The dispute over Tulane's new stadium draws a big crowd to the first in a series of community meetings.
A lot of Tulane's neighbors don't want to see a stadium on Ben Weiner Drive that can accommodate 32,000 seats. But supporters say the stadium is desperately needed for a university trying to re-ignite its football program.
Uptown resident Elizabeth Martin and her family are strong supporters of a new Tulane stadium -- one that would be less than a block from their home.
"The team and all of the supporters just got lost in the vastness of the [Superdome] and you felt like very alienated," said Martin.
"I think it makes a really big difference. Without having a physical plant, the football program kind of gets lost, and it's sort of a non-entity right now, especially compared to all the other schools in the region which have all these big football programs," said Elizabeth's daughter Olivia.
There are deep emotions on both sides of this issue. Critics of the planned Tulane stadium worry about parking and traffic problems spilling over into nearby neighborhoods.
Wednesday, Uptown residents got the opportunity to speak out about the proposed plans.
"The 30,000-person size, which is just about twice as big as the New Orleans Arena... and that's going to fit right in the middle of a residential neighborhood in a campus that is zoned residentially," said Jane Ettinger-Booth, an attorney representing Uptown residents.
"We've already made a lot of design changes in the stadium as a result of the conversations, so I think we can make additional changes as we go forward," said Yvette Jones, Exec. V.P. of Tulane Relations and Development.
Nothing can move forward until there is a resolution on the proposed interim zoning district. That controversial proposal would give the City Planning Commission oversight of the stadium project and could delay construction.
"The architects have already lowered the stadium on the Audubon Blvd. side. I mean, they've made a lot of adjustments on the feedback that we've got," said Jones.
Mayor Landrieu says he vows to do everything he can to make sure the new Tulane stadium project doesn't get delayed.
"Football, culturally, is such an important part of New Orleans and the rest of the south, and it's a sport that people tend to easily gather around. But not so at Tulane," said Olivia Martin.
The new stadium would sit on campus along a stretch of Ben Weiner Dr., right behind Tulane's recreation center.
The next community meeting is set for Monday, June 18.
