Caesars Superdome facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Caesars Superdome

The Superdome
The Superdome in 2025
Caesars Superdome Location in the United States Show map of the United States Caesars Superdome Location in Louisiana Show map of Louisiana Caesars Superdome Location in New Orleans Show map of New Orleans
Former names	Louisiana Superdome (1975–2011) Mercedes-Benz Superdome (2011–2021)
Address	1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Coordinates	29°57′3″N 90°4′52″W / 29.95083°N 90.08111°W / 29.95083; -90.08111
Public transit	Poydras Street New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
Owner	The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District
Operator	ASM Global
Capacity	Football: 73,208 (expandable to 76,468) Basketball: 73,432 Baseball: 56,941
Record attendance	78,133 (WrestleMania 34, April 8, 2018)
Surface	Monsanto "Mardi Grass" turf (1975–2003) FieldTurf (2003–2006) Sportexe Momentum Turf (2006–2009) UBU Speed Series S5 (2010–2016) Act Global UBU Speed S5-M Synthetic Turf (2017–2018) Turf Nation S5 (2019–present)
Construction
Broke ground	August 12, 1971
Opened	August 3, 1975; 49 years ago (1975-08-03)
Reopened	September 25, 2006
Construction cost	US$134 million (Initial) ($729 million in 2022 dollars ) Renovations: US$193 million (2005–06 repairs) ($280 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	Curtis and Davis Associated Edward B. Silverstein & Associates Nolan, Norman & Nolan
Tenants
List New Orleans Saints (NFL) 1975–present Sugar Bowl (NCAA) 1975–present Tulane Green Wave (NCAA) 1975–2013 New Orleans Jazz (NBA) 1975–1979 New Orleans Pelicans (AA) 1977 New Orleans Breakers (USFL) 1984 New Orleans Night (AFL) 1991–1992 New Orleans Bowl (NCAA) 2001–present New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) 2013
Louisiana Superdome
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	15001004
Designated	January 27, 2016

The Caesars Superdome, often called the Superdome, is a huge domed stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is famous for being the home stadium of the New Orleans Saints, a team in the National Football League (NFL).

The idea for the Superdome started in 1967. It officially opened in 1975 as the Louisiana Superdome. This massive building has a steel frame that covers an area of about 13 acres. Its dome is 273 feet tall and 680 feet wide, making it one of the largest domed buildings in the world.

The Superdome has hosted many major events. These include eight Super Bowl games, which are the NFL's championship games. It has also hosted six NCAA championships for men's college basketball. In college football, the Sugar Bowl has been played there since 1975. The stadium also hosts the Bayou Classic, a big rivalry game between Southern University and Grambling State University.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The Superdome was used as a shelter for thousands of people who could not leave the city. The storm caused a lot of damage to the building. It was closed for many months for repairs. The Superdome reopened on September 25, 2006, just in time for the Saints' first home game of that season.

History of the Superdome

Building the Dome

The idea for the Superdome came from a businessman named David Dixon. He wanted to bring an NFL team to New Orleans. The NFL Commissioner, Pete Rozelle, said New Orleans needed a domed stadium because of the city's summer thunderstorms.

Louisiana's governor, John McKeithen, supported the idea. After visiting the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in 1966, McKeithen said he wanted a bigger one. People voted to approve money for the Superdome's construction on November 8, 1966. This was just seven days after New Orleans was given an NFL team.

The stadium was designed to be used for many sports, like football, baseball, and basketball. It had special stands that could be moved for each sport. Construction began on August 11, 1971. It was finished in August 1975. The final cost of the stadium was about $165 million.

Early Years and Changes

The New Orleans Saints started playing in the Superdome in 1975. Their first regular-season game there was on September 28, 1975. The first Super Bowl held in the stadium was Super Bowl XII in January 1978.

The original playing surface was a special artificial turf called "Mardi Grass." In 2003, this was replaced with a newer type of turf called FieldTurf.

The Superdome in 2001 during a youth gathering.

Hurricane Katrina and Reopening

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused major damage to the Superdome. Strong winds ripped off a large part of the roof. The building was used as a "shelter of last resort" for people who could not evacuate.

The Superdome was closed for repairs after the hurricane. It cost $185 million to fix and update the stadium. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided a lot of the money. The building was fully repaired and reopened on September 25, 2006. The reopening was a big celebration. It included a concert by U2 and Green Day. The Saints won their first game back in the Superdome, 23–3.

Workers repairing the Superdome roof in 2006.

Modern Updates and New Name

Construction workers replacing the Superdome's outer siding.

