Sydney Superdome settles suit

Officials with the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans have agreed to settle a trademark lawsuit with a similarly named stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Louisiana Superdome officials filed a lawsuit in US federal court in 2001 against Abigroup Ltd, builder and operator of the Sydney SuperDome, claiming the operator violated the Louisiana venue's trademarked name.

The $240 million, 21,000 seat Sydney stadium was opened in 1999 and was the site of several events during the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Louisiana facility was built in 1975 at a cost of $163 million and is home to the National Football League's New Orleans Saints.

Abigroup will pay the Louisiana Superdome $35,000 for the right to use and advertise the name SuperDome in Australia and the name Sydney SuperDome in the United States.

The settlement was approved by the Superdome Commission, the Louisiana agency that oversees a private company's operation of the Louisiana Superdome.