Big plans for now defunct New Orleans Centre area | wwltv.com | Football

Saints owner Tom Benson and state leaders are moving the ball down the field on the new sports and entertainment complex across the street from the Superdome.

As part of the deal that keeps the NFL franchise in Louisiana through 2025, the public-private partnership will re-develop the the now dormant, New Orleans Centre mall.

A planning firm is now mapping out phase one of the project.

That includes tearing down the old mall and building a new street-level plaza for tailgating and pre and post game partying.

"You will see change there within the next several months," said Doug Thornton, Executive Vice-President of SMG, the private contractor that manages the Dome and New Orleans Arena. "Our plan is to be underway with the demolition and construction of this plaza by say February first. Our plan is to have it activated for use by next football season, at some point during the football season."

Thornton says the new sports and entertainment district would be similar to LA-Live, outside the Staple center in Los Angeles.

Phase two would connect the new plaza with the Dome and Arena.

Phase three would be the opening of new restaurants, clubs and retail.

via wwltv.com

Posted via web from New Orleans clippings