Saints Make Superdome Renovation Payment

The New Orleans Saints made an $11.4 million payment toward Superdome renovations Friday, diffusing a standoff between the team and Louisiana officials who oversee the stadium that will host the next Super Bowl.

The Superdome, which is managed by ASM Global and is nearly 50 years old, hosts the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025. The amount of money at issue was small relative to the nearly $550 million scope of the renovation project, which has grown from an initial $450 million plan formally approved in 2019.

A dispute became public during a Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District board meeting last Wednesday, when commission board members were informed by staff that the Saints were behind on payments toward Superdome renovations that are scheduled for completion this summer.

Friday morning, Saints President Dennis Lauscha, in comments published on the team’s website, decried “disingenuous and unprofessional” conduct by the commission that oversees the Superdome, stemming from dissatisfaction over the state’s posture in parallel negotiations toward a long-term Superdome lease.

But late Friday afternoon, officials said payment was made after Lauscha and LSED Board Chairman Rob Vossbein had a “productive call.”

Most renovations have been completed. About $58 million in work remains, with the Saints responsible for about $41 million. The project has included overhauls of stadium entrances, concourses and kitchens; installation of soaring new escalators; and the replacement of older ramps with staircases and elevators. Much of it was completed even before last season.