New Orleans regional and 2012 Final Four

So, I thought the purpose of having a regional in the city where the next years final four would be held was more-or-less a trial run for that next year....if this is the case then what is the point of having the regional in the New Orleans Arena and the Final Four in the Superdome?

I understand the Arena will seat much less than the dome and the final four will draw a lot more than the regional...but from what I understand the whole dome will be used next year with the raised floor in the middle, will the final four be the first time they even try this for the Superdome?