A NEW DIMENSION UNDER COVER

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 11

A NEW DIMENSION UNDER COVER

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JOHN DRUMMOND

Owned by the people of Louisiana and built by them at a cost of sl63m as a public facility, the Louisiana Superdrome rises 273 ft into the skyline of NewOrleans like an enormous space-ship.

It occupies a total land area of 52 acres (building, grounds and garages). Inside the huge' span of the dome (680 ft across) lie no fewer than 52 convention or meeting rooms, 88 rest rooms and 64 private box suites. There is also garage space for 15,000 cars and 250 buses.

The stadium itself, covering 13 acres completely, reaches 27 stories at its peak. To reach these 27 stories there are 32 escalators and 9 lifts, including one for freight. Unobstructed by supporting posts or pillars,, the stadium has become the world’s largest steel constructed “room." Like Rome’s ancient Colosseum, the Superdrome has been designed so that multitudes may view live performances by athletes, musicians, actors and so om A New York newspaper said of it while under construction: “The Louisiana Superdrome will make all other stadiums as obsolete as Rome’s Colosseum.” All sports As well as offering vast audiences sporting events, concerts with massed orchestras, stage productions, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions, the building houses restaurants, cocktail lounges, shops, offices and a medical centre. Every major sport is catered for. On the main stadium floor there is room for more than 900 exhibition or convention booths, each one being supplied (by means of a conduit system) with communications', electric powet, gas. air, water, steam and drainage according to need. The stadium floor of this building possesses the world’s largest “carpet” smooth grass-covered turf that can be rolled out as required then rolled back again for, say, conventions and trade shows.

The building was designed for the spectator: his arrival, his stay, his viewing, seating and convenience,. the air he breathes, the sound he hears, his thirst, hunger and body Comforts, his contact with the game, his physical contact with the building, his peace of mind as to his movement, parking, safety and easy exit. Conventions One may imagine that the seating capacity would be the same number whatever the event. But not so. For instance, while the configuration or structural arrangement for conventions provides seats for 97,365, and that for football has. seats for 71,827 spectators, yet for basketball there are seats for only 18,886 people. The stadium is designed to have no bad seats. Even if a spectator is

seated the greatest possible distance from the stadium floor, he has merely to transfer his gaze to the giant gondola suspended front the centre of the building, to see, in colour, with close-ups and even “instant replays,” every aspect of the event on huge TV screens, each 22 feet wide and 26 feet high. Each of these screens is almost 900 times larger than the average home TV screen. Moving seats The ground-level grandstand sections seating 18,000 spectators are arranged to move in and out on iron rails, propelled by electric motors. A push of a button moves sideline seats in close to form an arena configuration for basketball, hockey, ice shows or other arena events. One may wonder if there could be a mad rush for

the exits once an event is over. Immediately after a football game highlights of the contest as well as live locker room interviews with the stars and coaches

of the game will be shown over the TV system. This additional TV attraction is expected to keep a large portion of the crowd in their seats.

And the fire detection, lighting and evacuation arrangements are on a scale with everything else in this huge and elaborate building.