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Home of the New Orleans Saints and the Tulane Green Wave, the Louisiana Superdome has hosted many big-time events since it first opened in 1975. The Superdome has witnessed six Super Bowls and four NCAA... read more below
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Louisiana Superdome (map it)
1500 Sugar Bowl Dr
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Year Opened: 1975
Capacity: 72,003
| Date | Tickets | |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 09, 2010 | Minnesota at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Sep 26, 2010 | Atlanta at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Oct 03, 2010 | Carolina at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Oct 24, 2010 | Cleveland at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Oct 31, 2010 | Pittsburgh at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Nov 21, 2010 | Seattle at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Dec 12, 2010 | St. Louis at New Orleans | StubHub |
| Sun, Jan 02, 2011 | Tampa Bay at New Orleans | StubHub |
0 Comments | 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Home of the New Orleans Saints and the Tulane Green Wave, the Louisiana Superdome has hosted many big-time events since it first opened in 1975. The Superdome has witnessed six Super Bowls and four NCAA men’s final fours.
Legends and dynasties have been born in one of New Orleans’ most iconic structures. It was in the building in 1982 that a young Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot for the North Carolina Tar Heels to win the national title. Nearly 20 years later, the underdog New England Patriots took down the St. Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf to win their first Super Bowl.
Unfortunately for Louisianans, the most historic wins by the Superdome’s tenants are a just a pair of playoff wins by the New Orleans Saints. That could all change this year.
On November 8, 2009, I set out with a group of seven other Saints fans to watch the Saints take on the Carolina Panthers.
The FANFARE scale is our metric device for rating each stadium experience. It covers the following:
Each area is rated from 0 to 5 stars with 5 being the best. The overall composite score is the "FANFARE Score".
4/5In addition to your usual selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, and nachos, the Superdome also offers some local flavor to spice up your eating experience. Southern Louisiana cuisine is known for its unique flavor, and the Superdome’s selection of local dishes helps the concessions stand out. Crawfish pie, alligator sausage, and chicken and sausage jambalaya are all offered from $5.50-$7.50.
3/5The Superdome is one of the loudest venues in the United States.when the Saints are doing well. The Saints quickly fell behind by two touchdowns in this game and you could hear a pin drop throughout the first half. The quality of the atmosphere made a turnaround only as the Saints marched their way to another second half comeback.
4/5One of the qualities of the Louisiana Superdome that allows it to host so many big-time events is its location. The dome can be found in the middle of downtown and in walking distance of several hotels, restaurants, bars, Harrah’s Casino, and the convention center. It is also close to New Orleans’ historic French Quarter neighborhood.
One thing that attracts so many people to New Orleans is its party-like atmosphere and lenient alcohol laws. It is legal to walk the streets of New Orleans with an open container and that was quite evident on
this particular Sunday afternoon. There were several “vendors” along our twenty minute walk to the dome selling domestic beer starting at $2 a bottle. We even came across a man who had his very own miniature cocktail set and offered passers-by a drink for $5.
There are so many fantastic eateries within walking distance of the Superdome that it is impossible to talk about them all. Here are two places that are a must for any visitor.
Mother’s- The eight of us waited outside in line for 20 minutes before gaining access to this New Orleans institution, but it was worth every minute. I got the Ferdi, a fantastic po-boy loaded with ham, roast beef, gravy, and debris (think of the goodness at the bottom of the pot and that’s debris) all on French bread. The fried shrimp po-boy and the John G., a po-boy loaded with roast beef, ham, and turkey both come highly recommended by my friends.
Café Du Monde- The original is located in the French Quarter on Decatur Street and is about a 25 minute walk from the Superdome. Café Du Monde is home of its famous beignets (think deep-fried powdered pastry).
What keeps the neighborhood rating from being a perfect five is its cleanliness (or lack of) and high crime rate.
4/5Saints’ fans are among some of the passionate and loyal in the NFL. After rumors circulated in 2005 that the Saints would move to San Antonio or Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina forced the Saints to evacuate the city for a full season, fans have sold out every game since the start of the 2006 season and that trend appears likely to continue for many more years.
As mentioned earlier, though, Saints fans can get awfully quiet when the Saints trail by multiple scores.
3/5While private lots offer parking for anywhere from $10-$20, there is plenty of street parking less than a mile from the dome. New Orleans does not have a good public transportation system so expect to walk everywhere.
