Report: 4,300 Seats Eliminated in Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Saints Season-Ticket Holders Affected (3 Viewers)

[SaintsFan11]

Can we please get a synopsis of what the changes are going to be that require the elimination of 4,300 seats? Why write this article without getting that information?

I get the field level boxes, but that's only a fraction of 4,300. We've also heard elsewhere about "structural supports," but no details (and it's hard to imagine what that would look like).

 

[DaveXA]

Since it's nearly impossible to build over the old site, and the Saints wouldn't have a place to play for at least a full season, building over the current site is pretty much not going to happen.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Build a new stadium?

Where you gonna’ put it, and who is going to fund it?

 

[neworleanshoo]

Since there’s not much else to talk about
The only ‘new stadium’ thing I heard that made sense was the idea of building it on the former Lafitte PJs (now ‘Providence’)
it would have kept it in the city, nearFQ, close to highway system
Since that didn’t happen, I’m good with continuing to improve the Dome

Providence is just the developer - it's called Faubourg Lafitte. Regardless, there was zero chance of that ever happening. As someone intimately involved in that project, I can assure you... it was hard enough as it is. The idea that the City Council ever would've approved the demolition and sale of storm-damaged public housing - to make way for a football stadium - is an utter fantasy. (great location though!)

IMHO, the one and only spot for the inevitable new stadium is right where it is. But that battle is 15 to 20 years away tops (thank goodness).

 

[neworleanshoo]

Since it's nearly impossible to build over the old site, and the Saints wouldn't have a place to play for at least a full season, building over the current site is pretty much not going to happen.

It's possible and I think it's the most likely scenario (and the one that makes the most sense). But not for 20 or so years.

 

[Quiet Storm]

Reading the other thread on season tickets holders being notified their seats will be gone, think it was said there that they'll get first dibs on new seats before others get to choose theirs.

I mean it's terrible for the people that are losing theirs but I've been to 2 Saints games in my life and I always sit lower level anyway.

 

[JPSaints87]

Have they figure out a new name for the Superdome yet? If Im not mistaken, I believe we ended our relationship w/ Mercedes Benz, at the end of the 2020 season, am I correct?

 

[Saint Greg]

Have they figure out a new name for the Superdome yet? If Im not mistaken, I believe we ended our relationship w/ Mercedes Benz, at the end of the 2020 season, am I correct?

They hired a company to handle it. It hasnt been handled yet.

 

[DerrickB]

Gayle could fund it herself if she wants too.

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

I would love for someone one day to explain (1) how the difference between the benefits of a new stadium and those of the Superdome would justify the new stadium cost of, say, two billion dollars; and (2) where the financing for a new stadium will come from.

 

[Cajun Chat]

Report: 4,300 Seats Eliminated in Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Saints Season-Ticket Holders Affected
Renovations and the new "fan experience" will cut down on the number of seats inside of the Superdome.

Report: 4,300 Seats Eliminated in Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Saints Season Ticket Holders Affected

4,300 seats inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome have been eliminated because of the new renovations to give a better fan experience.

www.si.com

I got the call yesterday. Disheartening. They couldn't promise me a seat only to say they are working on it. These are family tickets that I waited a lifetime to buy. The day we signed Drew Brees is the day I bought my tickets. They are shared by my entire family. I hope that I am able to continue to be in that number.

 

[Saint Greg]

I would love for someone one day to explain (1) how the difference between the benefits of a new stadium and those of the Superdome would justify the new stadium cost of, say, two billion dollars; and (2) where the financing for a new stadium will come from.

Well the benefit I see right now is we wouldn’t be kicking people out of their seats every time we do an upgrade. This upgrade alone is costing 1/3 of what the new Falcons stadium cost. Add in the costs of the scoreboard, press box, bunker club etc and I wonder how close we could be to having a new stadium with cup holders and legroom and urinals. It just feels like instead of buying a new car we just keep fixing the old one and it ends up costing just as much as the new one.

 

[B4YOU]

People forget that building a new $2B stadium in NoLa will cost $3B.

 

[Tpstr]

Plus, the potential of PSLs. The new stadium could be configured differently moving STHs to other sections/sightlines they did not have previously or could have less seats/more suites leading to some STHs losing their seats.

This. My grandfather was a Tulane Stadium original. He walked away when the combination of his 35 yard line seats were “moved” to Poydras Street & became 15 yard line top of the Dome seats and the yearly miserable product he was paying more $ to see in 1975.

In some ways, mgmt is betting the house they’ll continue to have quality on field product after the renovation. If they don’t come through, it will be interesting to see who stays for bad games at higher prices. The STHs have had a year of watching from sofas, it’s not that hard to see a mindset change.

On the flip side, gate $ is chicken feed compared to TV $ (ask Cincinnati STHs about that). Mgmt just may not care what we think.

 

[dtc]

I understand the long term potential economic benefit to continuing to modernize... but wow that's a lot of money they'll lose in the short term on tickets alone.

They're not going to lose anything.

4300 $75 seats is nothing compared to the $1200 seats they're replacing them with. The box seats on 3 and 400 level are 1200 or so per seat per game. The ones at field level are more.

The money they make catering one of those boxes per week is enough to eat 20 of the seats they're losing.