| |
By Meredith Craig
Here are some of the great truths
about devastating Hurricane Katrina that made landfall in New Orleans, LA in
August 2005. The hurricane was one of the five deadliest hurricanes in
United States history. Almost every levee in metro New Orleans breached as
Hurricane Katrina passed east of the city, subsequently flooding 80% of the
city and many areas of neighboring parishes for weeks. Approximately 1,840
lost their lives from Hurricane Katrina and the estimated damage was around
$81 .2 billion.
Almost everyone saw the images on the news of the
stranded motorists, flooded
areas, the destroyed city and the devastated souls. Marco Perez, general
man-ager of the Lakefront Arena at The University of New Orleans, was no
exception.
As with everyone in the city, we too were affected,”
said Perez. “As a revenue producer for The University of New Orleans, the
Lakefront Arena, prior to Hurricane Katrina, contributed an average of $1 .4
million in revenue to the University annually; however, after the hurricane
the arena had to pass on several shows resulting in a large loss of
revenue.”
The Lakefront Arena was destroyed in the storm
resulting in the need to repair and rebuild much of the interior and
exterior structure. The damage included subsequent disfigurement of the
roof. “The entire roof was missing when I saw the building. If the tiles had
not been sucked out by the storm they had come crashing down into the
arena,” said Perez.
This resulted in a great amount of water damage and
mold when the building started to dry out. In addition, the metal fascia on
the outside of the facility was in need of great repair due to the high
winds that tormented it during the storm. There are four ramps that lead in
to the facility that also needed to be refinished. Inside the building there
were several areas ravaged by the storm. The following needed repair: 8,700
fixed seats, theatrical curtain winch system, scoreboard, lighting control
system, audio PA system, spotlights, skybox, all concession stands and
coolers, concourse flooring, restrooms, Star Suites production offices, and
visiting team rooms. Renovations were needed to many of the arena offices
and meeting rooms. New folding chairs and a new basketball floor were also
needed to be put back into the arena, and the marquee needed repair as well.
According to Perez, “The Federal Emergency Management Agency
and the Louisiana State Facility Planning and Control as well as the
architects and engineers from Holly & Smith and Crumb Engineering were
instrumental throughout the reconstruction and repairs to the Lakefront
Arena.”
Rebuilding
Not only was the building where Perez had been working for 25 years
destroyed, but he had to rebuild his own life simultaneously, having also
been affected by the flood. While Perez is currently the general manager of
the UNO Lakefront Arena, he has been an active and involved member of the
UNO community for more than 25 years. In addition, he is an active member of
the International Association of Assembly Managers.
As a political science student, Perez’s intentions were
to graduate and attend law school. Perez began to realize his passion for
UNO when he began working at the Lakefront Arena in security in 1983. After
catching a glimmer of the excitement backstage, he continued his career path
working his way up from event coordinator to assistant general manager and
now to general manager, a position he has held since 1997.
New Orleans had a rebuilding effort of momentous
proportions. The pain, suffering and challenges that the people were facing
were catastrophic. Everyone one thing that no one could predict, the soul of
the city. New Orleans is known for its Cajun influences and its mystique
that can be found in the quaint shops in the French Quarter. So when the
people of this city were confronted with devastation and disaster giving in
was not an option because Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler (Let the Good Times
Roll) is a way of life.
The Lakefront Arena was no different and neither were
Perez and his staff. After almost three years of renovation and repair, The
University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena reopened its doors to the public
on May 2, 2008 in a grand ceremony fit for all of those that love New
Orleans.
Pulling up in front of the building you would never
know the damage that had been present a few years earlier. You could not see
any remnants of the shards of roof that had been hanging from the top, or
the water damage, and there were even new plants included in the landscaping
outside. The building was like a string of Mardi Gras beads, sparkling,
shining and whispering a promise of fun and entertainment associated with
it.
The Sound of Happiness
The ribbon cutting that ensued was a time for reflection, honor and
celebration. Mayor C. Ray Nagin was part of the festivities, lending his
support to this exciting occasion, as well as many other industry
colleagues, university officials, friends and family.
“We were so thrilled with the turn out for this historic day in the life of
the
Lakefront Arena. This was the light at the end of a very long tunnel and I
could not imagine a more perfect grand opening,” said Perez.
After the ribbon cutting, it was time to open the doors
for the evening’s event, High School Musical – The Ice Tour. As the families
poured into the arena and sat in their seats complete with glow sticks,
cotton candy, and lots of laughter it was heart stopping to look up at the
seats and the roof and to imagine the last time something poured in to the
facility. Water, tons of it, complete with destruction and loss of hope. But
hope and soul won out and as Perez got up to welcome the crowd, they roared.
The sound of happiness is much louder than the sound of devastation!
Perez walked to the microphone placed on the floor in
the middle of the arena. “Thank you for being part of our historic grand
reopening. Are you all ready for High School Musical – The Ice Tour?” The
exhilarated crowd grew in power and sound and the joy overflowed. “Then let
the show begin!” The music started and as the graceful skaters took the ice
there had to have been a feeling of awe from them, thinking, “I am part of
history here.”
After the show, there was a cast party and in the green
room there was a book complete with newspaper clippings from the beginning
of the hurricane disaster through the rebuilding efforts. It was inspiring
to see the cast take a moment to pour over the pages and see what they had
been a part of that evening. As the celebration continued, Perez took a
moment to take a break and rest his feet in his office. His temporary office
is a small room with a desk and little room for anything else. The permanent
offices are not finished yet, but there are windows in there that overlook
the lake and the new exterior of the building, another reminder of the ashes
of struggle from which this building rose and now flies on the wings of
hope.
“Now that the Lakefront Arena has officially reopened,
the concerts, family shows and graduations are in full swing,” said Perez.
“We’ve hosted 18 graduation ceremonies and held other exciting events
including Katt Williams, the 25th Annual WYES International Beer Tasting,
Carrie Underwood, The Wiggles (July 27), and Playhouse Disney Live!
(December 12) with quite a bit more on the books. Promoters and event
planners are as excited to be back at the UNO Lakefront Arena as I am.”
The repairs were numerous and the cost was
approximately $25 million, but a price tag cannot be placed on the patron
experiences that will result from attending the events there. As
Lowell would suggest, “Great souls are portions of eternity” and New Orleans
also has a saying “Soul is Water-proof.” So it can be suggested that these
waterproof souls in New Orleans and at the Lakefront Arena are portions of
eternity that have risen from the water to hope. The University of New
Orleans Arena could not have set a more perfect example.
fm
Meredith Craig is
public relations manager for IAAM and was in New Orleans for the re-opening
of the UNO Lakefront Arena on May 2. Contact her at meredith.craig@iaam.org.
|
|
Back to Facility Manager
Contents
