Story came out about a week ago. Sounds like the SKC is on its last legs. It may actually be cheaper to build new arena to NBA standards then to renovate. Thoughts?
https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans...e6147e4a3.html
Quote:
Smoothie King Center has undergone ?minimal renovations? since opening its doors in 1999, and ?most systems and equipment have reached or exceeded their usable life,? according to a copy of a report The Times-Picayune obtained.
In March, the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District approved a study of the Smoothie King Center?s infrastructure. The architecture firm Gensler and the consulting company Venue Solutions Group toured the building March 19.
The facility needs assessment report they issued recommended that Smoothie King Center be improved over the next half-decade in a variety of ways.
The report said the building?s sound and public address system ? installed in 1999 ? needs to be replaced; it said the video board hung above center court in 2016 should be upgraded within the next two years; and the three walk-in freezers, which were part of the building?s original construction, have reached the end of their usable life.
Quote:
The report?s findings shift the spotlight onto New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and Louisiana state officials to either fund a renovation of the nearly 25-year-old building or build a new arena that can house New Orleans? NBA team.
Smoothie King Center, originally known as New Orleans Arena, was built for $199 million. The building also underwent a state-funded $54 million renovation, which concluded in 2014.
In the decade since, destination areas such as the Courtside Club, player locker rooms and exterior LED boards have been upgraded. But much of the building's original infrastructure has not been improved and is in need of work, the facility needs assessment report found.
For example, the portable risers on which there are 2,296 seats is listed as a ?high priority? issue.
?It should be replaced within the next 2-3 years,? the report said.
New Arena or renovate SKC?
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09-13-2024, 01:28 PM13 - 3New Arena or renovate SKC?
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09-13-2024, 09:30 PMRaisingTheBar
I?d welcome it, but I have a hard time believing they?ll get a brand new area.
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09-14-2024, 09:15 PMbigdub81
My question is where would we build it? Wasn’t the main reason for tethering it onto the dome was the ability to use part of its grid and other components? I think the Pels deserve their own space apart from the literal shadow of the dome and the Saints. Considering money has been invested in the SKC already, it’d be nice for it to get minimal upgrades, just enough to lure a semi-pro arena team again. Something that wouldn’t be in competition with either the Saints or Pels.
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09-16-2024, 02:25 PMRaisingTheBarIMO it would have to be a tear down and rebuild in the same location project with the team temporarily playing somewhere else. The vicinity of the dome/SKC to the city and how it’s walking distance to a lot of places in NOLA is a huge attraction.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdub81
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09-16-2024, 02:54 PM13 - 3
https://www.wwltv.com/article/sports...2-5939a26add42
From last year listen to what comes out of Jake's mouth.
Quote:
Jake Madison hosts the daily podcast, Locked on Pelicans.
“It’s not like it’s in disrepair,” Madison said. “It’s not like it’s falling down. It’s just not one of those more modern, kind of tech-forward, multi-revenue generating arenas that are out there that the NBA wants their NBA teams to be playing in.”
Madison said when the Pelicans went to Birmingham for a preseason game last year where their minor league team plays, some players and staff found the facilities there a little better than what they have in the Smoothie King Center.
“For an NBA team to say that I think kind of speaks to the state of the Smoothie King, right now.”
Thornton said discussions on what to do with the Smoothie King will likely heat up after the ongoing $500-million renovations to the Superdome are completed next year.
“I will tell you that the Pelicans are extending their lease through 2030. We are going to take a fresh look at that building.”
While the Pels and the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District study the long-term viability of the Smoothie King Center, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told NOLA.com's Christian Clark that every NBA team, regardless of location and market size, needs a state-of-the-art arena to compete in the league.
Sounds like Silver wants a new arena. -
09-17-2024, 11:00 AMJJackisangry
I?d agree with Silver. We need to build a new stadium. I actually like the Smoothie King Center, but it is outdated and renovations will just push the can further down the road. We need to modernize. As someone else also pointed out though, the location of the Smoothie King Center is incredible. Right next to the dome, champion square and within walking distance of New Orleans itself. It is truly a great spot and IMO you want to build the new stadium there if possible. That might mean a year without local games which would be sad, but it?s something that needed to be done a while ago. These types of things also attract players and events (which are revenue generation), so all the more reason to get it done.
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09-17-2024, 09:50 PMbigdub81
What about this lot across from the Convention Center? I know there’s a Top Golf going somewhere around there and also talk of an possible MLS soccer stadium. I mean other than tearing down the SKC and rebuilding on site or building elsewhere, there really isn’t much room to cram a stadium downtown without uprooting historical buildings for the sake of proximity! Not unless we do some type of land-barge adjacent structure and sit it in the river?!
