New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

If you're keeping track of the NFL relocation game in California, the Rams and Chargers are now in Los Angeles and the Raiders hope to be in Las Vegas one day soon.

Depending on your point of view, the comings and goings represent the best or worst of NFL business policy. Either way, it's created the largest disruption in league membership since a two-year period in the 1990s when the Rams, Raiders and Oilers moved to St. Louis, Oakland and Nashville (by way of Memphis), respectively.

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New stadiums have been the catalyst for each move. In the NFL, new stadiums are like franchise quarterbacks: You either have one or you're desperately trying to get one.

The scoreboard in the recent game of franchise roulette reads: New stadiums 3, old markets 0.

Which brings us to the Superdome, our venerable stadium of 42 years, the iconic fortress of concrete and steel that has become an integral part of New Orleans skyline and history.

It's time for us to start thinking about the stadium's future.

After all, when the Rams, Chargers and Raiders move into their new facilities in a few years, it will leave the Superdome as the fifth-oldest stadium in the NFL. Only Soldier Field (1924), Lambeau Field (1957), Arrowhead Stadium (1972) and New Era Field (1973) are older.

Nothing needs to be done right now. Heaven knows the cash-strapped state has more pressing matters on its hands than professional sports. But it's time we start thinking about a long-term plan. And by "we" I mean all of us: state officials; city leaders; the Saints; and you and me, the taxpayers.

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Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Not happening for a long time. Maybe 10 years from now. They are talking about installing parts of the exterior roof and walls with ETFE glass to bring natural light into the stadium. That would be awesome. Make it the shape of the logo and style of stain glass.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

The idea of new stadiums is a complete joke, especially when it involves tax payers money. There is nothing wrong with having an outdoor open air stadium, or even cost effective dome stadiums, that can seat around 60k, share that with other teams in the area of all sports, and call it a day. If built correctly should last at least 50 years. This business of each major league sport having their own stadium, and replacing it every 20 or so years is just ridiculous.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Agreed but it's the "stuff dreams are made of" for NFL Team Owners. To them it's "Ask and ye shall receive" tell them No! Another city will build one! Ask LA and then ask St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland! Only GB is safe! NFL owners are for sale to the highest bidder. Empty stadiums are a ruse. The Rams moved and will play in a 30,000 seat stadium for two years!

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Exactly. A Superdome renovation is inevitable. But, I'd rather hear them talking about this than talking about a new stadium.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

No way out of it. The day is coming where the state will have to build a new stadium for the saints. It is the NFL way of doing business, we will be held hostage one day soon

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Another Superbowl will never be played in New Orleans without a new stadium. Hopefully a new dome with a movable roof. If Mercedes Benz wants the naming rights they can foot most of the bill.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Of course another Super Bowl will be played in the Superdome. There is nothing wrong with the Dome. It was totally gutted following Katrina down to its framework. Everything in it is no older than ten years old. The inside is unrecognizable from pre-Katrina days. Every off-season for the past several years has been spent adding more upgrades from Wi-Fi to huge state-of-the-art video boards to additional seating.

But, the thing that guarantees New Orleans remains in the SB rotation is the infrastructure. New Orleans far exceeds the requirements to host the SB with the numbers of hotel rooms and restaurants within easy access. These requirements prohibit half the NFL cities from ever qualifying. Entertainment and climate are the other factors why the SB will keep returning to the city. And most importantly, the corporate sponsors love New Orleans. It is always included as one of the two or three favorite locations named on every list.

Yes, building new stadiums will get some cities a single SB visit, but there is a limited number of locations that will always be hosts and New Orleans is one of those.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Bullshinski.

And you can google and find loads of articles, like the one below, that would make New Orleans the permanent host city...

9 reasons New Orleans is the only city that should host the Super Bowl | For The Win

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

When 2022 SB bids come around, NOLA will earn the bid & host another SB.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Disagree. They could play it at Tulane and still get consideration. There are few cities that offer what NO has.
These other cities must build to even have a shot.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Where else can you fly in, then walk everywhere else including the actual venue itself? Not many other places have that. Then you add world class cuisine (again ALL within walking distance or short cab) and add an everything-goes attitude around it? Hard not to vote for Nola every year.

Of course, I didn't think the Beyonce/power outage helped us much. Hope I'm wrong but that wasn't a good look at all.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Give credit where credit is due > Entergy Power Outage

They didn't have the capacitors to handle Beyonce'...

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Didnt we just do a damn renovation? There's nothing wrong with the Superdome. I dont even need that silly giant screen. I dont go to football for ameneties. I go to football for football. I'd rather sit on a metal bench in Lambeau than a cushioned luxury seat in Jerry World.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Hate to say it, but the Superdome will never host another Super Bowl, after the Great Beyonce Blackout. There has never been a more embarassing black eye to happen to a city/stadium in all the history of pro sports, period, end of story. Sorry, another Super Bowl is just not going to happen until/unless they get a new stadium built. I was laughing pretty hard at the time, but there will always be a question in the public's minds, as to whether the blackout influenced the momentum of the game.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Wouldn't surprise me if you were right about this...

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Then again I never thought places like Mile High, Seattle King Dome, Texas Stadium, Three Rivers or the historic Miami Orange bowl would ever be torn down :( .

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Well, you are wrong about this. New Orleans has submitted SB bids since that partially blackout and have been told to keep submitting bids. Now what you are obviously unaware of, cities have to be INVITED by the league to submit bids. The league has to be fully in favor of a city hosting the SB before they hand out the invitations. Goodell even personally told Benson we'd get another SB soon and to keep trying after the selections last May.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

They were torn down because they were totally outdated. The Superdome is one of the most up-to-date sites in the league.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Yep. Gut it. The dome is too iconic to replace but it needs to be scrapped from the inside out. Leave the outside like it is except add retractable roof.
Gut the entire inside. In addition to seats put restaurants and food areas that serve REAL food. Yea you can put a place to get nachos and chili dogs down in the basement but there needs to be real food. It's too important to our culture. Add more bathrooms along with additional single stall toilets. Big screens everywhere so you can sit down and take a crap and not miss a minute of the game (they exist I did this myself at Bank Of America Stadium once.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Dude. Where have you been and have you read anything in this thread? The Dome WAS totally gutted and rebuilt recently. The bathroom facilities were greatly enhanced. Far, far more and more efficient. They totally cleared out all walls between the concession areas and the playing field so you can now go to get real creole and Cajun restaurant food, as well as other food and drinks, without losing site of the game. It is one of the newest, most modern stadiums in the league today as far as its amenities go.

And thousands of additional seats were added bringing the crowd far closer to the action. When was the last game you attended?

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

When it comes to other NFL stadiums I have only visited Soldier Field and Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) and the Superdome is miles better than those two dumps.
But all three of those stadiums have something newly built stadiums don't; History and soul.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Have to disagree with you on this. Most embarrassing thing to happen is when your stadium is named after an energy company (Reliant Energy) and the power goes out. This happened in Houston a few years ago.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

I much prefer the Dome over NRG here in Houston. In the Dome you can walk in any gate and get to your seats. NRG you have to go in a specific gate just to get to your seats which might not sound like much but try doing that when it's raining. Pain in the azz.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

HAHAHAHA...

I Hate Reliant, or NRG, Or whatever its called.
There was nothing wrong with the Astrodome.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

The Superdome represents the New Orleans culture beautifully and is well known as a local land mark. We don't need a new stadium. We don't even need a renovation now. We just had a makeover recently.

Re: New Orleans doesn't need a new stadium, but it needs to start planning another Superdome renovation
 

Gut and fix it up. You Can't replace the dome.