2025 marks the 20th anniversary since Hurricane Katrina left a devastating impact on the city of New Orleans. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez interviews Doug Thornton, executive VP of stadiums and arenas at ASM Global, which oversees the New Orleans Superdome. Thornton recounts his experience being at the forefront of opening the Superdome as a place of shelter during the hurricane and reflects on how the community came together to rebuild after the storm had passed.  

“Everybody was impacted, and they were in the proverbial same boat,” Thornton says during the podcast. “For once, it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, black or white—this tragedy united us."  

The Facilities in Focus podcast will publishes bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. 

For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please contact Mackenna Moralez at [email protected]