleans in recent years because of stadium and contract issues between the New Orleans Saints and the state.

One of the highlights to the sweeping project, however, is a 20-acre, multilevel park that would extend to the perimeter of the Superdome and could be used for tailgating, planners said. The plan would convert the top floor of the Superdome parking garage along LaSalle Street into 3.9 acres of green space and connect via foot bridges the stadium area to the renovated Hyatt hotel and local parking lots.

Team officials and football fans long have complained about the Superdome's lack of tailgating space. The stadium is one of the few in the NFL or college that doesn't have a centralized outdoor area suitable for the pregame ritual of grilling food and partying. As a result, fans are forced to hunt for spots along nearby streets and in parking lots but their choices are limited.

In November 2004, the Saints proposed an economic development package of public and private projects that included a 25-acre tailgate park north of the Superdome on vacant land along Poydras Street extending to Broad Street. The plan also included a sports-themed redevelopment of the New Orleans Shopping Centre adjacent to the Superdome that would include a sports-themed restaurant and gift shop.


Ripple effect forecast

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said team officials would like to see more details of the jazz-themed project before commenting on how it would affect their plans.

"We are always happy to see positive economic development in our city," Bensel said. "The Hyatt and surrounding areas have always been positively impacted by the presence of the Saints and VooDoo. Although we have not been involved in the plans or process and do not know all of the details, anything that would enhance the game day experience is good for our fans."

Doug Thornton, the regional vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Superdome, said he has discussed the project with Hyatt-commissioned planners since November and is OK with the initial designs.

"We are excited about the potential synergy this creates between the Hyatt-Superdome area and the other primary tourist destinations in our city, the French Quarter and Convention Center," Thornton said. "We need something to stimulate growth back into this part of town."

The project also could affect the New Orleans Hornets, who have temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Hornets owner George Shinn has insisted that a long-promised practice facility for his team be built adjacent to or near New Orleans Arena. The team has targeted a 1.9-acre parcel of state land next to the facility that now is being used as a parking lot.

The Jazz District plans do not incorporate the practice facility into the project. The existing parking lot is left as is, although on renderings, a proposed extension of the streetcar line would cut through the area.

Shinn was out of town and unavailable for comment, Hornets spokesman Michael Thompson said. But in a statement, Shinn said, "We are very happy to hear about the plan and its great potential for the rebuilding of New Orleans. We look forward to hearing more details on this positive downtown development."

Bill Hines, an attorney who represents the Hornets and is the appointed chairman of the Hyatt New Orleans District Rebirth Advisory Board, said he expects the issue to remain on the back burner until the club formally announces its intentions to return to the city for the 2008 season.

Hines said he planned to call Shinn to inform him of the project on Tuesday.

"He should be juiced about it," Hines said. "This is suddenly a very vibrant corridor that could stimulate future economic growth."

Not a cure-all

As exciting as the project is, though, it likely won't have much affect on the city's chances of landing the biggest sporting event of all: the Super Bowl.

NFL owners consider other factors like the quality of the playing facility, bid package and local weather conditions when they award Super Bowls to cities.

New Orleans has hosted nine Super Bowls, more than any other city. It already is facing its longest drought as a host city since the National Football League began playing the game in 1967. The Crescent City last played host to the game -- Super Bowl XXXVI -- in February 2002. The league has awarded games through 2011.

Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, said the state's ability to reach a long-term agreement with the Saints is the most important factor in landing a Super Bowl. The sides have conducted on-and-off negotiations on a long-term deal for the past several years. The team's existing deal runs through the 2010 season.

"It's great that the city and Hyatt are doing this but it's not going to get us a Super Bowl," Cicero said. "It's not a deciding factor, by any means.

"I'm pretty sure the NFL would look favorably upon asking us to bid (on a future Super Bowl) if they knew the Saints were going to be here beyond 2010," he said.


Sign of renewal

That said, Cicero said the project has a symbolic value that cannot be measured. He said he plans to send clippings of news reports about the proposal to potential clients, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association, this week.

Hines said he plans to do likewise with National Basketball Association executives, who are closely monitoring recovery efforts in New Orleans while trying to determine the Hornets' future home.

"The image piece of this is important for people having doubts about New Orleans," Cicero said. "When they see a company as high-profile and important to the community as the Hyatt not only just renovating the hotel but taking it 10 steps further, it sends out a good signal for us. That private investors are willing to invest in the city is a great sign."

FatiusJeebs

GREAT!!!! Now...if we could just get rid of your mayor.....hmmm.

TalmanGardnerCousin

I can tell you are not from here NAGIN is the best man for the mayor job, you need to shut up and worry about your own city and not ours it will always be a chocolate city black+white=chocolate lmao alot of yall people are racist in the inside its a crying shame

NewMexSaint

it will always be a chocolate city black+white=chocolate lmao alot of yall people are racist in the inside its a crying shame[/quote]


WTF is that all about?

jergensl

just because someone does not like a mayor does not make them racist...so just calm down with calling people racist without any justification

TalmanGardnerCousin

NO im not calming down because if nagin was white you wouldn't hear none of this crap yall talking about he must be doing something right if 20% of the white people voted for him after 5% of the whites voted for him in the primary so yall need to shut up and let the man do his job plain and simple

NewMexSaint

Im not racist, I hate everybody the same

TalmanGardnerCousin

yea whateva you not here so you dont know anything about nagin if it wasent for the hurricane

NewMexSaint

I dont know anything about Nagin, so I dont have anything to say about him, I just know I love my Saints

NOSaints

Read the new book "The Great Deluge". It was written by a Professor at Tulane University who lives in New Orleans and talks about what happened (Pre and Post Katrina) by a person that saw and experienced it first hand. I won't spoil it for you but he takes no prisoner in the book. He tells it like it is. The funny thing is he crucifies everybody that he felt screwed up .... Bianco, Nagin, Bush, Brown. Race should not be and is not an issue. Why must I continue to hear the accusations. Nagin is a loser, he should be traded to the Oakland Raiders where he can join his other loser friend.