Repairs to Superdome Appear on Schedule

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue toured the hurricane-damaged Superdome on Tuesday with New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and was encouraged with the progress that has been made.

Although repairs are ongoing, Tagliabue was impressed. He had said during earlier visits he had concerns about how long it would take to get the facility reopened for the Saints’ Sept. 25 home opener against Atlanta.

“I think there are some terrific features in the renovation,” he said, describing an overhaul of the Superdome’s concession areas and luxury suites. “There’s a feeling of openness, freshness.”

Blanco described the transformation as “nothing short of a miracle” and a symbol not only of tragedy but rebirth.

Tagliabue and Benson said one of the biggest needs now is corporate support.

“We’re working hard with the business community,” Tagliabue said. “It’s a great opportunity for large businesses.”

More than 18,000 of the city’s residents sweltered in the Superdome for days after Hurricane Katrina.

The facility’s 9.7-acre roof had to be replaced and 4,000 tons of trash and debris removed, along with 1.6 million square feet of carpeting, 650,000 square feet of wall board and 500,000 square feet of ceiling tiles. The Saints are beginning the sixth year of a 10-year lease agreement with the state that expires after the 2010 season.

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