NEW ORLEANS, La. – Indoor and outdoor sports facilities are part of an ambitious plan to redevelop the former site of New Orleans’ Six Flags theme park.
The park, which was mostly destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has sat vacant for almost two decades with several proposed revamps that never came to fruition.
However, as reported by nola.com, a new $900-million redevelopment master plan for the lands was recently unveiled to the public.
The plan calls for 30 acres of outdoor sports fields as well as almost 185,000 square feet of indoor basketball and volleyball courts and training facilities.
The outdoor space would include a FIFA-size soccer field, regulation Little League fields, NCAA softball fields, four acres of shade structures, and parking for more than 3,000 vehicles.
The indoor portion would include eight NBA-sized basketball courts, 16 regulation volleyball courts, one championship arena court with seating, and 15,000 square feet of performance training space. It is estimated the sports complex would eventually welcome more than 180,000 attendees annually.
Other elements include a water park resort with two hotels, retail space, movie studios, and go-karts, among others.
The article states the redevelopment proposal from Bayou Phoenix is guided by city resident and businessman Troy Henry. It was reported this is the largest concept for the vacant lands and has progressed further than any other ideas, however, it was also noted financing still needs to be secured and no tenants have signed onto the project.
The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority would have final approval on a lease for the lands, but it is unclear when that would come.
According to the article, the plan was well received by attendees of a meeting at a local church.
If approved, Bayou Phoenix would need to complete construction within three years.
