Final Four makeover

While New Orleans prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for the NCAA Final Four men's basketball championship, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome has its own interior preparations under way to add a new seating configuration, a new scoreboard and the playing surface.

The games take place in the Superdome on March 31 and April 2, but related events are taking place across the city. Because Tulane is the host institution for the Final Four, many Tulane staff members are involved in the planning and production.

Work crews prepare changes to the Superdome floor. A massive, octagon-shaped scoreboard (framework at top) will be lifted above the basketball court.

The busy Superdome floor is the setting for a press conference with Randy Philipson, director of engineering and operations for the SMG/Mercedes Benz Superdome.

Scaffolding gets installed for more than 17,000 temporary seats that will bring fans close to the basketball action. The overall configuration in the Superdome will allow more than 74,000 fans to see the game.