New Orleans School Board Approves $12M 9th Ward Stadium Project

The long-delayed stadium at Carver High School in eastern New Orleans is moving forward with funding and bid solicitation.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:55am

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After years of delays, the Orleans Parish School Board has approved funding and a bid solicitation for the $12 million 9th Ward Stadium project at George Washington Carver High School in eastern New Orleans. The first phase will include an artificial turf football field, grandstand with 3,700 seats, press box, restrooms, concessions, and parking. Supporters say the stadium will be a much-needed facility for local student athletes and a potential catalyst for investment in the Desire and Lower Ninth Ward neighborhoods.

Why it matters

The 9th Ward Stadium project has been in the works for over a decade, with an earlier effort collapsing due to misused donations. The current nonprofit group behind the project is rebuilding it with stronger oversight and transparency. The new stadium is seen as a crucial facility for public school athletics in eastern New Orleans, which has lacked a true home field, as well as a potential driver of economic development in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The details

The Orleans Parish School Board approved a $2.5 million subrecipient agreement with the City of New Orleans to use American Rescue Plan Act funding for the stadium project. The school board has also issued an invitation for bids, with a pre-bid conference held last week and bids due next Thursday. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost $12 million, with about $10 million already raised through federal, state, and city funding, in addition to planned private fundraising.

  • The Orleans Parish School Board approved the funding and bid solicitation on January 27, 2026.
  • A pre-bid conference was held on January 25, 2026.
  • Bids for the project are due on February 3, 2026.

The players

Orleans Parish School Board

The local school district governing body that approved the funding and bid solicitation for the 9th Ward Stadium project.

9th Ward Stadium Inc.

The nonprofit group leading the effort to build the new stadium at Carver High School, with a reported $12 million project cost and $10 million already raised.

City of New Orleans

The city government that is providing $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the stadium project through a subrecipient agreement with the school board.

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What’s next

With the bid window now open, Orleans Parish School Board staff will review proposals and the board will decide on a construction contract. Project leaders have previously said that once contracts and permits are locked in, they hope to move quickly to a groundbreaking while continuing private fundraising to add amenities such as a full track.

The takeaway

The approval of funding and bid solicitation for the 9th Ward Stadium project marks a significant milestone after years of delays, providing a much-needed facility for public school athletics in eastern New Orleans and a potential catalyst for investment in the surrounding neighborhoods. However, skeptics remain wary of the project's troubled early history and will be closely watching how the procurement and construction process unfolds.