Smoothie King Center

New Orleans Pelicans

About Stadium

An indoor arena located in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, the Smoothie King Center is primarily the home of the National Basketball Association’s New Orleans Pelicans.

The arena was originally ame New Orleans Arena when it opened in 1999, and the Pelicans were previously named the New Orleans Hornets until 2002 when they changed their name.

In addition to being the home floor for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, the stadium was also home to the Arena Football league’s New Orleans VooDoo until the team dissolved in 2008.

The arena’s final construction cost was $114 million and seats 16,867 for Pelicans’ home games and 17,805 for concerts and musical events.

• Capacity: 16,867

• Opened: October 29, 1999

• Location: 1501 Girod Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

History

• The arena took just under four years to complete construction. Ground was originally broken on the project on November 30, 1995, and the stadium was then opened on October 29, 1999.

• The NBA’s New Orleans Hornets didn’t start playing at the arena until 2002. Until then, the ECHL’s New Orleans Brass Ice Hockey team were the originally tenants of the stadium.

• The site has hosted some major sporting events such as the 2008 and 2014 NBA All-Star Game, the Southeast Regional action of the March Madness Tournament in 2011, and the Women’s College Basketball Final Four tournaments in 2004 and 2013.

• During September and October of 2014, the Smoothie King Arena went through major renovations to the exterior of the complex.

Past and Current Teams
New Orleans Brass (ECHL) (1999–2002)
New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (NBA) (2002–2005, 2007–present)
New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) (2004–2008, 2011–2015)