08-30-2005, 04:55 PM
With all the hurricane damage to Mobile and the surrounding areas, how do you think this will affect the GMAC bowl later in the year? (And yes i know this is a minor or bottom of the list worry relative to everything else)
08-30-2005, 04:55 PM
08-30-2005, 06:36 PM
It looked like a lot of the flood footage that was coming out of Mobile was mostly of downtown, which is pretty close to Mobile Bay.
Ladd-Pebbles Stadium isn't near the water and I don't see any mention of it in news reports. So, for what it's worth, the stadium is probably intact.
Ladd-Pebbles Stadium isn't near the water and I don't see any mention of it in news reports. So, for what it's worth, the stadium is probably intact.
08-31-2005, 08:23 AM
I <a href='http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php?p=2458&cat=17' target='_blank'>blogged on this yesterday</a>.
The real question for Mobile (and New Orleans, which hosts two bowls!) is not "will the stadium be ready?" The big question is, will the cities' infrastructure be ready to handle the influx of people and media. Downtown Mobile is where all the bowl week action takes place. Will the hotels and other businesses be back on their feet by December? What about the Big Easy? Sure looks like they have more than a few months of work to do before any big events. :(
The real question for Mobile (and New Orleans, which hosts two bowls!) is not "will the stadium be ready?" The big question is, will the cities' infrastructure be ready to handle the influx of people and media. Downtown Mobile is where all the bowl week action takes place. Will the hotels and other businesses be back on their feet by December? What about the Big Easy? Sure looks like they have more than a few months of work to do before any big events. :(
08-31-2005, 08:27 AM
BGSUalum1987 Wrote:I <a href='http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php?p=2458&cat=17' target='_blank'>blogged on this yesterday</a>.I can't see it happenning in New Orleans for the Sugar and NO bowls. I bet they will be played still, maybe at LSU's stadium or something.
The real question for Mobile (and New Orleans, which hosts two bowls!) is not "will the stadium be ready?" The big question is, will the cities' infrastructure be ready to handle the influx of people and media. Downtown Mobile is where all the bowl week action takes place. Will the hotels and other businesses be back on their feet by December? What about the Big Easy? Sure looks like they have more than a few months of work to do before any big events. :(
They are talking about a month to pump all the water out of the city of New Orleans. Then they have to rebuild the majority of the city. The mayor said it will be 2 1/2-3 months before kids go back to school at the earliest.
08-31-2005, 09:27 AM
USA Today has raised the possibility of the Saints playing out the season in Louisiana State's stadium.
They didn't mention this, but another option might be Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. It seats 60,000.
They didn't mention this, but another option might be Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. It seats 60,000.
08-31-2005, 09:41 AM
"We are looking at 12 to 16 weeks before people can come in," Mayor Ray Nagin said on ABC's "Good Morning America, "and the other issue that's concerning me is have dead bodies in the water. At some point in time the dead bodies are going to start to create a serious disease issue."
<a href='http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/1-08312005-534854.html' target='_blank'>Governor: Everyone Must Leave New Orleans</a>
That's three or four months before people can even go into the city. We're talking November or December. They'll have to play the game elsewhere, for sure.
As for logistics ...
"At the same time, sections of Interstate 10, the only major freeway leading into New Orleans from the east, lay shattered, dozens of huge slabs of concrete floating in the floodwaters."
Obviously, this disaster goes way beyond football, but the New Orleans bowls will clearly have to be moved. I haven't seen a lot of coverage of the damage to Mobile. But many of the roads that lead to the city from the west (I-10, pretty much anything from Mississippi) are out for now.
<a href='http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/1-08312005-534854.html' target='_blank'>Governor: Everyone Must Leave New Orleans</a>
That's three or four months before people can even go into the city. We're talking November or December. They'll have to play the game elsewhere, for sure.
As for logistics ...
"At the same time, sections of Interstate 10, the only major freeway leading into New Orleans from the east, lay shattered, dozens of huge slabs of concrete floating in the floodwaters."
Obviously, this disaster goes way beyond football, but the New Orleans bowls will clearly have to be moved. I haven't seen a lot of coverage of the damage to Mobile. But many of the roads that lead to the city from the west (I-10, pretty much anything from Mississippi) are out for now.
08-31-2005, 12:45 PM
Ok at 12 to 16 weeks you are looking at the week of Christmas as to when they can be in order.
Take it to the bank.
New Orleans Bowl and Sugar Bowl will be played elsewhere. My guess is that the New Orleans Bowl will be in Lafayette. The Sugar might move to Baton Rouge or else will need to leave the state.
Saints to Baton Rouge will only handle a few games. LSU's AD said they don't have the capability to be ready for a Sunday afternoon game following a Saturday night Tiger game.
Take it to the bank.
New Orleans Bowl and Sugar Bowl will be played elsewhere. My guess is that the New Orleans Bowl will be in Lafayette. The Sugar might move to Baton Rouge or else will need to leave the state.
Saints to Baton Rouge will only handle a few games. LSU's AD said they don't have the capability to be ready for a Sunday afternoon game following a Saturday night Tiger game.