Superdome's post-Katrina rebuild brings pride to New Orleans

Crusader · 06-30-2011, 04:27 AM

NEW ORLEANS -- When the manager of the Louisiana Superdome surveys the stadium's latest and most extensive renovation project, he finds himself thinking more about his city's hopeful future than its troubled recent past.

A six-year, $336 million, multiphase transformation of one of America's best-known sporting venues is nearly complete -- enough so that spectators will get to see the latest changes in person when the dome reopens this weekend, for the first time since last football season, to host the Essence music festival.

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"It doesn't look like the same building it did in 2005, that's for sure," said Doug Thornton, vice president of SMG, the company that manages the state-owned stadium.

During a recent stroll through a new, field-level bowl that now have most of its 24,500 seats in place, Thornton reflected on how much the Superdome had changed since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005.

The storm tore open the roof and flooded surrounding streets, allowing mold to fester while tens of thousands of evacuees who had taken shelter in the stadium stewed in summer heat without air conditioning nor working bathrooms. Most evacuees milled around field-level stands, which have been deconstructed, removed and rebuilt atop a new steel support system as part of $50 million in work performed during the last five months.

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NFL.com news: Superdome's post-Katrina rebuild brings pride to New Orleans

Marlboro Man · 07-05-2011, 12:08 AM

Who's got new pics? I'm looking for some for the wrap for our company wrap vehicle.

06-30-2011, 04:27 AM	#1
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Superdome's post-Katrina rebuild brings pride to New Orleans NEW ORLEANS -- When the manager of the Louisiana Superdome surveys the stadium's latest and most extensive renovation project, he finds himself thinking more about his city's hopeful future than its troubled recent past. A six-year, $336 million, multiphase transformation of one of America's best-known sporting venues is nearly complete -- enough so that spectators will get to see the latest changes in person when the dome reopens this weekend, for the first time since last football season, to host the Essence music festival. Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai "It doesn't look like the same building it did in 2005, that's for sure," said Doug Thornton, vice president of SMG, the company that manages the state-owned stadium. During a recent stroll through a new, field-level bowl that now have most of its 24,500 seats in place, Thornton reflected on how much the Superdome had changed since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005. The storm tore open the roof and flooded surrounding streets, allowing mold to fester while tens of thousands of evacuees who had taken shelter in the stadium stewed in summer heat without air conditioning nor working bathrooms. Most evacuees milled around field-level stands, which have been deconstructed, removed and rebuilt atop a new steel support system as part of $50 million in work performed during the last five months. Read the rest: NFL.com news: Superdome's post-Katrina rebuild brings pride to New Orleans Ashley likes this.
	W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

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07-05-2011, 12:08 AM	#2
Marlboro Man 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,469	Who's got new pics? I'm looking for some for the wrap for our company wrap vehicle.