Change of Pace - Superdome Stadium Replacement?

Since the Saints are in the forefront in March with all the moves, some talk among buds a few days ago was about a Superdome replacement, if it came to that. The consensus was it had to be downtown, and the only place we could think of was the large grassy field along the river between the Bridge and the old power plant (the smokestacks) - next to the Convention Center.

My thought was the stadium wouldn't fit, but using the Google maps measuring tool, the Superdome footprint (larger than most new football only stadiums) would easily fit there. A quick Google Earth check shows a lot of old industrial and parking lots - and those apartments built after Katrina.

I could easily see an open, but covered stadium for the sun (like Seattle's), with the open end to the river. Still walking distance to all the hotels, parking garages, restaurants and bars, and you could have a new Champions Square, and even use the Convention Center for indoor game day events when no conventions were in town.

In many ways, I see it being a better location than the Dome. Ships (that fit under the bridge) could dock on the river 100yds from the stadium during Super Bowl. The NFL Experience would be adjacent to the Stadium. The Riverfront Streetcar could shuttle fans from downriver right to the stadium steps. And think of in 10 or so years, the sheer number of people living withing walking distance of the stadium at that site.

While the Dome is still a great place for football, I do think it's an impediment to getting another Super Bowl because it's age is used against it. And maybe the Superdome site would be better served with a new City Hall or medical structure.

I'm sure the Saints will be in the Dome for the foreseeable future, but I think somehow the state or city needs to purchase that parcel to maintain the land just in case. If it gets developed, then the only three areas left for a new stadium would be the Dome site (meaning a move to Tiger Stadium for 2 years, not optimal), NO East or Algiers (too far from downtown).

The only other remote alternative would be the soon to be vacated VA Hospital / Charity Hospital area. That would require a LOT of demolition and traffic flow there would be terrible. There are not a lot of good options, and while the Dome has been a good old friend, I think NOLA needs to think big going forward.

Its like making a will, you know what's coming, and you have plan for it. If not, we may be in a situation where we could lose the team in 10-15 years.