Outstanding Balance: Saints Owe $11.5M in Superdome Renovations, Halting Plans for Smoothie King Center Upgrades

A disagreement has emerged in New Orleans concerning payments the Saints owe for improvements at the Superdome, which may have implications for plans to update the Smoothie King Center, where the Pelicans play. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the Saints are $11.5 million behind on payments for Superdome renovations. While early portions of the article suggest that Saints owner Gayle Benson may face cash-flow difficulties, the team refutes this characterization.

The Saints maintain in the article that they have no issue making current payments of $11.5 million or the outstanding balance. They claim that they have requested certain documentation over an extended period and have not yet received it. As a result of this outstanding balance, the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District has decided to pause its plan to upgrade the Smoothie King Center.

The Saints have not made a payment since December for their share of a $58 million project at the Smoothie King Center, which totals $41 million. The Pelicans hold a lease at their home arena through 2029, but resolving issues at their current home seems to depend on first addressing problems with the Superdome situation. It would be prudent for both parties to set aside their differences and reach a resolution before focusing on finding a productive solution rather than engaging in a public relations battle over $11.5 million. With just nine months until Super Bowl LIII is hosted in New Orleans, it is crucial for all involved to prioritize finding a productive solution rather than engaging in a public relations battle over such an amount.