The Champions Square Thread. Videos/photos/info and updates.

[SmashMouth]

For years, New Orleanians have longed for a place to congregate and party before New Orleans Saints games and other sporting events at the Superdome.

Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune
Champions Square presented by Verizon, New Orleans' new tailgating headquarters that will feature food, retail and entertainment before events, is taking shape and will be ready for Saturday's Saints preseason opener.
That wait has ended.
The state and the Saints have partnered to build a sports and entertainment square outside of the iconic stadium on Poydras Street.
Champions Square presented by Verizon, a 60,000-square-foot (about the same size of Jackson Square) patch of land where the New Orleans Centre used to be, is set to open in time for Saturday night's exhibition home opener against the Houston Texans. The square can comfortably fit more than 8,000 revelers. It is free and accessible even if you don't have tickets to the Saints game.
"This is going to be a festive area much like you see across the country, like in L.A. and baseball stadiums across the country," Superdome Commission Chairman Ron Forman said. "This just adds another place for fans to congregate before and after the game.


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