The plus of a new multi-purpose stadium is that it puts us on par with the rest of the league, if not better, plus we could possibly attract a minor league team like mentioned before.Attachment 6674 -
09-18-2024, 09:31 PMbgunn879
I think its obvious we need a new facility. To me a tear down and rebuild is the only logical approach. Its just a perfect location.
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09-19-2024, 04:17 PMPELICANSFANI would agree with the same location. Building by the Convention Center would cause logistical nightmares. The infrastructure is just not there and would need a lot of upgrading.Quote:
Originally Posted by bgunn879
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09-20-2024, 10:36 AMml wave
You'd be talking about multiple seasons without a place to play (Lakefront Arena? Birmingham? Baton Rouge? Some sort of barnstorming tour?)...I doubt that's anything they'd consider.
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09-20-2024, 08:08 PMRaisingTheBarThat’s the normal process for any sports franchise rebuilding in the same location.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml wave
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09-21-2024, 11:00 AMml waveSure! Normal! Happens all the time!Quote:
Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar
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09-26-2024, 06:58 PMRaisingTheBarIt’s like you stopped reading after the word process.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml wave
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09-26-2024, 09:27 PM13 - 3Why stop there?Quote:
Originally Posted by ml wave
OKC?(Remember that?)Tulsa? Shreveport? -
09-26-2024, 09:29 PM13 - 3
Speaking of OKC , Clay is demanding a new arena and it sounds like he is getting it.
https://www.koco.com/article/oklahom...arena/62378480 -
10-02-2024, 10:08 AMml waveRead it all but that doesn't make it make sense. Only example I could think of was the Bears playing at Illinois when Soldier Field was renovated but a) that only entails 8 games and 2) doesn't involve a franchise struggling with ticket sales/cash flow as is.Quote:
Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar
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10-02-2024, 10:12 AMml waveActually, they'd probably wind up playing some (tremendously successful) games in Nashville and we'd have to hear all about how they should move again.Quote:
Originally Posted by 13 - 3
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10-05-2024, 06:55 PMRaisingTheBarFor two seasons the Vikings played at TCF Bank Stadium, home of their college football team, while the Metrodome was demolished and their new stadium was constructed.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml wave
I’m fairly certain MetLife stadium replaced giants stadium at the same location.
Seahawks played in Husky Stadium for a couple of season while their old stadium was demolished and Lumans Stadium was constructed.
Makes perfect sense. It happens a lot more for sports franchises than your understanding. Arenas are also smaller projects than stadiums. There has been a much stronger push in the NFL to get new stadiums, but if Silver wants it, it will likely happen. -
10-05-2024, 07:48 PMHorneyTexan
Why not play the games in the Superdome while the new arena is being built on the existing site?
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10-05-2024, 10:26 PMdonatoGood idea. And actually I think they should just renovate where they are. Either way, the Super Dome is a good temporary spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by HorneyTexan
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10-06-2024, 09:45 AMRaisingTheBarThey will have games that overlap on the same day. But I don’t think it would be hard for the NBA to construct our schedule knowing we would have to be away on Saints home game days.Quote:
Originally Posted by HorneyTexan
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10-07-2024, 09:56 AMml waveIs your understanding that Meadowlands Stadium was demolished and MetLife Stadium constructed all in one NFL offseason? The Vikings and Seahawks were able to stay in the same city and, again, 8 games. Maybe the Dome would work for the Pels, if the NBA would allow it and if they could get enough dates, but absent that it would be a disaster.Quote:
Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar
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11-15-2024, 04:13 PMCentury City
I started a thread about the possibility of a new arena a couple years ago. They had the list of a bunch of places downtown that were relatively close to the current location. I want to say that one of them was the current location of the postal center. I'll see if I can find it
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11-15-2024, 04:26 PMCentury City
Ok, I found the locations in a previous thread. I cut and pasted the sites plus the % of votes that each location got as a preferred location of a new arena on a poll I took on this site
Loyola avenue where a post office currently sits 45.45%
Tract of land near veterans affairs med center 18.18%
Duncan plaza 18.18%
Parking lot across from the convention center -
11-15-2024, 04:34 PMCentury CityOh yeah, he's getting it. They already have a location picked and are in the processing of finalizing all the contractors. They'll have renderings within a month or twoQuote:
Originally Posted by 13 - 3
The citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of using public funds to build a $950 million arena. $50 million will come from Bennett while $900 million will come from the public. Blows me away that you can get those kind of numbers in this day and age of communities telling billionaires to shove it but they got it done
Also surprising is the cost of the arena. Sacramento and Milwaukee both built really good small market arenas for around $600 million. I realize that's $700 million in today's dollars but that's still less than $950 million -
11-18-2024, 09:34 AMml waveWell, Oklahoma's not 49th in the country in education for nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Century City