The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, a renowned multi-purpose stadium, has stood as a vibrant hub for diverse events in New Orleans for over four decades. From high-energy boxing matches and thrilling basketball games to captivating soccer tournaments, roaring motocross events, and the beloved New Orleans Saints football games, the Superdome is a celebrated venue. Beyond entertainment, it played a critical role in 2005, offering refuge as a “shelter of last resort” for those displaced by the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
Originally named the Louisiana Superdome from its inauguration in 1975, this 75,000-seat stadium adopted the moniker of the prestigious car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz, in 2011. Throughout its history, the Mercedes Superdome has drawn massive crowds for a wide array of spectacles. While it has hosted big names in professional wrestling, international gymnasts, and high-speed racers from the National Hot Rod Association, football has remained its central attraction.
Fans flock to the Mercedes Superdome to cheer on the Saints, creating an atmosphere recognized as one of the most electrifying and spirited in the National Football League. The venue has proudly hosted seven Super Bowls, including Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, where the Baltimore Ravens triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in a 34-31 victory. Adding to its football legacy, the Mercedes Superdome is the annual battleground for the Bayou Classic and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Its significance in college football is further cemented by hosting the College Football Championship Game and NCAA basketball Final Four tournaments.
Beyond sports, music has deeply resonated within the walls of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Legendary artists spanning genres, from Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash to Aretha Franklin, the Charlie Daniels Band, the Allman Brothers, Waylon Jennings, and The O’Jays, have graced its stage, captivating audiences over the years.
Irrespective of the event, a visit to the Mercedes Superdome is an experience in itself, offering a chance to marvel at its colossal scale and architectural ingenuity. The stadium’s steel framework spans an impressive 13 acres, and its iconic dome soars to a height of 273 feet with a diameter of 680 feet, solidifying its status as the world’s largest fixed-dome structure.
Mercedes Superdome: Quick Facts
- Planning Commenced: 1967
- Official Opening Date: August 3, 1975
- Location: 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
- Football Capacity: 76,468; Basketball Capacity: 55,675
- Record Attendance: 75,167 at WrestleMania XXX in 2014
- Field Turf: Evolved through four turf types; currently UBU-Intensity Series-S5-M Synthetic Turf
- Original Construction Cost: $134 million (equivalent to $589 million in 2016)
- Architectural Design: Curtis and Davis Associated; Edward B. Silverstein & Associates; Nolan, Norman & Nolan
