Smoothie King Center

Lore & Background

The arena opened on October 19, 1999, at a cost of $114 million. Its first tenant was the New Orleans Brass ice hockey team of the ECHL in 1999. The New Orleans Hornets arrived in 2002. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, medical operations were moved to the arena, which reopened one month after the storm. The arena was renamed Smoothie King Center in 2014.

Reader's Guide

The arena seats 17,805 for concerts, 16,867 for Pelicans games, 18,500 for college basketball and Pelicans playoff games, and 16,900 for ice hockey and arena football. It has 2,800 club seats and 56 luxury suites. For concerts, it can seat 7,500 for half-stage shows, 17,221 for end-stage shows, and 17,805 for center-stage shows. Trade show space is 17,000 sq ft. Ceiling height is 65 ft to beam and roof, 70 ft to the top.

Did You Know?

• The New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League played home games here from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015.
• The Hornets/Pelicans had a winning record of 341–275 (.554) at home during the regular season and 15–9 (.625) in the playoffs as of the end of the 2018–19 season.

Origins and Architectural Design

The arena was completed in 1999 at a cost of $114 million and officially opened on October 19, 1999. It is located in the Central Business District, adjacent to the Caesars Superdome. The arena seats 17,805 for concerts, 16,867 for Pelicans games, 18,500 for college basketball and Pelicans playoff games, and 16,900 for ice hockey and arena football. It has 2,800 club seats and 56 luxury suites. 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.

The Katrina Recovery and Resilience

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.

Technological Upgrades and Renaming

In 2006, the arena installed an LED centerhung video and scoring system from Daktronics. The centerhung installation is made up of two ring displays and eight video displays, as well as scoreboards. This installation is fully integrated with the more than 875 feet (267 m) of ribbon display technology that was installed in the arena in 2002. In the summer of 2008, new Daktronics 'see-through' shot clocks were installed, replacing the existing box units.

In 2013, the arena underwent a significant upgrade. The 2013 renovations were primarily focused on 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.

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. 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.

Championships and Historic Events

Smoothie King Center has hosted the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, and the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, after the NBA pulled the game from Charlotte's Spectrum Center due to North Carolina's 'bathroom bill'. 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 2004 Women's Final Four and 2013 Women's Final Four. It has also hosted the 2008 NCAA women's basketball tournament South Regionals. The arena was set to host the 2020 Women's Final Four, before being canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 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. The arena hosted ArenaBowl XXI in 2007, ArenaBowl XXII in 2008 and ArenaBowl XXV in 2012.