NEW ORLEANS — Green stuff covers the Poydras Street side of the Mercedes Benz Superdome in Downtown New Orleans.
WWL-TV drone video shows something clearly growing on the outside of the stadium, particularly in the northeast corner of the building.
Tourists visiting the dome told us the problem is pretty noticeable.
"It doesn't look great," Henry Marcelle from Australia said. "I'm not sure why it's there to be honest. Probably should have something done about it."
"Really cool building, nice stadium, but the green kind of brings it down I would say," Elliott Johnson from the UK said.
"The building is pretty huge," Juan Baltazar from Dallas said. "We wanted to stop by and look at it. We did notice the green stuff and wondering what that is."
LSU AgCenter horticulture agent Dr. Joe Willis took a look at pictures of the green stuff.
"That green stuff I believe is algae," Willis said.
Willis noted that algae can grow anywhere it can get some sunlight and where the moisture stays longer.
That side of the dome where the algae is most prevalent does not get much direct sunlight and it's shaded by some of the surrounding buildings.
"Because of it being shaded a good deal, then with the heavy dews and the rain and everything it stays moist longer, it stays wetter and that's what the algae needs," Willis said.
Dome spokesman Mike Hoss said SMG, the company that manages the facility for the state, is aware of the problem and a project to clean it was recently approved by the Superdome Commission.
Hoss added,"The exterior skin accounts for nearly 400,000 square feet. Thus, it is a significant and unique job, but one we are preparing for in the very near future.”
In the meantime, visitors say the dome's dirty appearance is disappointing.
"It is a bit of a shame to see something like that up there," Henry Marcelle, the visitor from Australia said.
Dr. Willis said the algae on the side of the dome may not be the same stuff growing on the stadium's roof.
That clean-up is on hold with the dome attorneys and the company that installed the new roof battling it out in court.
The roof was supposed to be mold and mildew resistant.