Step Inside: Smoothie King Center – Home of the New Orleans Pelicans

Home of the New Orleans Pelicans

In the arts and entertainment mecca that is New Orleans, Smoothie King Center is the premier indoor arena. It’s conveniently located in the heart of Crescent City, just over a mile away from the French Quarter and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and ten miles away from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in nearby Kenner.

The venue was known as the New Orleans Arena from 1999 until Smoothie King (which was founded in 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana), secured the naming rights in 2014.

Smoothie King Center History

When the Louisiana Superdome opened in 1975, the stadium was built to also function as the city’s major indoor arena, with the NBA’s New Orleans Jazz playing at the dome until moving to Salt Lake City in 1979. Over the years, it became clear that a world-class indoor arena was needed to accompany the city’s world-class stadium, and on November 30, 1995, ground was broken adjacent to the Superdome for what was originally known as the New Orleans Arena. The $114 million arena opened in 1999 with the New Orleans Brass of the East Coast Hockey League as its primary tenant, with the team folding in 2002 upon the relocation of the Hornets to New Orleans.

The Smoothie King Center was put to the test in August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina infamously made a direct hit on New Orleans. The arena suffered relatively minor damage compared to the nearby Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and it reopened within a month, but the surrounding area was flooded to an extent that made hosting Hornets games nearly impossible. The Hornets spent most of their 2005-’06 and 2006-’07 seasons at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, playing a handful of games in 2006-’07 before permanently returning to the Crescent City for the 2007-’08 season.

In 2002, Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn moved his franchise to New Orleans, leading to a naming controversy similar to when the Jazz kept their nickname in Utah. Both the NBA franchise and the arena underwent rebranding in the early 2010s, with the Hornets becoming the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013 (and the Charlotte Bobcats eventually becoming the Hornets), and Smoothie King beginning a 10-year naming rights deal with the arena in 2014. Before the 2014-’15 NBA season, the center underwent a $54 million renovation, featuring new entrances and box offices, in addition to exterior repainting and renovations to clubs and suites.

The Smoothie King Center has been the host for many exciting sporting events, including the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship in 2002, Professional Bull Riding events, and the Big 3 basketball tournament. WWE has made its presence known at the SKC from the beginning, hosting the 2001 Royal Rumble, the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and numerous episodes of WWE RAW, including the nights after the Superdome hosted WrestleMania XXX and WrestleMania 34.

The arena has also become a destination for women’s college basketball as the host of the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four in 2004, 2013 and 2020, in addition to hosting men’s March Madness games in 2007, 2010 and 2011. The Smoothie King Center is also a top destination for concertgoers, with such famous acts as Cher, The Jonas Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and Tyler Perry passing through.

Parking and Admission at Smoothie King Center

The Smoothie King Center has several parking options, including garages and surface lots:

• Parking garages: Garages #1, #1A, #2, #2A, #5, #6, and Champions Garage
• Surface lots: Lot 3 and Lot 4

You can reserve parking in advance using the Premium Mobile Parking app, BestParking, or ParkWhiz.

The Smoothie King Center is also accessible by public transportation via Greyhound and Amtrak at the New Orleans Union Transportation Terminal, where fans can connect to the Rampart-St. Claude Trolley, which leaves fans off at the Poydras Street station. The arena is also accessible by car via the Pontchartrain Expressway, U.S. Route 90 and Interstate 10.

Smoothie King Center has a bag policy in place. Bags, purses, backpacks, and briefcases must be 14 in x 14 in x 6 in or smaller. Only one bag per person is allowed. Clear vinyl bags and gallon-sized Ziploc bags are permitted, as are small clutch purses that are no larger than 4.5 in x 6.5 in.

Backpacks, luggage, strollers, and other items are not permitted. Other prohibited items include weapons, outside food and drink, and laser pointers.

The Smoothie King Center is a smoke-free facility, including the interior and exterior concourses, seating areas, suites, and club areas. This includes electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, and similar products.

Smoothie King Center Capacity & Seating Options

The arena has a capacity of 16,867 for regular season NBA games, 18,500 for the NBA Playoffs and college basketball games and up to 17,791 for concerts, based on a 360-degree configuration.

The best place to sit at a Pelicans game depends on what you’re looking for; either way, the venue has many seating options, including suites, club lounges, and other premium areas:

• Suites: The center has 56 privately owned luxury suites, plus two large party suites. Suites can accommodate 4–28 guests and include leather seating, barstools, a private VIP entrance, and in-suite catering. Suite ticket holders also have access to the Club Level, which includes the North and South Club Lounges and the Hub Club.
• Club lounges: The center has several club lounges, including the North Club, South Club, and Courtside Club. The North Club is located on the mezzanine level on the north side, and the South Club is located on the mezzanine level on the south side. The Courtside Club is located on the ground level on the east side.
• Loge boxes: The center has 16 loge boxes on the 100 level, in sections 105–108.
• VIP Club Booths: The center has eight semi-private VIP Club Booths that can accommodate up to eight guests. These booths include a private seating area, bottle service, and access to the Club Lounge.

Before securing your tickets, check out the Smoothie King Center seating chart to pick your perfect seat.

Food & Beverage Options at Smoothie King Center

Here’s a summary of the available food and beverage options at Smoothie King Center:

Smoothie King (Section 101)

• Smoothies
• Dasani Water

Tip Off (Section 102)

• Ultimate Nachos, Nachos
• Smoked Sausage, Hot Dogs
• Popcorn, Pretzels, Peanuts, Assorted Chips
• Cheese Cup
• Various Draft Beers and Souvenir Beverages

Jameson Sports Bar (Section 104)

• Cocktails (single and double)
• Wine, Draft Beer

NOLA Nacho (Section 106)

• Seafood Nachos, Ultimate Nachos
• Chili Dog, Hot Dog
• Premium Draft Beer

Krispy Krunchy Chicken (Section 109)

• Chicken Tenders, Wings, Fries

Parish Pizza (Section 110)

• Various Pizza Slices (Pepperoni, Cheese, Meat Lovers, Veggie, Vegan)

Beer Market (Section 106)

• Snacks (Peanuts, Candy, Chips)
• Large Can Beer

Other notable food and drink options:

• Basin St. Tacos (Section 113): Steak and Chicken Street Tacos
• Backcourt Burgers (Section 116): Cheeseburgers and Fried Chicken Sandwiches
• Craft Beer Bar (Section 119): Offers a variety of beer options alongside snacks like Red Beans and Rice
• Sweet Shack (Section 309): Soft Serve Ice Cream and Churros