From 2008 to 2010, the Superdome got many updates. New windows were added to let in natural light. The entire outside of the stadium was replaced with new aluminum panels. This made the building look like its original champagne bronze color.

Inside, new escalators were added. The luxury suites were updated with modern features. A new system was installed so fans could buy food and drinks with credit cards.

The "Mercedes-Benz Superdome" sign in 2011.

In 2011, the lower seating area was changed. This added 3,500 more seats and made the walkways wider. These changes also meant the stadium could no longer be set up for baseball games.

In 2011, the stadium's name changed to Mercedes-Benz Superdome after a company bought the naming rights. In July 2021, the name changed again to Caesars Superdome.

On July 27, 2012, a statue called Rebirth was put up next to the Superdome. It shows a famous play from a Saints game after Hurricane Katrina.

Power Outage During Super Bowl

The Superdome hosted Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013. During the game, there was a partial power outage that stopped play for about 34 minutes. It was later found that a special device designed to prevent electrical overloads caused the problem. The Superdome's own power system was not at fault.

New Scoreboards and Lights

In 2016, the smaller video screens were replaced with two huge LED displays. These new screens are 330 feet wide and 35 feet tall. The stadium's lighting system was also upgraded to energy-efficient LED lights. These new lights can change colors and create light show effects.

The full moon over the Superdome in January 2025.

More renovations started in January 2020. These plans include new entrances, better walkways, and a large kitchen area.

Superdome Features

The Superdome sits on 70 acres of land. The inside of the dome is huge, with a space of 125 million cubic feet. The dome itself is 253 feet high and 680 feet wide. The total floor area is 269,000 square feet.

Seating Capacity

The Superdome can hold 73,208 people for football games. It can be expanded to seat up to 76,468. For basketball, it can hold up to 73,432 fans. The record attendance for any event was 78,133 for WrestleMania 34 in 2018. In 2021, some seats were removed to make the fan experience better. This included wider walkways and larger elevators.

Major Events at the Superdome

Football Games

The Superdome is best known as the home of the New Orleans Saints NFL team. Saints games often sell out.

{{Wide image|The Dome New Orleans Man Trip.jpg|700|A panoramic view of a Saints game in 2009 with 69,719 fans.]] The Superdome has hosted eight Super Bowls. The most recent was Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.

The stadium also hosts many college football games. The Sugar Bowl and New Orleans Bowl are played there every year. The College Football Playoff National Championship was played there in 2020 and will return in 2028.

The Bayou Classic, a big rivalry game between Grambling State and Southern University, is also held here. Tulane University's football team played their home games at the Superdome from 1975 to 2013.

The Superdome has a reputation for being very loud during Saints games. This gives the Saints a strong "home field advantage." Many visiting players have said it is one of the loudest stadiums they have ever played in.

Basketball Games

The Superdome has hosted the NCAA Men's Final Four (the championship of college basketball) six times. These were in 1982, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2012, and 2022. The 1982 final was a famous game where a young Michael Jordan hit the winning shot for North Carolina.

The New Orleans Jazz (an NBA team) played their home games at the Superdome from 1975 to 1979. In 1977, they set a record for NBA game attendance with over 35,000 fans.

Boxing Matches

The Superdome has hosted several famous boxing matches. On September 15, 1978, Muhammad Ali won his third world Heavyweight title by beating Leon Spinks in front of 65,000 fans. This was Ali's last professional win.

Another famous fight was Leonard–Durán II in 1980. In this match, Roberto Durán famously quit by saying "No más" (Spanish for "No more").

Concerts and Shows

The Superdome has been a popular venue for concerts and other events since it opened. Many famous artists have performed there, including The Rolling Stones, Prince, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Guns N' Roses, Pink Floyd, U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran.

The annual Essence Music Festival has been held in the Superdome almost every year since 1995. This festival celebrates African-American music and culture.

Other Fun Events

• In 1987, Pope John Paul II spoke to 80,000 children at the stadium.
• The Republican National Convention was held there in 1988. This is where a major political party chooses its candidates for president and vice president.
• In 1996, Disney's movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame had its world premiere at the Superdome. Over 65,000 people attended!
• In 2000, the TV game show Wheel of Fortune taped two weeks of shows inside the dome.
• In 2020, the final challenge of the reality competition show The Amazing Race 32 was held at the Superdome.

See also

In Spanish: Louisiana Superdome para niños

• Champions Square
• Sports in New Orleans
• Smoothie King Center
• History of the New Orleans Saints
• List of music venues
• List of convention centers in the United States
• List of soccer stadiums in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
• List of tallest domes
• Lists of stadiums