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Organizers Pledge Return of Bayou Classic to New Orleans

Photo credit: Nikki G. Bannister/Southern Digest Damages to the Louisiana Superdome from Hurricane Katrina include holes in the roof and damage to the new turf.

By Nicole McQuitter
Black College Wire

After Hurricane Katrina ransacked southeastern Louisiana in August and caused flooding and wind damage to the Louisiana Superdome, many people – particularly sports fans – were left wondering would become of the landmark.

Fans of the Bayou Classic, the Grambling State vs. Southern University contest that is the most famous rivalry in black college football, did not know if or where the 32nd nationally televised game would be held.

The Superdome hosted the Bayou Classic since 1975 – the year the facility opened – and accommodated as many as 76,000 fans. But in September, a committee announced the historic game, which took place Nov. 26, would be moved to Houston's Reliant Stadium. And while some fans welcomed the road trip, Vanessa Harris-Adams was not among them.

"I did want to go, but I decided that it's just not going to be the same as being in the Superdome," Adams said. "Having the game in the Superdome is like having Thanksgiving dinner at your family's home."

Adams said another reason she would not attend was that she had grown accustomed to the surroundings and the events that complimented the Superdome. "You just couldn't get that in Houston," she said. A graduate of both universities, Adams said she always stayed in the adjoining Hyatt Regency Hotel so she could walk to other shopping and entertainment venues before and after the game.

"Besides, we just left Houston," Adams said. "And going that distance twice isn't the same as if you're going to New Orleans twice to see Jackson State and then Grambling State face Southern."

Glenn Menard, general manager of the Superdome, said SMG, the facility's management group, is doing everything possible to make sure the Bayou Classic comes back to New Orleans soon. He said sentiments such as Adams' are what urge a speedy, yet thorough restoration process for the Superdome.

"It was a tough call to make when we had to tell Ralph Slaughter and other coordinators that we couldn't have the game," Menard said. Slaughter is Southern University System vice president as well as the school's Bayou Classic Coordinator.

The interruption of business at the Superdome is "really serious," Menard said. Bill Curl, the Superdome's coordinator of media relations, said the damage was not as nearly bad as it could have been.

He said the most severe damage was to the roof, where holes were formed from storm damage. He said the turf, a new type called Momentum that was installed in 2004, is replaced every year, so water damage to the field was not important.

Curl did say that while evacuees where staying in the Superdome, suites and other offices were vandalized. The infrastructure, however, stood up to the storm very well, he said, adding that components such as air conditioning and fiber optic wiring were pretty much intact.

Southern and Grambling State were the first teams to play each other on the new turf, and the two teams could be the first to return back to the Superdome for action.

Doug Thornton, SMG regional vice president, said repairs to the Superdome could start at $125 million.

"We just hired an architect" on Nov. 10, Menard said. "We certainly want the Bayou Classic back here as soon as possible."

Nicole McQuitter, a student at Southern University, writes for the Southern Digest.

Posted Nov. 25, 2005; Updated Nov. 27, 2005