An Aging Cajundome Seeks $3.9 Million For Upgrades

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The 20-year-old Cajundome in New Orleans is showing its age and venue director Greg Davis is asking $3.9 million from Lafayette Consolidated Government over five years for upgrades.

Davis told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser that more than $14 million is needed “to keep the arena working in good order and also looking presentable." The paper reports that Davis will ask the state for $10.5 million (73 percent), and city-parish government for $3.9 million (27 percent).

Davis said $1.2 million in capital funds for 2004-05 was requested; he received $100,000. In the past, the building received about $300,000 a year for capital spending, about one-third the amount asked for. Dee Stanley, city-parish chief administrative officer told the paper, "that's about on par with what has happened with all internal city departments.”

“If we don’t start reinvesting, it will start to look like a dilapidated building,” Davis said. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner