Kevin Foote

kfoote@theadvertiser.com

The Cajundome didn't move to a new location.

Structurally, it's the same building that opened back in 1986.

But when the $21.2 million renovation project began in May, the idea was to make it feel like a completely different arena once you've walked inside.

On Tuesday, the incredibly unique new court design was unveiled to area media and later in an official unveiling to thousands of fans.

The first impressions from UL Ragin' Cajuns basketball players after practicing on the new Swamp floor was ... mission accomplished.

"When we first walked in, I was like, 'Wow'," UL women's senior guard Jaylyn Gordon said. "It looked like I was at an NBA game.

"Everyone was so excited the first time we practiced on it (Monday). It was a great practice. Everybody was practicing at game speed."

So many things about the arena has changed. The new LED lighting is almost immediately noticeable.

If not that, the primary color of black with the new seats and walls all being black now to direct all the focus to the court area.

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Many more will enjoy the new lights and the improved background than just the photographers, videographers and basketball players, Cajundome Operations Manager Phil Ashurst said Tuesday.

Visiting tours like WWE Wrestling, he said, have disliked the white walls in the Cajundome for years and are ecstatic over the new changes.

"(UL freshman forward) Justin Miller thought it looked like the Indiana Pacers arena," UL men's coach Bob Marlin said. "I mean, it looks like an NBA arena.

“The floor is really nice. The seating’s nice. The lighting. Everything is more fan friendly. … Just the atmosphere. … We’re very proud of the building. We think it is gonna help us with recruiting. We certainly have shown it off.”

The most unique thing about the new Cajundome, though, is the floor.

Somewhat similar to the Oregon forest court, UL's new floor has a swamp scene with a black framing around the court and the Ragin' Cajun logo at center court.

“There’s not gonna be another one like it in the country," Marlin said. "Praters (Praters Hardwood Floors) floor, from Chattanooga, is gonna use it as a benchmark for them. The head of their company came down to make sure it was installed correctly. They were amazed at the layout, the design, and they were able to put it together exactly the way we wanted it."

READ MORE: SNEAK PEEK INTO NEW CAJUNDOME

UL junior forward Bryce Washington also gave a big thumbs up to the new court design.

“Oh, man. I love it," Washington said. "The swamp. It’s gonna be to our advantage.

“It was fun playing (at Blackham), especially when some of the old players from USL come and watch us play. I think we have more energy when (those) guys came and (saw) us play. But I think a lot of people are excited to see the ’Dome. I (saw) it the other day. It’s gonna be a sight to see.”

UL women’s coach Garry Brodhead said he loves the identity that the new-look Cajundome gives his program.

From the player banners in the front lobby to the historic timeline on the walls focusing on the history of both the men’s and women’s programs from Earl K. Long to Blackham Coliseum to the Cajundome itself to the many photos of former players, the new-look Cajundome has basically been transformed into a Cajun basketball shrine.

“Before, it was nice, but there was the IceGators and other things,” Gordon said. “Now it feels like it’s all about UL basketball. You see us all over the walls. You can walk around and see former players all over the walls. It’s very exciting.”

Brodhead said when he first became the coach, his initial stance was that “you couldn’t build a Division I program playing in Earl K. (Long gym).”

So even though his women didn’t play every game in the Cajundome, playing most of them there helped him fight off the negative recruiting that they played in a “middle school gym.”

But this new-look Cajundome brings recruiting to all new heights.

“I think it’s really going to help us in recruiting,” Brodhead said. “We just had a great recruiting class and a lot of that had to do with facilities.”