Smoothie King Center
"The Blender" "The Nest" | |
Former names | New Orleans Arena (1999–2014) |
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Address | 1500 Dave Dixon Drive |
Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Coordinates | 29°56′56″N 90°4′55″W / 29.94889°N 90.08194°W |
Public transit | 49 Poydras Street New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal |
Owner | Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (The State of Louisiana) |
Operator | ASM Global |
Capacity | Concerts: 17,805 NBA basketball: 17,791 College basketball/NBA playoff games: 18,500 Arena football/Ice hockey: 16,900 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | November 30, 1995 New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015) |
Website | |
smoothiekingcenter |
Smoothie King Center (locally referred to as SKC) is a multi-purpose
Arena information
The arena was completed in 1999 at a cost of $114 million and officially opened on October 19, 1999. The arena seats 17,805 for
The arena as a concert venue can seat 7,500 for half-stage shows, 17,221 for end-stage shows and 17,805 for a center-stage shows. For trade shows and conventions the arena features 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of space. The ceiling is 65 feet (20 m) to beam and roof, 70 feet (21.5 m) to the top of the arena.
History
In 1999, the arena's first tenant, the
The Hornets played their first game at the Smoothie King Center versus the Utah Jazz on October 30, 2002.
The
Following Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, medical operations that had previously been housed in the Superdome were moved to the Arena. Medical personnel had been working in an area of the Superdome with poor lighting, leaking ceilings and soggy carpet. The Arena's design was tested in 1996 by CPP, a wind engineering consulting firm, so it fared far better than the Superdome during the storm and was in better condition to house sensitive medical operations. Thus, unlike the Superdome, the Arena reopened to activities only one month after the storm. On March 8, 2006, the Hornets played their first home game at the arena since Hurricane Katrina and the start of the 2005–06 season. A sellout crowd of 17,744 watched the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Hornets, 113–107.
In 2006, the arena installed an
The New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League resumed play at the arena in March 2011.
In 2013, the arena underwent a significant upgrade. The 2013 renovations were primarily focused for the gameday experience inside the arena. These upgrades include updates to the Suites and Club Levels, expanding the Club Levels, Creating new Loge Boxes, and a new Party Perch. Other upgrades include upgraded concession stands, upgraded LED boards, and other in-house amenities for the teams and performers that use the arena.[11]
On February 5, 2014, it was announced that a 10-year agreement was reached to rename New Orleans Arena the Smoothie King Center prior to the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.[12][13][14]
In September and October 2014, exterior renovations were made to the Smoothie King Center, including new entrances, painting the center from bluish green to light gray, and a new outer LED lighting system similar to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome's own. However, some original plans, such as to add an overhang to the building, were cancelled.[15]
The Hornets/Pelicans have enjoyed a winning record of 341–275 (.554) during the regular season and 15–9 (.625) during the playoffs in home games played at the New Orleans Arena/Smoothie King Center as of the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.
Seating capacity
The seating capacity for NBA basketball games has gone:
Years | Capacity |
---|---|
1999–2007 | 17,200[16] |
2007–2013 | 17,188[17] |
2013–2014 | 17,003[18] |
2014–present | 16,867[19] |
Notable events
Sports
NBA
Smoothie King Center has hosted the
College sports
In 2011, the arena hosted the Southeast Regional of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The arena also hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2007 and 2010.
The 2012 Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament was held at the arena.
The arena hosted the
The 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four was held at the New Orleans Arena in December 2002.
The 2019 and 2024 SEC gymnastics championships were held at the arena.[23]
Arena football
The arena hosted ArenaBowl XXI in 2007, ArenaBowl XXII in 2008 and ArenaBowl XXV in 2012.[24][25]
MMA and boxing
- September 9, 2000 – The arena hosted the light heavyweight title fight between TKOin the 10th round.
- June 6, 2015 – UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson[26]
Other events
- 2000 – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Bud Light Cup tour event
- 2001 – Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Bud Light Cup tour event
- 2002 – Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Bud Light Cup tour event was held in the arena.
- 2003 – Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series tour event
- August 2003 – The Bassmaster Classic XXXIII weigh-in was held in the arena.[27]
- March 2007 – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series tour event was held in the arena.
- April 2010 – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event was held in the arena for a Built Ford Tough Series event.
- March 2015 - AMSOIL Arenacross
- November 2019; February 2022 - Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Professional wrestling
The arena has also hosted various WWE events, including Royal Rumble in 2001, Extreme Rules in 2009, Hell in a Cell in 2011, Elimination Chamber in 2013, the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the following Raw as part of WrestleMania XXX weekend, and NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the following Raw and SmackDown events as part of WrestleMania 34 weekend. The arena has also hosted various Raw and SmackDown shows.
See also
Gallery
-
New Orleans Arena – New Orleans Hornets Court
-
New Orleans Arena – 2006
-
New Orleans Arena – 2008
-
New Orleans Arena – 2011
References
- ^ Waddell, Ray (December 18, 1995). "Construction Begins on Superdome's Sister Venue: New Orleans Sports Arena". Amusement Business. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "CM Jobs". CS Associates. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "New Orleans Arena". Emporis. Retrieved September 15, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "The New Orleans Arena". Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ "New Orleans Sports Arena". Manhattan Construction Group. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "Pelicans uniting with Smoothie King". ESPN. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Arena Digest - New Orleans Arena Archived 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Daktronics Photo Gallery: New Orleans Arena".
- ^ Tour of Renovated New Orleans Arena | New Orleans Pelicans | BourbonStreetShots.com
- ^ "Smoothie King Center Unveiled as New Orleans Prepares to Host NBA All-Star Game" (Press release). New Orleans Pelicans. February 6, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ "Pelicans Arena to be Renamed Smoothie King Center". National Basketball Association. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ Teaford, Elliott (December 9, 2002). "Davis Is the Latest Test". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ "2013–14 New Orleans Pelicans Media Guide" (PDF). National Basketball Association. October 21, 2013. p. 7. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ "2014-2015 New Orleans Pelicans Media Guide" (PDF). National Basketball Association. October 13, 2014. p. 7. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ "New Orleans to Host NBA All-Star 2008". National Basketball Association. May 22, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2006.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ^ "New Orleans to host SEC gymnastics championships in 2019". nola.com. March 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ "Arena League awards title game to N.O. for July '07". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ "New Orleans to Host ArenaBowl XXV (NewsGraphic-ABXXV.jpg)". www.arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (2015-02-11). "Cormier gets Louisiana homecoming against Bader in June". ufc.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ Classic XXXIII - Aug. 1-3, 2003 | Bassmaster
External links
Events and tenants | ||
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Preceded by | Home of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans 2002 – present |
Succeeded by current
|
Preceded by first arena
CenturyTel Center |
Home of the New Orleans VooDoo 2004 – 2005, 2007 – 2008 2011 – present |
Succeeded by last arena
current |
Preceded by Scotiabank Arena |
Host of the NBA All-Star Game 2008 2014 2017 |
Succeeded by Staples Center |
Preceded by Madison Square Garden
|
Home of the Royal Rumble 2001 |
Succeeded by Philips Arena |
Preceded by Thomas & Mack Center
US Airways Center |
Host of the ArenaBowl ArenaBowl XXI – ArenaBowl XXII ArenaBowl XXV |
Succeeded by Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena TBA |
Preceded by Pepsi Center |
2013
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Succeeded by |