1. Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium

The new structure will span from one 15-yard line to the other and includes a new concourse with modernized concession areas, stations for food, beverage vendors, grab and go stations and a new lower west bowl that will include five sections of chair back seats and bench back seats. With a seating capacity of over 30,000 when completed, it will also offer 34 suites, 40 loge boxes, 524 club seats, and a state-of-the-art indoor club, which will also serve as a year-round venue for private events on non-game days. Bringing game day to another level, the McElligott Club will offer patrons food, beverages, a bar and televisions, so fans who arrive early can watch other games beforehand.

“We needed to revitalize Cajun Field and give a first-class game-day experience. The best thing is that we’re giving fans a premium seating opportunity that we haven’t had,” says Evan Roberts, associate athletics director for communications and digital strategy. “We toured many different stadiums and facilities around the country for ideas.”

The piece-by-piece demolition is scheduled to be complete this month. Fans can follow updates of the construction on the live website, BuildTheCulture.com as well as check on ticket information for 2024 (as seating will be different this year during the construction) as well as the ’25 season. The site also provides information to those interested in making a donation to name different areas of the stadium from level or premium seating to score board opportunities.

If all goes according to plans, the first game played in Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will be against Rice University on August 30, 2025.

2. The Playground at Parc Sans Souci

The 6,000 square foot inclusive and accessible playground will feature equipment for rocking, swinging, jumping, spinning and climbing – something for all children. Some of the equipment will be more challenging catering to kids 5 to 12 years old, while other pieces will be better suited to younger children. One feature will accommodate two wheelchairs in addition to children without mobility devices. A mini trampoline-style bouncer will also be able to take on wheelchairs. Several other pieces are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible, if the wheelchair user can be helped into them, including non-traditional swings and a spinning disk, which has a built-in bench so someone can sit next to the person in the wheelchair.

Anna-Laura Edmiston, Director of strategic communication and marketing for Downtown Lafayette Unlimited says, “We worked with playground experts to choose equipment that caters to kids of all ages and abilities.” Another plus: the equipment will be large enough for parents to play with their children.

The playground will be set atop an ADA-compliant green turf padded with a foam safety surfacing. The landscaping’s mature trees will provide shade in the summer months and, as usual, the fountain will bring cool amusement in the hotter weather.

Parc Sans Souci has been a center of activity where a wide variety of people gather for concerts, festivals and family events. This playground will add to the quality of life, particularly for residents in the downtown area.

3. New Marina and Pavilion Stage in New Iberia

The New Iberia Civic Center Marina has been in the works for years after the city acquired a grant from the U.S. Sport Fish Restoration Project through the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program and with assistance from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Located across the bayou from the boat launch at City Park, the new marina provides boaters an easy place to park for downtown events. It is one of several projects intended to increase boater access to New Iberia through the Bayou Teche.

Less than a mile away, on the Bayou Teche, is the Steamboat Warehouse Pavilion where the construction of a stage is underway. The 28’ x 48’ concrete structure will include restrooms below as well as storage space in the current empty area between the pavilion and Fulton Street. To accommodate the larger crowds that the stage is expected to draw, the current dance floor area of the Pavilion will be extended. The stage’s industrial look, complete with a metal roof, will marry well with the current architecture of the pavilion.

With festivals, weekly events and parades occurring throughout the year in New Iberia, a stage is a natural fit and much needed addition to downtown. It’s also expected to be used for other events like concerts, church gatherings and non-profit work, dance performances and film and movie screenings.

Completion is anticipated late this summer, weather permitting, just in time for the start of fall events.

4. Dave & Busters

The premiere arcade and gaming attraction, Dave & Busters, has drawn crowds since opening last November in Ambassador Town Center, near Topgolf. The 22,000 square-foot entertainment hub is best known for its sprawling game arcades, 100 at last count.

Whether you want to “play the hits” or check out the latest in virtual reality, the gameplay selections at Dave & Busters are considered second to none. Arcade, tabletop, air hockey, ping pong, pool tables or traditional gaming…what you can think of, Dave & Busters has – and they keep ‘em coming.

The arcade provides the latest in games like Wicked Tuna, Top Gun Maverick, Dodgeball Ultimate Arena. Patrons can enjoy incredible virtual reality experiences with Top Gun, Maverick and Transformer games and the ultimate online game Roblox platform.

The state-of-the-art sports bar pulls in a hefty crowd, with its 40-foot “WOW” wall high-definition TV screen for an unforgettable viewing experience.

The food is not just fast; several items are award-winning, and the restaurant provides a special menu online that gives customers with allergies a heads up to allergens in each dish. On their website, Dave & Busters boasts of a drink list of classic cocktails and specialty drinks “you won’t find anywhere else,” like the strawberry watermelon margarita, dangerous waters island punch, chocolate bourbon milkshake and Henny’s strawberry nirvana.

All of this makes Dave & Busters a perfect venue for parties (for adults and children) as well as corporate events, including team building exercises like Trivia Pursuit, Fun Facts, Pictionary and Lip Sync Battle.

Customer incentives include: Late Nite happy hour at 10 p.m., $5 Happy Hour, half off games all day on Wednesdays, and 15 percent off meals and drinks for military personnel/veterans, doctors, nurses and first responders.

5. TOPGOLF

It was an early Christmas gift for fans of Topgolf, when the second location in Louisiana opened at Lafayette’s Ambassador Town Center in mid-December.

The sports entertainment complex features a high-tech golf game that everyone, of all skill levels, can enjoy. The two-story complex includes 60 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays, with HDTV, lounge-type furniture or high-top tables. From the bays, players can face some of the world’s most iconic stadiums and take aim at the giant outfield targets, while playing your choice of some 14 games. There’s no losing your golf balls here; because they’re micro-chipped they not only track their own flight path, distance and other cool metrics, but score themselves.

Reservations for the bays are recommended, particularly for larger groups. You can join the waitlist from anywhere on the day of your visit using the Topgolf App.

If you’re working on your game, or just beginning and want to learn the basics, Topgolf’s coaches provide individual, group or public lessons. Or maybe you just want to play nine holes of miniature golf with the family. The discount program includes half-off golf on Tuesdays and 10 percent off every day for active duty and veterans, first responders (police, fire and EMS), healthcare workers and teachers.

This entertainment venue is a perfect place to host birthday parties, corporate events, holiday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties and other special occasions – that can be catered by their chefs. With party rooms, private rooms, semi-private areas and meeting rooms, Topgolf can accommodate from a few guests to 1,000 of your company’s employees.

Let’s talk about the menu that spans from popular items like injected donut holes and pepperoni flatbread to vegetarian and gluten-free options. The beverage list includes specialty drinks like their crafted margaritas, a delicious cookie butter old-fashioned, their golf bag-shaped, take-home drinks (try the boozy cherry limeade), and a choice list of craft, imported and domestic beers as well as creative non-alcoholic options.

Every area of Topgolf is well thought out with entertainment in mind, including an outdoor area with backyard games and the rooftop terrace with its inviting fire pits, TVs and music.