Superdome Tour

The Superdome Post-Katrina:



The Superdome renovation - which included everything from extensive roof repair to sanitizing every seat - cost $185 million: $116 million from FEMA, $41 million from the Superdome Commission, $15 million from the NFL and $13 million from the state.

The FEMA money came from funds to cover uninsured losses to state property, which is separate from funds used to reimburse individual homeowners. The Superdome is one of nearly 1,000 state-owned facilities that will receive assistance.

"This money could not have been spent in the neighborhoods," Thornton noted.

Roy Mouledous, vice president of the Broadmoor Construction Management Agency that oversaw the project, said 30 of the Dome's 35 sub-contractors were locally owned.

"We need jobs and this generated construction jobs," Mouledous said.

Abysmal as the conditions became, Thornton believes the Superdome "saved 30,000 lives" in the evacuation.

"Some would have been in their attics or rooftops," he said.

The renovation isn't complete, just football-ready. The Monday night game is only one event in the long process of hurricane recovery. In stark contrast to the Superdome, the Dominion Tower stands vacant next door, its windows still shattered. The nearby Hyatt Hotel has yet to reopen.

"The symbolism can't be overstated," Thornton said. "The citizens have lost so much, the last thing they wanted to lose was their football team and their stadium. If we can rebuild this place, there's hope for the neighborhoods."

A Tour on Sept. 11, 2006: