Tag: Superdome

Jan 14, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General overall view of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome exterior, the site of the 2020 CFP National Championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fire breaks out on roof of Superdome

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze on the roof of the Superdome on Tuesday afternoon.

Flames and black smoke were seen billowing from the arena that is home to the NFL’s Saints.

A stadium official told The Times-Picayune that the fire “is under control” and that it was accidentally ignited by workers who were pressure washing the building.

There was no immediate word on whether this will affect the Saints’ plans to return to the Superdome to face the New York Giants on Oct. 3.

The team has been displaced since Aug. 29, when Hurricane Ida slammed into the New Orleans area as a Category 4 storm. They’ve taken shelter at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, and played their season-opening “home” game — a 38-3 win against the Green Bay Panthers — in Jacksonville, Fla.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks on during the second half against Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Post-Ida, Saints look to return to Superdome for Week 4

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints could return home to play in the Superdome in Week 4 under a plan detailed Friday by coach Sean Payton.

The Saints have been displaced since Aug. 29, when Hurricane Ida slammed into the New Orleans area as a Category 4 storm. They’ve taken shelter at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, and played their season-opening “home” game — a 38-3 win against the Green Bay Panthers — in Jacksonville, Fla. The team left town, in part, in the best interest of public safety.

The Saints play the Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday and will return to TCU to practice there. On Sept. 26, they will meet the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass.

Payton said he anticipates the Saints will return home to New Orleans after the Week 3 contest to prepare to host the New York Giants on Oct. 3.

–Field Level Media

Saints fans cheering during the NFC Championship playoff football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019.

Report: Saints fans will need vax or negative test to enter Superdome

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The mayor of New Orleans is preparing to announce that proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test will be required to enter indoor venues in the city — including the Caesars Superdome for Saints games.

NOLA.com reported that Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s mandate could come as soon as Thursday afternoon.

With coronavirus vaccines now widespread across the U.S. and Canada and the delta variant beginning to spread, some professional sports teams are resorting to updated pandemic-era rules.

The NHL’s Winnipeg Jets said Wednesday that all fans who wish to attend games will need to provide proof of vaccination.

Both the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles announced that fans will be required to wear masks to access the indoor portions of their respective stadiums this season.

The Saints are scheduled for two home games during the preseason, Aug. 23 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Aug. 28 against the Arizona Cardinals. They open the regular season Sept. 12 at home against the Green Bay Packers.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General overall view of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome exterior, the site of the 2020 CFP National Championship game between the Clemson Tigers and the LSU Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Caesars moves closer to naming rights for Superdome

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The Superdome in New Orleans is on the verge of having a new name.

The Louisiana legislature’s joint budget committee on Thursday approved a 20-year deal to rename the domed stadium the Caesars Superdome.

The approval is one of the final steps needed before the naming-rights deal can become official.

The Advocate in New Orleans reported the deal with gaming and hospitality company Caesars Entertainment is worth approximately $138 million and that the New Orleans Saints will receive all the proceeds.

The stadium, which opened in 1975, cost $134 million in public funds to build. Now the fifth-oldest NFL stadium, it is in need of renovations, and The Advocate reported the Saints have pledged to put the proceeds toward that.

The Superdome didn’t have a name sponsor until 2011, when Mercedes-Benz entered a 10-year agreement worth between $50 million and $60 million. The automaker chose not to renew the contract, which expired July 15.

Crews immediately went to work to remove the Mercedes-Benz signage.

The Superdome has hosted the Super Bowl seven times, and the game will return to New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025, for Super Bowl LIX.

With more states legalizing sports betting and leagues and teams partnering with gambling organizations, rules are relaxing about the marriage of the two sides.

Hard Rock, which also owns casinos, holds the naming rights to the Miami Dolphins’ home stadium, but under terms of the 2016 deal was not allowed to have gambling references in the stadium.

The Arizona Coyotes of the NHL play their home games at Gila River Arena, which has connections to a casino. The Connecticut Sun call home the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton stands during the National Anthem with team owner Gayle Benson (middle left) and team president Dennis Lauscha (middle right) before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints expect 100-percent capacity in Superdome this season

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New Orleans Saints president Dennis Lauscha said Sunday that he believes every seat will be filled for every home game in the 73,000-seat Superdome in 2021.

“I 100 percent expect full attendance, and everyone rockin’ and rollin’ and cheering our team on to victory. Absolutely,” Lauscha told the team website, noting the importance of vaccinations in the Q-and-A interview, published on the nine-year anniversary of him being named president of the organization.

“Obviously, it’s really important,” Lauscha said regarding getting fans vaccinated. “We’ve got to get these vaccinations to get to herd immunity, at least community immunity, or get us to a comfortable place. As much as we can do to encourage vaccinations, we’ll continue to do it. It’s one of our No. 1 priorities.”

The Saints kick off their 17-game regular-season schedule against the Green Bay Packers at home on Sept. 12. Their preseason home opener is set for Monday, Aug. 23, vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Saints had 6,000 fans in attendance for two games during the pandemic-altered 2020 season, but mostly hovered around the 3,000 mark for home games last year. That included their divisional playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which had 3,750 fans.

No fans were in attendance for last year’s season opener against the Bucs, while the next two vs. the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Chargers had 750 people on hand.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; A general view of the New Orleans Saints logo prior to kickoff against the Green Bay Packers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Caesars, Saints close to deal on Superdome naming rights

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Caesars is betting big on New Orleans and the NFL.

The gambling heavyweight is expected to ink a deal with the New Orleans Saints for the naming rights to their home stadium, the Superdome, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

According to The Athletic, the agreement will be worth $200 million over 20 years, with the Saints being paid $10 million annually. The Sports Business Journal later reported that the anticipated contract would pay the Saints nearly $11 million annually.

No official name has been selected yet, according to reports.

The stadium, which has been the home of the Saints since 1975, currently has a rights deal with Mercedes-Benz that is set to expire in July. Mercedes-Benz is also three years into a 27-year, $324 million naming-rights deal for the home stadium of the Saints’ NFC South rival, the Atlanta Falcons.

The Superdome is in the midst of a $450 million renovation that began in January.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome reflected in a downtown New Orleans building before the game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints to allow fans at home games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After talk of finding a new city for their home games to have fans in attendance this season, the New Orleans Saints can stay put at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and gradually build up their spectator counts.

Thanks to an agreement between the team and New Orleans’ mayor, LaToya Cantrell, doors will open to 3,000 fans on Sunday when the Saints host the Carolina Panthers.

Assuming that coronavirus numbers in New Orleans remain stable, Superdome attendance can rise to 6,000 for games in November and 15,000 in December.

The city boasts one of the lowest rates of positive COVID-19 tests in the country, about 1 percent, according to New Orleans television station WWL’s website.

Calling it a “pilot exercise,” Cantrell said the agreement with the Saints is “consistent with the city’s Phase 3 re-opening.”

“The way forward towards additional expansion depends on the current trends remaining stable. An outbreak or a sudden increase in community spread would be reason to pause,” she added.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said that in addition to protocols and safety measures at the Superdome, the city “will also be strictly enforcing crowd gatherings throughout the Central Business District and French Quarter on game days to ensure all city regulations are being observed.”

In previous home games, the Saints were limited to 750 team staff and players’ family members.

The Saints are the 19th NFL franchise to have at least some spectators from the public at their home games, according to ESPN.

New Orleans (3-2) is in second place in the NFC South, one-half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) and one-half game ahead of the Panthers (3-3).

–Field Level Media