As the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans approaches 50, extensive renovations are underway to keep the facility competitive among the billion-dollar venues being constructed in today's NFL.
The current four-year, $450 million renovation to the building's interior is pushing forward despite 32 onsite workers testing positive for COVID-19. As reported by Sports Illustrated, the job site sees an average of 275 workers per day. Broadmoor LLC, the prime contractor for the facility's renovations, confirmed the workers who tested positive for COVID-19 are quarantined away from the site until they recover and can provide evidence of a negative test.
The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, which operates the Superdome, released a statement concerning the internal COVID-19 cases.
Broadmore LLC's official statement reads:
“We can confirm that in the last few weeks, 32 of the 275-plus daily workers on the project have tested positive for COVID-19. This post-Memorial Day increase is consistent with what 21 other states, not including Louisiana, are experiencing at this stage of the pandemic as they have lifted more restrictions for travel, shopping, and work.
“After learning of the affected workers, Broadmoor LLC implemented its coronavirus response plan to ensure that those affected workers had been isolated away from the job site. They will require these workers to complete the CDC-compliant protocol and provide Broadmoor LLC evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed back on the site. We have also increased mitigation measures such as mandatory masks to protect workers who remain on the job.
“From the beginning of this pandemic, we have considered this project essential under Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Executive Proclamation on March 22, 2020. Work has proceeded uninterrupted with mitigation steps that meet or exceed CDC protocols. Broadmoor and Superdome staff continue to work collectively to assure that all workers in the facility adhere to health and safety protocols, which includes access to hand-washing stations, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and that all workspaces are cleaned and sanitized daily. In addition, medical technicians administer temperature screenings for all workers who enter the Superdome each day, and Broadmoor has instituted social distancing measures, including staggered starts and breaks.”
