Your own Dome Improvements
 

If a new stadium can not be built, what would you do to improve the Superdome?

I'd do the following...

1. New rug. Ask Deuce which he prefers and go with that come hell or high water.
2. Add more luxury suites. Total capacity may shrink some but it would still be adequate considering market size. 55,000 seats would still work fine and keep the fat cats happy.
3. Ban all politicians from any decision making. Hire one of the best firms available for this project and LEAVE THEM ALONE. :mad:

The 3rd is probably the most important but about as likely as monkeys flying out my azz.

I haven't been to the Dome in a few years. Is it really falling apart now? Is it really obsolete? Or is all the hype just a ploy to get a new stadium built?

I think I may already know the answer even over here in South Alabama.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

The same year all the complaining about the dome began, the Super Bowl came to town and there were no complaints there. Sure the dome could use some upgrades and I understand some of the siteline argument, but all this could be addressed with a refittting and good renovation. Most of Benson\'s arguments about the dome are a smoke screen for an exclusive rights ownership of a new facility wich would add millions to the Saints value and profitability. Unfortunately Mr. Benson has ample precedent for such deals and may get one yet, either here or somewhere else if the state continues to have a trouble with its\' scheduled payments to the team.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Well said. I love the dome for sentimental reasons, but I\'m not opposed to a new facility near Sliddell either. It\'ll cut out about 45 minutes of drive time for me.

I truly think the main problem to be addressed is the New Orleans economy. If it keeps dwindling, sell-outs will become rare and the wolf will be at the door (San Antonio and LA). But I know nothing of New Orleans or Louisiana politics so I don\'t know if its getting better or worse there.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

They were talking about moving to Mississippi near the Louisiana line. I\'m all for that. Biloxi Saints????????

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Being from Ms I remember a few years ago all of the talk then that had the Saints moving to the Slidell/Ms line area and adding in a Nascar racetrack as well. Nothing came out of it ofcourse. But in my recent visits to the Dome (last year) it didn\'t seem to be in terrible shape. Yea things could be spruced up and some renovations done but do we really \"need\" a new dome? NO. I, like most, would absolutely hate to see the team move anywhere (even Ms.) but Benson sees what Jerry Jones gets from Dallas with the Cowboys and Benson wants it like that. Many luxury suites, perks, commissions, concessions sales, etc. It all adds up to more money for the owner. I have no problem with Benson making more money but it\'s what he does with it that makes the real difference. Pocket some and put some back into the team and community. I\'ll still buy tickets no matter if they remain in the old dome or build a new stadium.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

A: So are you are in favor of a new stadium or major renovations? I think all of us agree one of these options is absolutely necessary. My post was concerning what you guys would do if you were the HMFWIC.

B: Attached yes, married to no. I love the dome but won\'t lose any sleep at all if its replaced by a state of the art facility. That would also almost guarantee the Saints would stay in LA for quite a while. I live in Mobile now :( and can\'t get to as many games with 2 small children, but I hope to bring my 6 yr old son Neil to his 1st Saints game this year.
I\'ll just be sure to shelter him from all the overly hostile/rude LSU types there. :D (relax guys, JK) I\'m thinking TB or Atlanta.

C: Nail on the head thing again.
NOBODY PUTS ON A SUPERBOWL LIKE THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS!!! Period.
But the NFL may start NOT giving New Orleans superbowls if we refuse to upgrade or rebuild our stadium.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

I am a big fan of grass fields ,but they built our team for speed, so for the short term it is more of an advantage to play on turf.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Gator you are proving to me more and more you don\'t know what the hell your talking about. If you think that playing surfaces don\'t effect players differently you need to watch some track and field. Some sprinters run faster indoor than outdoors. You need to get it together....

