But landing the Super Bowl for the 10th time likely won't happen until the Saints and the state reach an agreement to extend the team's lease at the Superdome, which expires after the 2010 season. Officials from both sides have been discussing an extension in earnest during the past few months.

"We've had ongoing conversations with the team for several months," said Doug Thornton, regional vice president for SMG, the company that manages the Superdome and New Orleans Arena for the state. "I don't think it's been any secret. We talked about it back last spring. The governor has said publicly that these sports teams are important to the economic base of the city and state."

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said "our relationship with the state is very strong, and it starts with Gov. (Bobby) Jindal's leadership. Our discussions are very productive, and we are pleased thus far with the progress. We have made substantial progress in our discussions. Both parties are aware of the importance of reaching a long-term agreement."

Thornton and Ron Forman, chairman of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, who are heading discussions on behalf of the state, and members of the Saints' front office have already identified a common objective: upgrading the Superdome.

"It's important to be a major league player in sports that you constantly have to upgrade the facility," Forman said. "It's our hope and plan in the short term that the Superdome can meet all the needs of the Saints and professional sports and collegiate sports that we don't have to build a new stadium. It's a much better investment to continue to upgrade what we have than to start all over again. So we are looking for new opportunities to improve it. We are looking for revenue opportunities that make it a better deal for both the Saints and the state."

Under the current agreement, the state will pay the team $23.5 million a year through the 2010 season as part of the 10-year, $186 million deal the team signed in 2001. The money was expected to come from the city's hotel-motel tax, but after two major hits to the city's tourism economy -- the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 -- the state has had to step in to make up the shortfall.

The LSED is hopeful that the sides can reach an agreement without large subsidies from the state.

Much of the negotiation has centered on ways the sides can produce more game-day income for the Saints, while reducing the need for state subsidies.

Under a plan devised by sports architect Ellerbe Becket and pitched by the state, the Superdome, which underwent a $200 million renovation after Katrina, would undergo more upgrades.

The biggest of the proposed projects would change the geometry of lower bowl seating, allowing for an additional 3,000 seats there.

The plan also calls for widening the plaza concourse from 18 feet to 60 feet by closing in the space where the bridges are located. The extra concourse area would expand the restroom and concession capacity.

According to the plans, the 300-level press box also could be moved one floor higher, allowing for more than a dozen suites to be built that would generate extra revenue. The Saints sell the 137 suites in the Superdome, which have been sold out since the 2006 season, for $90,000 to $150,000 a year.

LSED officials had no estimate on how much another renovation to the Dome would cost.

Another plan being pitched by the state and considered by the Saints is building a premium club in the area that would be vacated by the press box.

Although neither side has placed a timetable on consummating a deal, if an agreement can be reached by the beginning of 2009, the deal could then be voted on during the Legislature's spring session.

Hopes for Super Bowl

Ideally, the state and the Saints would reach an agreement on a new lease soon and have the deal approved during the spring. That would put the Saints in a good position to bid on the 2013 Super Bowl during the NFL meetings in May.

The city's chances of landing the NFL championship game, which has an estimated economic impact of about $400 million, appear good.

Several iNFLuential NFL owners have already said they would support a New Orleans bid on the 2013 Super Bowl.

Saints owner Tom Benson said he tried to bid on 2012 Super Bowl, but his fellow owners wouldn't support it because there wasn't a lease deal in place.

"As we stated, our discussions with the state have been very productive," said Bensel, the Saints spokesman. "That is what is most important. There is no set deadline to conclude an agreement; but obviously, we would like to reach a long-term solution sooner rather than later as we draw near the conclusion of our 2010 agreement. In addition, Mr. Benson has stated that it is his intention to seek a Super Bowl for New Orleans once again. To accomplish this as early as 2013, we would need our agreement finalized."

New Orleans hasn't hosted a Super Bowl since 2002, a span that will stretch to at least 11 years, the longest ever for a host city that was once part of the league's regular rotation with Pasadena, Calif., and Miami.

LSED officials said they are aware of the NFL's recent practice of awarding Super Bowls to cities that have new stadiums -- Indianapolis (2012), Phoenix (2008), Detroit (2006) and Houston (2004) -- or are building one now -- Dallas (2011).

"Our working relationship with the Saints is the best that it's ever been," Thornton said. "We are working together as a team to look ahead and look forward to what the team will need to do in order to remain competitive and what the building will need to remain competitive with other facilities as it relates to the NFL and other events."

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Nakia Hogan can be reached at nhogan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405