[CNN.com] Lousiana officials state that Superdome to be torn down

Certainly not something they need right now, but could be blessing in disguise. Lure of new stadium, which undoubtedly would be very high tech, could keep the Saints in NO. Of course, I'm sure they'd like to appropriate money to more important matters, though.

 

I'm not surprised. A lot easier than trying to clean up and renovate at this point.

 

Wow. That's pretty big news but not a complete suprise considering that most of NO will be bulldozed to the ground.

 

No surprise. I heard of the mess of feces, urine, and overall trash in that place right now. Plus it is heavily damaged, and old.

 

New Orleans actually makes more money off the Sugar Bowl, the Super Bowl, and the Final Fours that are held at that stadium every year for the former, and at least once every decade for the latters.

I know pro sports are the last thing on everybody's mind, but a domed stadium was key to a lot of the $$$ being pumped into their economy with those events.

 

Link?

 

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- Many residents are refusing to leave New Orleans despite a mandatory evacuation and warnings from government officials that staying in the flooded city represents a health risk.

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 home of the New Orleans Saints professional football team. The NFL season begins this weekend, and it is not clear where the Saints will play this season.

 

The Super8dome was cool....uhmmmm... not so cool... while it lasted.

 

From what I've heard, nobody that had to spend a couple of days in that place with no power or water ever wants to see it again, anyway. I think the term "hellhole" has been most often used to describe that pleasant little experience.

 

They better build something back so Houstonians will have a place to stay when The Big One hits here.

 

I wonder if Houston will become a ghost town after this, or if the same mentality will exist when the next hurri comes.

 

They should invest 400 million + dollars into it and create an indoor river walk...

 

Its worse then that....the inards, all the service tunnels, locker rooms, maintenance rooms, elevators and shafts.....all flooded. The plumbing systeam is shot. There were reports that the few suites the dome has were raided...not sure if that were true.

However despite all of this......tearing the Superdome down is simply overracting.

Old Tiger Stadium is in a state that neads to be torn down, but not the Superdome. These problems can be fixed for much less then it would cost to demolish the Superdome and build a new stadium on its land. This isnt the first time flooding has happened in a venue, Compaq Center flooded for TS Allison if I'm not mistaken. Sure it didnt house thousands of refugees for days.

But in the same thought, I'm sure the damage the refugees casued wasnt bad enough to undermine the sturctural integrity of the Superdome itself.

So therfore I'm not buying this garbage excuse to demolish the dome.

Somewhere along the line, these reports of the Dome's possible demise has something to do with the Saints and there next move. Have the Saints alerted Louisiana that theyre history and will move to SA or LA, thus causing state officials to contemplate tearing down the dome, which would then have no tenant and tons of debt after a post Katrina renovation is complete? That makes much more sense as a viable reason to tear down the Dome then the damages caused by the refugees or the flood.

Look for more rumors of the Saints packin up to follow this for sure.

 

Goodbye Sugar Bowl.

I'm guessing it would relocate to Atlanta or Houston.

 

That's waterfront property now...what are they thinking

 

I'm sorry for NO's loss, but Reliant Park needs to do anything (and I mean anything) to get the Sugar Bowl to Houston. Sugar Bowl won't go to Atlanta cause they have the Peach Bowl. We have no bowl game (Gallery Furniture EV1 Bowl doesn't count).

 

SMG/Reliant Park officials wont have to do much.....Reliant Stadium is by far the best available venue. In fact, its a beter host stadium then any stadium that hosts a bowl (BCS Bowls included) game period. That alone will probably be enough to lure the Sugar Bowl here, with a BCS Bowl spot in hand.

But even better, Reliant Stadium happens to be in a market that does not have a big time bowl game but does have a big time copporate base and passion for the game of football itself. And if that still isnt enough, need I forget to mention all the convention space available that surrounds it, not to mention a possible 1,000 room hotel and entertainment center in the Dome next door.

Face it....if the game has to be moved, Sugar Bowl officials cant possibly say "No" to Houston. So if the game moves....look for Houston to be the next stop.

 

How many domes made around the time the Astrodome ( as in the 70s and 80s ) are still left?