Smoothie King Center

This article is about the multi-purpose arena formerly known as New Orleans Arena. For the arena found in Las Vegas, see Orleans Arena.
Smoothie King Center
"The Blender"
"The Nest"
Smoothie King Center in 2022
Smoothie King Center is located in New Orleans
Smoothie King Center
Smoothie King Center
Location in New Orleans
Smoothie King Center is located in Louisiana
Smoothie King Center
Smoothie King Center
Location in Louisiana
Smoothie King Center is located in the United States
Smoothie King Center
Smoothie King Center
Location in the United States
Former namesNew Orleans Arena (1999–2014)
Address1500 Dave Dixon Drive
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Coordinates29°56′56″N 90°4′55″W / 29.94889°N 90.08194°W / 29.94889; -90.08194
Public transitHeritage streetcar  46   49  Poydras Street
Amtrak Greyhound Lines New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
OwnerLouisiana Stadium and Exposition District (The State of Louisiana)
OperatorASM Global
CapacityConcerts: 17,971
NBA basketball: 16,867 College basketball/NBA playoff games: 18,500
Construction
Broke groundNovember 30, 1995[1]
OpenedOctober 29, 1999[7]
Construction costUS$114 million
($209 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectArthur Q. Davis and Partners
Billes-Manning Architects
Hewitt Washington and Associates
Project managerCS Associates[3]
Structural engineerWalter P Moore[4]
Services engineerSmith Seckman Reid, Inc.[5]
General contractorManhattan[6]/Gibbs[4]
Tenants
New Orleans Brass (ECHL) (1999–2002)
New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (NBA) (2002–2005, 2007–present)
New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015)
Website
smoothiekingcenter.com

Smoothie King Center (locally referred to as SKC) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in the city's Central Business District, adjacent to Caesars Superdome. The arena opened in 1999 as New Orleans Arena and has been home to the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2002.[8] The New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League played their home games in the arena from 2004 until the team disbanded in 2008. The VooDoo resumed play at the arena in March 2011, until after the 2015 AFL season when the franchise folded.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "CM Jobs". CS Associates. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "New Orleans Arena". Emporis. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "The New Orleans Arena". Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  6. ^ "New Orleans Sports Arena". Manhattan Construction Group. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  7. ^ Smith, Jimmy (October 29, 2009). "New Orleans Arena, in Its 10th Year, Took Wheeling and Dealing to Come to Fruition". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "Pelicans uniting with Smoothie King". ESPN. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.