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Cajundome Renovations: Cajundome’s new look a huge hitKevin Foote, The Advertiser, Nov. 30, 2016 The Cajundome didn’t move to a new location. Structurally, it’s the same building that opened back in 1986. But when the $21.2 million renovation project began in May, the idea was to make it feel like a completely different arena once you’ve walked inside. On Tuesday, the incredibly unique new court design was unveiled to area media and later in an official unveiling to thousands of fans. The first impressions from UL Ragin’ Cajuns basketball players after practicing on the new Swamp floor was … mission accomplished. "When we first walked in, I was like, ‘Wow’," UL women’s senior guard Jaylyn Gordon said. "It looked like I was at an NBA game. "Everyone was so excited the first time we practiced on it (Monday). It was a great practice. Everybody was practicing at game speed." So many things about the arena has changed. The new LED lighting is almost immediately noticeable. If not that, the primary color of black with the new seats and walls all being black now to direct all the focus to the court area. THE NEW CAJUNDOME: 30 projects tackled in $22M Cajundome renovation | Taste the Cajundome’s new concessions | New Cajundome filled with change Many more will enjoy the new lights and the improved background than just the photographers, videographers and basketball players, Cajundome Operations Manager Phil Ashurst said Tuesday. Visiting tours like WWE Wrestling, he said, have disliked the white walls in the Cajundome for years and are ecstatic over the new changes. "(UL freshman forward) Justin Miller thought it looked like the Indiana Pacers arena," UL men’s coach Bob Marlin said. "I mean, it looks like an NBA arena. “The floor is really nice. The seating’s nice. The lighting. Everything is more fan friendly. … Just the atmosphere. … We’re very proud of the building. We think it is gonna help us with recruiting. We certainly have shown it off.”  A straight-on top-level view of the new Cajundome court that features a silhouette of a cypress swamp on Lake Martin was unveiled to media and fans Tuesday. (Photo: LEE CELANO/THE ADVERTISER)
Somewhat similar to the Oregon forest court, UL’s new floor has a Lake Martin swamp scene on the court with a black framing around the court and be Ragin’ Cajun logo at center court. “There’s not gonna be another one like it in the country," Marlin said. "Praters (Praters Hardwood Floors) floor, from Chattanooga, is gonna use it as a benchmark for them. The head of their company came down to make sure it was installed correctly. They were amazed at the layout, the design, and they were able to put it together exactly the way we wanted it." READ MORE: SNEAK PEEK INTO NEW CAJUNDOME UL junior forward Bryce Washington also gave a big thumbs up to the new court design. “Oh, man. I love it," Washington said. "The swamp. It’s gonna be to our advantage. “It was fun playing (at Blackham), especially when some of the old players from USL come and watch us play. I think we have more energy when (those) guys came and (saw) us play. But I think a lot of people are excited to see the ’Dome. I (saw) it the other day. It’s gonna be a sight to see.” UL women’s coach Garry Brodhead said he loves the identity that the new-look Cajundome gives his program. From the player banners in the front lobby to the historic timeline on the walls focusing on the history of both the men’s and women’s programs from Earl K. Long to Blackham Coliseum to the Cajundome itself to the many photos of former players, the new-look Cajundome has basically been transformed into a Cajun basketball shrine. “Before, it was nice, but there was the IceGators and other things,” Gordon said. “Now it feels like it’s all about UL basketball. You see us all over the walls. You can walk around and see former players all over the walls. It’s very exciting.” Brodhead said when he first became the coach, his initial stance was that “you couldn’t build a Division I program playing in Earl K. (Long gym).” So even though his women didn’t play every game in the Cajundome, playing most of them there helped me fight off the negative-recruiting that they played in a “middle school gym.” But this new-look Cajundome brings recruiting to all new heights. “I think it’s really going to help us in recruiting,” Brodhead said. “We just had a great recruiting class and a lot of that had to do with facilities.” What can you do with $22 million and six months? Give the Cajundome a complete makeover. Some of the renovations are immediately seen, such as the new seats in the arena and the new coating on the arena roof. Others are less visible but equally important, such as the upgraded fire protection system and the enhanced electrical system. These are the renovations that took place during the Cajundome renovation closure from May to November. 1. The south lobby concession stands were renovated and upgraded to include equipment to grill and fry on site, providing an enhanced menu selection. 2. The ceiling in the south lobby was elevated from about 8 feet to 12 feet. 3. The ground-level restrooms were renovated. 4. The first-aid room was moved to the south lobby for greater visibility and access. 5. All ground-level interior doors were replaced. 6. University of Louisiana at Lafayette graphics were installed in the south lobby, upper concourse and lower concourse. 7. Graphics that tell the history of UL basketball were installed in the lower concourse. 8. A hallway was installed from the arena to the east and west ground-level restrooms to ease wait times at the south lobby restrooms. 9. Half of the retractable seating was converted to permanent seating to install portals beneath seats. 10. All seats in the arena were replaced. 11. The arena lighting system was replaced with an LED lighting system. 12. The arena sound system was upgraded. 13. The scoreboard and video screens were refurbished. 14. Extra seats were installed behind each basketball goal. 15. A new seating bowl effect was created for UL basketball games. 16. The entire interior of the arena was repainted in a black and gray theme. 17. Handrails were installed on the arena steps from the lower to the upper levels. 18. Thirty-seven TVs were installed throughout the concourse and south lobby to live broadcast arena events. 19. The basketball court was resurfaced using UL’s Cypress Lake as the theme. 20. New basketball goals were installed. 21. The fire protection system was upgraded and completely replaced. 22. The electrical system was enhanced. 23. All hallway, lobby and restroom lights were replaced with an LED lighting system. 24. The basketball TV lighting system was replaced with digital LED lights that are brighter and more concentrated on the court. 25. The seating capacity for basketball games was increased by 1,000. 26. The concert seating capacity was increased by 500 to 800. 27. New signage and a wayfinding system were installed. 28. Ribbon boards were relocated from behind goals to east and west of the basketball court. 29. The arena roof and metal roof were cleaned and recoated. 30. The upper-level concession stands and restrooms will be renovated (in progress). Here is a breakdown of where the $22,175,000 was spent.
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