Duncan has an article out on proposed extensive renovations to SKC, new training facility

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Pels would have a separate practice training facility now near the SKC basically in the Champions Square area.

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interesting for the players that would just rent an apartment or condo downtown and pretty much never have to go far.

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The Smoothie King Center renovation would be the most extensive overhaul of the arena since it opened in 1999, something officials say is needed to bring the building up to modern NBA standards.

It would feature the addition of 2,155 lower-level seats, upgraded concourses, new gathering spaces and a redesign of the surrounding campus — including two parking lots adjacent to the arena along Le Rouge Street, Champions Square, the old New Orleans Center and the Macy’s parking garage.

Updated renderings of the project provided by the Saints Organization last week show images of Champions Square and the newly imagined entertainment complex. They also include one noteworthy addition to plans released earlier this year: a new training facility for the Pelicans that would be built on the site of the shuttered Macy’s.

The facility would be surrounded by bars and restaurants, adjacent to a stage, and could eventually expand into what Bensel called a “billion-dollar sports, entertainment and civic district with restaurants, retail, entertainment, office space and welcoming public spaces.”

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Long story short it’s gonna cost like 425 mill, with the Superdome Commission having to come up with the lions share of that, when they are already in substantial debt over Superdome Renos. Doesn’t look like Gayle is offering much of her own money.

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They will very obviously do some renovations and expansions for Saints purposes

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best G league facility in da south!

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And just want to say, I was 100% wrong on this:

Looks like Gayle will be putting up around 150 million,

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bunchie, you always fall for the fake negative narratives too much. demps had your arse converted with a few low iq constant threads and here you go spouting off negativity about mrs. b.

you were quick to jump on the hate on gayle wagon. i'm just trying to rehab you. first step is admittance.

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They will very obviously do some renovations and expansions for Saints purposes

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A lot of the business side of both teams will be moving downtown soon and that will free up office space that Loomis wants for football ops.

Assuming the Squadron takes over space left by basketball ops. It was never really adequate. The locker, training and equipment rooms all were built inside of the shell of the old Voodoo facility.

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Looks like Gayle will be putting up around 150 million,

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After the negotiations I’d bet she ends up putting up more than 150 million.


If they can pull off anything close to this that would be awesome. Like Chad said up above if the players can stay nearby that’s a huge plus.

That was always going to be biggest issue if sold individually. The organization would literally need to be built from the ground up since infrastructure was on same campus and 70% of workforce also covers Saints.

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Having the Pels move downtown away from the Saints also sets up much easier for separate buyers down the road when the teams are sold, since I doubt you'd have someone lining up to buy both.

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That was my first thought, especially considering that the current training facility is still relatively new in the grand scheme of things.

However, I doubt Gayle would put up $150m into an asset just eventually dump it.

But Demp told me Benson is too cheap and she won’t renovate the SKC!

Defense! defense!


Seems like they’re just waiting for the LSED to pay their portion.