4/5If you like scoring, the Superdome is the place to be for an NFL game. The Saints are averaging 36.7 points per home game during the 2009 season. I paid $50 for my ticket near the top of the dome and could see the action well. As someone who grew up 35 minutes from downtown New Orleans and has been to many Saints games, there aren’t many bad seats in the Superdome.
1/5The Superdome is one of the oldest buildings in the NFL and is in the process of receiving a much-needed facelift. There are a few New Orleans Saints’ division championship banners along with a few Tulane banners hanging in the dome but not much else.
Food: I'm told the concessions give decent bang for your buck, and there were plenty of stands for drinks with varying %ABV—but who in his right mind would wait for stadium food in a city like New Orleans?
From the Dome, head down Poydras toward the Mississippi, take a left at Harrah's, and don't stop until you smell the powdered sugar and fried dough emanating from Cafe du Monde. They're called "beignets" (ben-YAYS) and they'll change your life.
Then backtrack a bit to St. Louis Street and wash 'em down with a po-boy from Johnny's, because dinner and dessert, like everything else in this city, come in whatever order tickles your fancy.
Atmosphere: The outside of the stadium is iconic. The inside is somewhat historic. The fans go nuts—more on that later. So why only four stars?
The halls are wall-tiled and drab like a rest stop bathroom. It's neat, in an "I'm glad some things didn't survive the '80s" way, but the rest of the city (and the football field, for that matter) is so bombastic that walking around the Dome's hallways feels a little grubby.
Neighborhood: New Orleans. Not a parking lot in a suburb thereof, mind you. The Dome's a proud and central part of its city. The Mississippi River, the French Quarter, etc. Let's just say there's a bit to see and do before/after the game.
As Paul mentioned in the official review, though, it's an iffy stretch of town past a certain hour in certain directions away from the Dome. It's not really a problem amidst the throng of Who Dat Nation entering and leaving the game—just something to be aware of.
Fans: These people get excited about special teams. Judging by the music and crowd love, you'd think it's their favorite part of the game. And they've sold out every game since 2006, when there were rumors the team might have to move—and before the winning started.
Access: Good luck with the stop-and-go through that aforementioned throng after the final whistle. Better to have a sight to see for an hour or two as you wait for the traffic to file out. The one downside to not putting a stadium in a giant parking lot is that it's not nearly as car-friendly.
I'll file "limited view" seating under this heading, too. The Redskins do it at FedEx Field, though they have the decency to describe it as such and mark those tickets down. Looking up to the top of the Dome, where clouds would allegedly form were the building not climate-controlled, is a pleasure denied those in the back rows of the lower-level end zone seating.
Return on Investment: The Saints play good football, the crowd will sweep you up in its excitement, and your wallet won't be clenching its fists and crying the way it does when you decide to go to a game in Cowboys Stadium.
Extras: One point for Lucky Woldenberg, a statue in the park by the river. Another for Old Man River, between Woldenberg and Cafe du Monde: "God to a city in Love / with Water."
The full five, because you can sit and drink and cheer and get excited in a place that, less than five years ago, was described as "Hell on Earth."
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There is no better city in the country to enjoy an NFL game than New Orleans. The restaurants and the nightlife are second to none.The only drawback might be the Superdome's location.Being located approximately 10 city blocks from the French Quarter and with very little public parking will leave you with a long walk or a cab ride from where most visiting fans stay. There are buses and there is always New Orleans famous streetcars, but most people just chose to walk.
Before and especially after the games is when the real fun starts. New Orleans celebrates something every night, but when the Saints are playing at home there is always a party atmosphere. The food is out of this world inside the stadium and especially in the French Quarter.
The restaurants and nightspots really gear up for the games and the locals will make your visit memorable. While you are in the Big Easy don't miss the French Quarter and even Bourbon Street if you dare. Pat O'Brian's is a must for a Hurricane (a New Orleans original) and a visit to the Piano Bar.
Restaurants? There are hundreds, but if you want the real flavor of New Orleans I would recommend Mulate's near the Convention Center and the Acme Oyster House just off of Bourbon and Canal street. For something a little fancier try the Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street near Canal Street.
If you ever get the chance to catch the Saints in action or travel on the road with your team to the Big Easy, do so, you will not regret it...
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