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Gator, you really make me work hard. The above statement you made is entirely false, false, false. Some players can maintain their speed on grass but many players are slowed down considerablly on grass.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Gator,

I knew about some players not being able to maintain their speed on grass 15-years ago. Just like I know pads slow some players down more than others. (But you knew that already, right?) Football players are built differently, it\'s kind of like you telling me that all players run the same speed in mud.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

I think if the truth be known the difference in the two types of fields you both are mentioning is not stop and go speed but more the ability to move side to side or making quick moves and cuts. The old style turf makes it hard to get used to for running backs and recievers to make their cuts. It works the same on defense.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

First you said that it effects some players more than others, then you say everyone speed is slowed because of a surface then there is no advantage. Which one is it? You can\'t have it both ways. Let\'s take your statement about it effects some players more than others. If mud slows down a cornerback more than a receiver, wouldn\'t that be an advantage to the receiver? As far as turf vs. grass, your talking about 1/10 of seconds here, and I\'m telling you that some players are slowed more than others when running on grass. And if you look at my example of corners vs. receivers , surely you can see the advantage.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

I think what Gatorman is saying is that if your team ranks 3rd in average stopwatch speed in the league, they will be 3rd regardless what surface we put on the ground. Will have carpeted concrete make us second, or moving to grass make us fourth? Not likely. If we\'re faster than the Bucs (for instance-since we\'ve had them hung on the pole lately) then we\'re faster no matter where we play them. Grass is better for the longevity of a player\'s career, but it is a non-factor when grading team speed.
Billy\'s right when he says a sprinter will run a better clock indoors than out, but there aren\'t too many games played when one team is on grass and the other isn\'t. Either we\'re faster or we aren\'t, it doesn\'t matter where. Just because we play more games on artificial than our opponent might doesn\'t means we\'ll be more accustomed to running on it when we play. It\'s ground dammit. I think some of these players have learned how to run on a flat surface without it being too signifigant in their game.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

The soon to be new stadium in LA, CA looks good to Benson. If I owned the team I would move the team, especially with ignorant threads (and fans) like this. Who the f#$^ cares!

Your own Dome Improvements
 

Hey roturn, why don\'t you get a head start and get over there then. Make sure to leave your Saints jersey in New Orleans so we don\'t have to see a Rams fan wearing one anymore.

If you want the team moved.....you\'re no Saints fan. Go hold Al Davis\'s shaved cat for him.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

lummOx,

What I was trying to tell Gatorman and now you, is that different playing surfaces slow some individual players down more than others. I never said anything about over all team speed. The saints are built for speed and I think it is to their advantage to play on turf.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

For one thing I can\'t see it being a signifigant amount to affect their level of play. A good player is good anywhere. The only speed I care about is playing speed on the field. If a player can run a 4.4 40 indoors, and looks lightning without pads, if he looks like slow-poke Rodriguez on the field then he can sell hot dogs in the stands. I want football players not track stars.
If we are on average 6% faster on turf than the Bucs, would we not be 6% faster on grass than the Bucs? If for example, Stallworth is 8% faster on turf than Rhonde Barber but only 6% faster than him on grass, meaning Stallworth slows a hair on grass and Barber maintains, is that reason to keep turf? Both teams have to play on the same field regardless of what it is. How is it our advantage just because we have faster runners? Do you have any data on our players and adversely our opponents on the 40 times in pads on both surfaces?
I will totally agree that an individual will run faster or slower on a different surface. Some more than others. I will use a quick hockey analogy here. Dallas is reputed to have one of the worst ice surfaces in the NHL. Edmonton is reputed to have one of the best. You would agree that Modano may skate faster on the Edmonton ice surface. You will agree that some players wil be affected more by the ice surface than others. Some may skate equally as fast on either. But if two teams play on bad ice, or two teams play on good ice, unless you have data that displays that one team has more players that are positively influenced by one surface, I call it a wash. I will always presume that bad ice will adversely affect each team and good ice will enhance each team in an insignifigant amount. Just because one team may have overall faster skaters, they will on average, only skate faster on good ice in the same ratio as the slower team will skate faster.

It matters for an individual. I\'m not arguing that. Are we better suited just because we\'re faster overall. The opponent will be faster in the similar ratio. That makes it a non-factor. I\'d play on grass every time regardless of how fast I am, and most players will say the same.

Your own Dome Improvements
 

You make some very good points. Since we pratice and play on turf, we are use to it as opposed to grass. So when we play on grass I think it will affect our overall team speed when compared to teams that pratice and play on grass. Don\'t know a lot about hockey, but I bet the team that has the bad ice, if they practice on it everyday, has an advantage????

Your own Dome Improvements
 

You know I see your point as well and since football is a game of inches then maybe it matters more than I concede, but I think this is a question not of inches but the thickness of a grass blade.