The end of Errol's crusade

In the years following the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, a new Carnival tradition has arisen.  Every Fat Tuesday evening, exhausted revelers settling in to watch (and to mock online) the Rex ball and Meeting of the Courts can witness the ceremonial questioning of the mayor about the status of the Municipal Auditorium. The flood forced the Rex ball out of its traditional venue and ball commentator Errol Laborde is determined to lobby annually for its restoration.

But what happens to this now decade's long tradition if Errol's question is finally answered?

Eleven years after the Municipal Auditorium in Louis Armstrong Park was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans officials say a check from FEMA to pay for repairs could be coming soon.

After years of fighting over the cost of needed repairs, the city and FEMA entered arbitration this month to settle an impasse in the negotiations, said Hayne Rainey, a spokesman for Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

That process is expected to wrap up in the next 90 days and could pave the way for a private developer to take over management of the site.

I guess then we can start asking who they're going to sell it to.