Saints fans heading back to the Caesars Superdome on Sunday for the home opener will find more than just football on the menu.
The building is rolling out new food and drink options as part of the celebration of 60 seasons of Saints football, and the timing lines up with a team that comes home after last week’s win over Baltimore.
“A lot of people thought we couldn’t pull it out, but we did,” said Damon Petrie, a Saints fan.
Petrie plans to watch from home, but he’s already picturing the atmosphere inside the dome.
“I know the dome’s going to be rocking,” Petrie said. “Whoever in that dome, just make as much noise as y’all can.”
One of the biggest additions is a $6 value menu, built around stadium basics. Stephanie Singh, the assistant general manager of concessions and beverage, said the lineup includes familiar grab-and-go items.
“Hot dogs, nachos and our popcorn,” said Stephanie Singh, AGM of Concessions and Beverage. “Fans can find it at all of our markets on the 100 level, 200 level and 500 level.”
Beer service is getting a little local flair too, with Dome foam returning in a branded cup for the opener. New specialty cocktails will also be available, and Singh said the dome is ready for a packed house.
“We’re expecting a sold out crowd, so, we’re prepared,” Singh said.
The bigger menu story, though, is what the Saints and Superdome culinary staff cooked up during the offseason. Executive Chef Michael Cansler said the team spent months building items with a Louisiana angle, aiming to give fans something beyond the usual stadium fare.
Among the new offerings are a pork alligator burger, Tabasco wings and muffuletta pockets.
“We spend months in the off season trying to figure out what’s going to push the needle a little bit,” Cansler said.
He said fans have clearly been asking for more than the standard stadium lineup.
“Absolutely. I think you see over the years as food has changed in the stadiums and arenas, different elevations of food, different challenges. Not just chicken tenders and hot dogs anymore.”
Another item expected to draw attention is the new $35 Dome nachos, which come in a take-home vessel. Cansler said the portion is built for sharing and loaded with pork carnitas, Tostitos chips, Pico de Gallo, jalapenos and queso.
“Pork carnitas, great sponsorship with Tostitos. So, that’s the chips we use.
Obviously, Pico de Gallo, jalapenos, queso. Really looking to give the fans something that they can take with them home.
It’s a nice portion of nachos that really two or three people could share,” Cansler said.
For fans in the suites, there’s also a higher-end dessert option tied to the building itself. Executive Pastry Chef Alyx Abreu said the $60 commemorative Dessert Dome vessel is meant to echo one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
“There’s nothing more iconic in the city of New Orleans than the Superdome. When you’re coming into the city, it’s the first thing that you see,” Abreu said.
The dessert inside won’t stay the same from game to game.
“It is going to be a rotating trifle for every single game,” Abreu said.
With the Saints opening their home schedule and the franchise marking its 60th season, the Superdome’s food team says it’s trying to cover every kind of fan, from the budget-conscious to the suite-level crowd.
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