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LSCD brief: post‑Super Bowl receipts, $125 million FY26 recommendation and $29 million debt service
Summary
Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District officials told the committee FY2026 recommended resources of roughly $125.3 million, noted revenue growth from marquee events (Super Bowl 59, Taylor Swift dates), and flagged $29.2 million of debt service tied to facility renovations and the Superdome project.
Chas Nicholson of Senate Finance staff presented the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (LSCD) budget to the committee and said FY2024 actual spending was about $138.9 million while the FY2026 recommended means of finance is roughly $125.3 million.
Nicholson and Daniel Burke of ASM Global described the agency’s funding structure: about 84% of LSCD receipts are self‑generated statutory dedications and facility revenues. The three principal statutory dedications shown in the presentation were (1) the New Orleans Sports Franchise Fund (1% hotel sales tax in Orleans Parish), (2) the Sports Facility Assistance Fund (nonresident player income tax), and (3) the Sports Franchise Assistance Fund (slot revenue from the Fairgrounds racetrack). Nicholson said those dedicated streams totaled about $20 million in the FY26 recommendation and that discretionary operating budgets depend heavily on hotel and event activity.
Why it matters: LSCD oversees large state facilities — the Caesars Superdome, the Smoothie King Center and related venues — and its budget is influenced by event calendars and debt service tied to capital projects. The presentation noted the Superdome renovation concluded in FY25 and Super Bowl 59 generated significant activity that should show up in hotel tax receipts for February 2025.
Key figures: Nicholson described category breakdowns including roughly $42.7 million in team lease entitlements (Saints and Pelicans), with $25.8 million budgeted for the Saints and $16.9 million for the Pelicans in FY26; a debt‑service line of about $29.2 million; facility operating figures including $27.6 million for the Superdome and $7.5 million for the Smoothie King Center; and approximately $63.2 million from a 4¢ hotel tax dedicated to LSCD in the FY26 means of finance.
Board, operations and contracts: Nicholson noted that LSCD contracts with ASM Global for facility operation. Daniel Burke of ASM thanked the committee for state support of the Superdome renovation and for resources to support the successful Super Bowl weekend; Burke said the Super Bowl and other high‑profile events are expected to drive near‑term hotel tax receipts and other self‑generated revenue.
Questions and follow up: Senator Stein asked for more detail on the Sports Franchise Assistance Fund and the slot revenue line; ASM said that funding is relatively small ($1.7 million) but longstanding and that staff will provide a multi‑year breakout of statutory‑dedication receipts and how each fund is allocated.
