City Park and The Saints team up to upgrade football stadium

NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — The Pan American Stadium at New Orleans City Park, built in 1973, is due some needed upgrades, so with the help of the New Orleans Saints, and ahead of the upcoming 2024 high school football season, it’s receiving the first round of them.

The City Park Conservancy and and the City Park Improvement Association approved the three-phase renovations recently, totaling $3.1 million and being funded through several sources including FEMA, private donors and a turf donation from the Saints. This project marks the first major upgrades to the stadium since 2008.

Phase I of the renovations include replacing deteriorating turf with the synthetic turf donated by the Saints, as well as installation of new goal posts and netting, a new PA system and a new scoreboard. Equipment and training will also be provided in order to ensure that the renovated stadium is properly maintained.

The first phase of renovations are expected to be complete prior to the start of the high school football season on September 5. Officials expect that the upgrades will be highly beneficial to the athletes who will be playing on the field.

“This generous gift from the Saints not only improves the quality of the field that thousands of student and adult athletes will play on, but it is also the catalyst for the entire Pan Am renovation project, which will modernize and refurbish this important New Orleans institution,” said President and CEO of CPC, Rebecca Dietz.

Phase II of the upgrades, beginning in early 2025 and finishing by spring 2025, will include new stadium lighting funded by FEMA due to damages incurred from Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Phase III, which hasn’t yet been fully funded by donors, will feature bleacher repairs, locker room and bathroom renovations, press box repairs, stadium-wide door repairs and parking improvements.

“I’m delighted that the 11 high schools that call Pan Am their home field will benefit from these improvements. And I’m excited to see these updates help provide a return on investment to the community,” said Louisiana State Representative District 94, Stephanie Hilferty.

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