September 6, 2005
Superdome may have to be demolished
In a follow up to Robert's post last week about the re-location of the Sugar Bowl and other college football games that take place yearly at the Louisiana Superdome, CNN is now reporting that state officials are now contemplating the possibility that the damage Hurricane Katrina inflicted to the multi-use facility was so substational that they will have no choice but to tear it down.
The Louisiana Superdome was so heavily damaged by last week's Hurricane Katrina that it likely will have to be torn down, according to a spokeswoman for James Lee Witt, the former Federal Emergency Management Agency director now advising Louisiana's governor.Katrina sheared away much of the roof's covering, and rainwater began leaking into the stadium when it was being used as a shelter of last resort for thousands of residents stranded by the storm.
The Superdome is the current home of Tulane Football, as well as the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the State Farm Bayou Classic as well as the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl. Jeff reported last week that Tulane was looking at several options to continue the 2005 season in other cities.
The question remains is if this projection will still be the case when structural engineers are allowed in and the final cost analysis is made on how much fixing it is as opposed to bulldozing it is made. This could very well be the position of someone unqualified to make such a determination. But if true, it would have a profound impact on the college football landscape.
More Info: Louisiana Superdome
Comments:
posted on September 6, 2005 9:41 PM — 12.217.43.245 — link — abuse?Robert Knodell said:
Terrence, this is a college football website. College football is reported on and spoken about here. Nobody is trying to downplay the human tragedy, but this site is a logical and appropriate place for the college football angle to this huge story to be reported on.
Sports go on even in the face of human tragedy. Just ask Tulane, LSU, the Saints, and others. Plans must be made, the related stories and reports will fill the sports pages and websites all over America. This storm has already had a "profound effect" on a number of teams and will also do for bowl games, stadiums, and yes the fabric of college football.
posted on September 6, 2005 9:43 PM — link — abuse?
I didn't read that as a lamentation but then again ,unlike you Terrence, I don't see the problem with discussing issues related to college football on a college football blog.
posted on September 6, 2005 10:14 PM — 12.217.43.245 — link — abuse?
Structural integrity aside, a thought I had a few weeks ago was that perhaps it would be best for the Superdome to meet the wrecking ball.
The reason: the place just became such a symbol for the devastation, destruction, and death from the hurricane that it might became a difficult place for people--especially locals--to go and have a good time at sporting events. Certainly, the people that spent any time there during this disaster (either as refugees, relief workers, or media) would be likely be traumatized at the mere thought of returning to that building.
The Saints are going to continue to pine for a new building and other U.S. cities have abandoned or torn down stadiums in far better structural condition than the Superdome is now. The fundamentals of the New Orleans economy and tourist trade (not to mention Sugar Bowl and Super Bowl traditions) almost demand that a large stadium be in place--be it the Superdome or a new structure--and this might be the time to harness private and perhaps some federal gov't dollars to do it, provided that the Superdome is beyond fixing.
Danny said:
posted on September 6, 2005 10:17 PM — 64.12.116.139 — link — abuse?
Repairable or not, football should never be played in the Superdome ever again...blow it up, make it a Memorial site, a park, whatever. You cannot have games played where people were murdered, raped, and otherwise abandoned by the local gov., the State gov., and los federales.
Steve said:
posted on September 7, 2005 1:26 AM — 66.245.30.81 — link — abuse?
Mark this down... you will never, ever see another football game played at the Superdome. And, sadly I must say, you will probably never see the Saints play in New Orleans again.
Mr. Benson has been trying for a long time to get the State to pony up for a new $400+ million stadium besides the yearly subsidies Louisiana had to borrow every year to pay the team.
Now, with much bigger issues to tackle (housing, schools, roads, basic infrastructure, a more modern levee system) New Orleans and Louisiana have much bigger priorities to pay attention to than a new football stadium. And I doubt the Feds will let any of it's billions be diverted to construct a stadium.
