Saints and Superdome commission at odds over renovation payments with the Super Bowl on the horizon

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The state commission that oversees the Superdome and the New Orleans Saints are at odds over the club’s contribution to the costs of renovations scheduled for completion before the stadium hosts the next Super Bowl.

Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (LSED) board members were informed by staff at a board meeting Wednesday that the Saints have fallen $11.5 million behind on their share of payments toward the renovations since making their last installment in December.

Team executives, however, said later that the club has been withholding payment since December because of the commission’s failure to provide requested documentation.

“We have reached out to the LSED on numerous occasions,” the Saints said in a written statement provided by Greg Bensel, the club’s senior vice president of communications, broadcasting and community and government relations.