Skateboarders again take over old New Orleans airport terminal
If the new César Pelli-designed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport terminal, which opened to great fanfare in November 2019, wasn’t so visually impressive and full of amenities, the fact that the old terminal still stands intact, empty and visible across the airfield would be very sad.
Local aviation authorities hope to someday turn the old terminal into a thriving and profitable cargo and maintenance center. But in the meantime as the Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocated reported, the old terminal is earning its keep with cameo roles in film and TV productions.
One of those money-making events took place earlier this month, when celebrity skateboarders and skateboard crews from across the country rolled into to the old terminal facilities – and even onto the tarmac – for Red Bull’s second Terminal Takeover.
Here is a short video of pro skateboarder Jake Wooten showing off his skills – and the airport terminal transformation – from last year’s event.
“I couldn’t believe we were able to do Red Bull Terminal Takeover the first time,” Wooten said in a statement. “It was beyond my imagination. Being able to do it again is an opportunity I would never miss out on. Seeing the faces of everyone who walks in solidifies the reason why we’re doing this for the community.”
For this year’s event, eight crews of skaters, each with their own filmer, were let loose in the former terminal on custom-built parks that made use of concourses, the ticket lobby, the bag claim area and a jet bridge.
Benches, old airport signage, a golf cart, check-in countertops, a bag claim carousel, handrails, hallways, ledges and ramps were all fair game. And they were all put to clever use by the team building the space.
And the build-out numbers are impressive. The 12-person crew spent three weeks on pre-build and had just four days to assemble the parks on site. They used 37,000 pounds of ramp materials and three tractor loads of supplies.
That’s not all. The competing skate teams were permitted to add their own touches and each crew designed their own street-style obstacles as part of their video edits.
The layout was not only a skateboarder’s paradise, but it was also “something I don’t think anyone can recreate, except in a video game,” said Tony Hawk Pro Skater game character Kareem Campbell, one of the celebrity skateboarders on hand for the event.
As a bonus, before the Terminal Takeover competition kicked off, the skateboarding crews joined the skateboarding pros for an open skate session. The build-crew had created a 24-foot-wide, 5-foot-tall mini ramp out off a jet bridge on the MSY tarmac to allow skating while planes landed and took off in the distance. To top it off, Red Bull aerobatic pilot Kevin Coleman flew by with three low knife edge passes in his Extra 300 plane 15-feet over the mini ramp.
This year, the eight participating Terminal Takeover teams hailed from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Birmingham, Tupelo, the Florida Panhandle, Philadelphia and Nashville (last year’s winners). Each team will be submitting two-minute video compilations of their skating adventures in the old Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport terminal. And those final videos will be posted on May 10 on redbull.com for a fan-sourced vote. The winning crew will receive a $5,000 prize toward their local skate scene.
It all makes you wish MSY authorities don’t rush to find a permanent tenant for that old terminal, for at least another year, doesn’t it?
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.