With no facility for the Saints to play in, and no money for the yearly stipends, technically the City and State are in default and the Saints are free to move anywhere they want. Most likely, to Los Angeles as it's the most lucrative market that no one else can touch. Benson would beat other teams to the punch by getting to LA first.
Perhaps a deal could be worked out (a la the Browns to Baltimore) where the franchise moves, but the Saints name and history are retained in New Orleans for a possible future expansion team. But at 32 teams now, a 33rd is an odd number to schedule. And, the business model for an NFL franchise (local ownership, heavyweight business community, city and state financial commitments) may no longer be found in New Orleans.
Shem said:
posted on September 7, 2005 1:33 AM — 202.246.44.125 — link — abuse?
I think that its probably too early to really determine if it would cost more to fix the building than it would be worth, however, I think there are several other issues to consider on the matter. First of all, I think the comments about people not wanting to return to that building carry some validity. Furthermore, in reality New Orleans was already a small and struggling sports market with both the Saints and the Hornets having financial issues. Now that New Orleans is going to have to be completely renevated and rebuilt and with the prospect that a large percentage of the city's 500,000 population likely to choose not to return to live in the city; perhaps its best if the Saints move on to another place like Los Angeles. I don't think the Hornets will be far behind in relocation either (think Vegas). Ok, maybe its too early for Vegas but New Orleans was already shaping up to be an NBA flop for the second time before this tragedy hit.
Alex Nunez said:
posted on September 7, 2005 8:51 AM — 64.252.138.166 — link — abuse?
I happen to agree with Robert K's take. I blogged earlier yesterday that I would like to see the Superdome demolished because it is now a symbol of the worst week New Orleans has ever seen, especially for the people that were stuck in the dome throughout the ordeal. yeah, it was fantasy, but I still thought it's a good idea. I would have thought that if that happened, the Saints would want to pony up to help build the replacemnt.
I wasn't wawre of Benson's threats to move the team long before the hurricane. That certainly complicates matters.
As for Tulane (trying to stay topical, since this is a college football blog) I read this morning that they're playing at La. tech this season.
Ben Pher said:
posted on September 7, 2005 5:33 PM — 69.73.42.221 — link — abuse?
Although this is a college football site, I thought it was worth mentioning that ather the Oilers moved to Tennessee, the NFL decided that from then on if a francise moves the name remains with the city. If the Saints move to LA, or any other city, they will need to have a new name (or the NFL will have to change its rules).
If the Saints play football again after this year, it will have to be in New Orleans. They just might not be the francise that is their now.
Henry said:
posted on September 9, 2005 1:32 PM — 143.158.254.227 — link — abuse?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I would be more than willing to purchase at auction a piece of the Superdome... Sounds like a great way to raise funds for the construction of a new facility. Morbid as it sounds, I'm sure there are a lot of folks (not just sports fans) who feel the same, simply because of the connection to Katrina.
Jim J. Terrell said:
posted on September 9, 2005 6:59 PM — 206.255.187.249 — link — abuse?
I am trying to make efforts to keep the Louisiana Superdome from being torn down, but you will only tear down its roof because it is irrepairable and will be replaced. Do you realize that it will take over $1.5 BILLION TO DESTROY THE SUPERDOME?! IT'S NOT REPLACEABLE!!
The Louisiana Superdome is, or was, a historical landmark. It was built in 1975, for the sake of a domed stadium.
I am going to come up with a plan to reconstruct the Superdome, and that does not include tearing down the sports arena.
Do not despair, Louisiana Superdome. You're not going to be late!
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Jeff Quinton said:
posted on September 6, 2005 9:04 PM — link — abuse?I heard last night there were too many unknowns right now to be sure but that they may even need something that served as a better storm shelter than the Superdome. It was already due for a renovation with the Saints possibly leaving if they didn't get one before Katrina.
The clean-up job from just the water and human waste will probably be a big job, let alone the roof and structural issues and any electrical or plumbing issues.