Caesars Superdome
4.6(14K)google
4.1(356)yelp
Festival
Overview
Caesars Superdome (originally Louisiana Superdome and formerly Mercedes-Benz Superdome), commonly known as the Superdome, is a domed multi-purpose stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the Southern United States. It is the home stadium of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Plans to build the Superdome were drawn up in 1967 by the New Orleans modernist architectural firm of Curtis and Davis and the building opened as the Louisiana Superdome in 1975.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended on Sundays during the NFL season (September to January), specifically on New Orleans Saints home game days. The exterior of this colossal sports dome is completely illuminated in brilliant black and gold LED light architectural patterns. The surrounding plazas transform into a massive tailgate barbecue party.
Getting ThereLocated downtown at 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive. Game days trigger severe traffic gridlock and astronomical parking fees; driving is strongly discouraged. Instead, ride the Loyola Streetcar (Route 16) directly to the Poydras Street stop, step out, and follow the elevated pedestrian walkway along Poydras Street for a 5-minute walk to the gates.
Travel Tips
- The dome rigorously enforces the NFL Clear Bag Policy; non-clear backpacks, professional camera cases, or small purses exceeding 4.5x6.5 inches are denied entry.
- The entire stadium operates as a 100% cashless venue; all food kiosks, merchandise flagship counters, and parking pay-stations decline paper currency.
- Saints home games and stadium concerts cause total failure of local interstate ramps; use the St. Charles streetcar line to bypass complete vehicular grids.
Reviews
Positive
- An iconic NOLA mega-structure, this domed stadium's exterior is breathtaking; catching a live New Orleans Saints NFL game with thousands roaring 'Who Dat' yields an electric, high-energy sports vibe.
- The interior is expansive with crystal-clear twin jumbotrons and powerful stadium sound; multi-million dollar renovations modernized facilities with great seating row spacing and flawless sightlines.
- Management is highly efficient; during massive games or stadium concert tours, security screening and usher routing for tens of thousands run flawlessly with dense police positioning for maximum safety.
- Centrally situated in the downtown core, it seamlessly connects to luxury hotels and strips via accessible overpasses; post-game foot traffic easily reaches premier seafood bars for celebration.
Heads up
- During major game days or concerts, on-site concession pricing carries an extortionate markup; a single water bottle, popcorn tub, or hot dog is heavily inflated, making dining highly budget-unfriendly.
- Gate entry queues and post-show egress get painfully slow and suffocating when crowds scale up; tens of thousands flood narrow escalators and rotunda exits, creating packed gridlocks in corridors.
- Surrounding traffic is entirely paralyzed before and after events; stadium parking lots are rare and require early booking, and private garages hike race-day flat fees to astronomical tiers, making driving a nightmare.
- During halftime, stadium restroom capacity suffers a severe shortage; queues for ladies' rooms and beer concessions stretch long meters, easily causing late returns and missing the third-quarter kickoff.