"The Blender" "The Nest" | |
 | |
.jpg) Smoothie King Center in 2022 | |
| Former names | New Orleans Arena (1999–2014) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1500 Dave Dixon Drive |
| Location | New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 29°56′56″N90°4′55″W / 29.94889°N 90.08194°W /29.94889; -90.08194 |
| Public transit |  46Poydras Street  New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal |
| Owner | Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (The State of Louisiana) |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | Concerts: 17,971 NBA basketball: 16,867College basketball/NBA playoff games: 18,500 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 30, 1995[1] |
| Opened | October 29, 1999[7] |
| Construction cost | US$114 million ($215 million in 2024 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | Arthur Q. Davis and Partners Billes-Manning Architects Hewitt Washington and Associates |
| Project manager | CS Associates[3] |
| Structural engineer | Walter P Moore[4] |
| Services engineer | Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.[5] |
| General contractor | Manhattan[6]/Gibbs[4] |
| Tenants | |
| New Orleans Brass (ECHL) (1999–2002) New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (NBA) (2002–present) New Orleans VooDoo (AFL) (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015) | |
| Website | |
| smoothiekingcenter | |
Smoothie King Center (locally referred to as The Blender[8]) is a multi-purposeindoor arena inNew Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in theCentral Business District, adjacent to theCaesars Superdome. The arena opened in 1999 asNew Orleans Arena and has been home to theNew Orleans Pelicans of theNational Basketball Association (NBA) since 2002.[9] TheNew Orleans VooDoo of theArena 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 the2015 AFL season when the franchise folded.
The arena was completed in 1999 at a cost of $114 million and officially opened on October 19, 1999. The arena seats 17,805 forconcerts, 16,867 forPelicans games, 18,500 forcollege basketball and Pelicans playoff games,[10] and 16,900 forice hockey andarena football. It has 2,800 club seats and 56 luxury suites.
The arena as aconcert 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.
In 1999, the arena's first tenant, theNew Orleans Brassice hockey team of theECHL played their first home game in the arena. The team played their final three seasons in the arena. When theNew Orleans Hornets arrived in 2002, they persuaded the state government to demand that the Brass foot the cost of converting the arena between basketball and hockey configurations. That expense was more than the Brass were willing to pay, and they were forced to fold due to the lack of another suitable arena.
The Hornets played their first game at the Smoothie King Center versus theUtah Jazz on October 30, 2002. TheJazz had called New Orleans home from 1974 to 1979.
TheNew Orleans VooDoo, of theArena Football League (AFL), began playing their home games in the arena in February 2004.
FollowingHurricane 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 sinceHurricane Katrina and the start of the2005–06 season. A sellout crowd of 17,744 watched theLos Angeles Lakers defeat the Hornets, 113–107.
In 2006, the arena installed anLED centerhung video and scoring system fromDaktronics. 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.[11] In the summer of 2008, new Daktronics "see-through" shot clocks were installed, replacing the existing box units.
The New Orleans VooDoo of theArena Football League resumed play at the arena in March 2011.
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.[12]
On February 5, 2014, it was announced that a 10-year agreement was reached to rename New Orleans Arena theSmoothie King Center prior to the2014 NBA All-Star Game.[13][14][15]
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.[16]
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.
The seating capacity for NBA basketball games has gone:
| Years | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1999–2007 | 17,200[17] |
| 2007–2013 | 17,188[18] |
| 2013–2014 | 17,003[19] |
| 2014–present | 16,867[20] |
Smoothie King Center has hosted the2008 NBA All-Star Game,[21][22] the2014 NBA All-Star Game,[23] and the2017 NBA All-Star Game, after the NBA pulled the game fromCharlotte'sSpectrum Center due toNorth Carolina's "bathroom bill".
In 2011, the arena hosted the Southeast Regional of theNCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The arena also hosted the first and second rounds of theNCAA men's basketball tournament in2007 and2010.
The 2012Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament was held at the arena.
The arena hosted the2004 Women's Final Four and2013 Women's Final Four. It has also hosted the2008 NCAA women's basketball tournament South Regionals. The arena was set to host the2020 Women's Final Four, before being canceled due to the ongoingcoronavirus pandemic.
The 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four was held at the New Orleans Arena in December 2002.
The 2019 and 2024SEC gymnastics championships were held at the arena.[24]
The arena hostedArenaBowl XXI in 2007,ArenaBowl XXII in 2008 andArenaBowl XXV in 2012.[25][26]
The arena has hosted numerousWWE events, includingRoyal Rumble in2001,Extreme Rules in2009, Hell in a Cell in2011,Elimination Chamber in2013, and the arena will hostMoney in the Bank in2026. It was also the venue for the 2014WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the following episode of Raw, as part ofWrestleMania XXX weekend.
In 2018, the arena hostedNXT TakeOver: New Orleans, the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the subsequent episodes ofRaw andSmackDown duringWrestleMania 34 weekend. The arena has also hosted various other editions of Raw and SmackDown throughout the years.
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| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Host of the NBA All-Star Game 2008 2014 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Madison Square Garden | Home of the Royal Rumble 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Thomas & Mack Center US Airways Center | Host of the ArenaBowl ArenaBowl XXI –ArenaBowl XXII ArenaBowl XXV | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCAA Women's Division I Basketball tournament Finals Venue 2013 | Succeeded by |
