New Orleans- As part of the ongoing transformation at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a widespread revamp of concessions program is taking place. Hudson Group is scheduled to open their Saints store at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Friday, September 14.
The store of the Super Bowl XLIV Champions is located pre-security in the East Lobby near the entrance to Concourse B and is one of the star concession outlets coming to the airport.
The Saints store features a wide selection of licensed club merchandise, apparel and collectibles currently only found in their team store located in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.
"It is exciting to make the Saints a part of the renovations to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport," said Owner/Vice Chairman Rita Benson LeBlanc. "Through the collaborative efforts spearheaded by the Aviation Board and Hudson Group, we are pleased to offer visitors to the airport a vast array of Saints merchandising options that will quickly become a destination for travelers coming to and from our magical city and showcase the unique, high-quality merchandise our team store has to offer."
The new airport location will be 1,522 square feet and will provide jobs for nine employees operating from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The store will operate under the Airport Master Concessionaire – New Orleans Air Ventures II (NOAV II). The New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB) has entered into an agreement with NOAV II to provide a series of new and renovated properties for a total expenditure of over $4.7 million. Other store additions will come online in the next several months, with a full concessions revamp complete by early 2013.
"Our New Orleans Saints have a huge fan base across the country, even around the world. We are excited to be able to offer fans of the Saints that travel through Armstrong International a first-class retail outlet in an airport environment, "said Nolan V. Rollins, New Orleans Aviation Board Chairman. "It will be spectacular."
"Securing an agreement with the Saints organization to place a store in Armstrong International Airport is a big win for us at the Airport," said Iftikhar Ahmad, Airport Director of Aviation. "I want to thank Saints Owner/Vice Chairman Rita Benson LeBlanc for working on this project with us. This is another way to showcase our home team to our visitors and residents alike."
"The New Orleans Saints store is a great anchor store for all of the new concessions that we are adding at our airport. Even if our passengers cannot attend a Saints game, they can still take home a unique souvenir of the finest NFL football team in the country. You're going to continue to see major improvements at the Airport as we march toward the 2013 Super Bowl," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
