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reprinted from:
Dome gets $2 million
windfall for repairs
By Steve Ritea, Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Superdome will get an additional $2 million for maintenance and improvements in the coming year, thanks to a surplus from the hotel-motel tax in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. The 4 percent tax on hotels in the two parishes pulled in a surplus of $3.8 million this year, Superdome General Manager Doug Thornton said, with $1.8 million to be distributed to entities in the New Orleans region as stipulated by state law. Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget earmarked the $2 million to the Superdome on Friday, but noted their concern about the future of the New Orleans Saints, the major occupant of the stadium. The Saints' contract comes up for renewal in 2006. The Saints recently started evaluating the possibility of building a new stadium, making major changes at the Dome to enhance team revenue or moving to another city. Saints officials have declined comment on any plans until this season is over. "We have to confront this issue with the Saints soon," said Sen. Diana Bajoie, D-New Orleans. Superdome General Manager Doug Thornton said he is unsure how much it will take to keep the football team in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Thornton said, the repairs they have in mind are more general maintenance than improvements. The to-do list for the $2 million includes $400,000 for new carpeting, $400,000 to renovate the dome's marquee, $350,000 for parking garage repairs, and $215,000 to replace audio and video equipment. That $2 million is in addition to the $2.3 million the hotel tax normally brings in for Superdome maintenance each year. The Saints account for about
30 percent of the Superdome's annual revenue, Thornton said. |
