The New Orleans Superdome has finally seen its first sports event since it was devastated in Hurricane Katrina. The $180m refurbishment of the venue took nearly a year.

The Superdome came to symbolise the chaos of post-Katrina New Orleans, with more than 30,000 people sheltering there in the most basic conditions for four days.

Though some have criticised the amount of money spent in a city where thousands remain homeless, most have seen the Superdome's revival as key to restoring local pride.

Katrina claimed more than 1,800 lives across America's Gulf states. Emergency workers were the first to enter the refurbished Superdome in a solemn tickertape ceremony.

More than 70,000 people turned out to watch local American Football team, the New Orleans Saints, play the Atlanta Falcons in their first match in the city since Katrina.

Razzmatazz is an essential part of any American Football match. U2's The Edge and Bono (left and right) sang with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day during the pre-game warm-up.

In the aftermath of Katrina many feared that the Saints would relocate away from New Orleans permanently, so their return to the Superdome turf was greeted with jubilation.

The Saints have traditionally struggled at the bottom of the National Football League, and the home crowd was delighted by their confident 23-3 victory over the Falcons.