New Orleans, LA – March 2026. New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson has submitted a plan to expand the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The expansion will add 80,000 square feet of office space, designed to serve both the football operations and business departments of the team.

The number of parking spaces will also increase from 275 to 435 to meet the growing needs of the team. The expansion will be located on the east side of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, facing I-10.

Although this is a significant step, the plan comes amidst major changes in the Saints’ leadership and long-term development plans. Fans are understandably concerned about the future of the team.

Gayle Benson shared, “We are committed to investing in the community and the people of this city. This new project will create many jobs and help many people. However, we may have to wait for state approval before we can move forward.”

The plan was submitted in December 2025, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2026 and complete by fall 2028.

However, Governor Jeff Landry’s reaction has left the Saints community disappointed. He expressed concerns about the cost and practicality of the project, as the city also needs valuable land for other investments.

Landry raised concerns that investing heavily in sports infrastructure, while lacking good options for other projects, may not be the most sensible approach. “The community needs clarity from the team’s leadership about the future of the team,” he said.

Landry’s response has frustrated Saints fans. They believe rejecting this expansion plan is unfair to the team, especially considering the potential benefits it could bring to the community.

While expanding the Ochsner Sports Performance Center is necessary to remain competitive, concerns about the team’s future have left the Saints community uneasy.

With construction slated to begin in the summer of 2026, Saints fans will continue to follow the project’s progress.

They hope that these decisions will bring positive changes for the team in the near future.