NBA Basketball Arenas

NEW ORLEANS ARENA HISTORY

Arena Attracts Wide Array of Events

New Orleans and South Louisiana embarked upon a new era of entertainment and sports with the opening of the sparkling New Orleans Arena Oct. 29, 1999. The Arena quickly took its place as a bright, clean and safe place to enjoy a wide array of events.

The Arena opened its doors for the first time with a hockey game between the New Orleans Brass and the Baton Rouge Kingfish. The following day, an Open House was held for local fans to get a free look at the new arena.

The availability of a new, debt-free arena was a vital factor in the move of the Charlotte Hornets, a National Basketball Association franchise, to New Orleans. On October 30, 2002, the "new" New Orleans Hornets defeated the Utah Jazz (New Orleans' previous NBA team), and quickly established the home court advantage with an 11-game winning streak in the Arena. Now, 2 years later, the New Orleans Hornets are about to begin their 3rd season in the New Orleans Arena.

The New Orleans Arena also aquired a new home team, the Arena Football League's (AFL) New Orleans VooDoo. The VooDoo won the Arena Football League's Southern Division in their first year. The Arena is also the home of the Nokia Sugar Bowl Basketball Classic, one or two Tulane University basketball games per year, and the annual crosstown rivalry game between Xavier University and Dillard University.

Located adjacent to the Louisiana Superdome, the Arena is within walking distance of 18,000 hotel rooms, the Central Business District, the French Quarter, and riverfront attractions.

With capacities of up to 18,500 for concerts and 17,200 for basketball, the Arena has attracted a number of new events.

The Arena's entertainment mix includes concerts, festivals, circuses, family attractions, meetings, banquets, receptions, trade shows, exhibits, Mardi Gras parties, special convention shows, private functions, and closed-circuit television presentations. Special events are staged before and/or after some Superdome events.

The Arena is managed by SMG, the company that has managed the Superdome since July 1977. With 168 venues, SMG controls over 1.4 million entertainment seats worldwide, and over nine million square feet of exhibit space. Doug Thornton serves as the General Manager of both the Superdome and the Arena and Glenn Menard is the Assistant General Manager of the Arena.

The facility is connected to the Superdome by two pedestrian walkways. It utilizes the Dome's 5,000-car parking garage as well as the Dome's 9,000-ton air conditioning system and primary ticket office.

A total of 44 executive suites were included in the initial construction of the Arena and 12 more were added in 2002. The suites are located above the Club Level, just 22 rows from the playing surface. Ranging from 12 to 18 seats, the suites include private access, membership in a private club, a private parlor with a wet bar, two TV monitors, a buffet area, and plush interior furnishings.

The addition of the new suites was part of a $10 million package included in the 2002 agreement with the Hornets. Other new and improved features include upscale locker rooms for the Hornets and their opponents, a 140-seat Super Suite (named the Marriott-Renaissance Club), a courtside restaurant, upgrades to the club lounges, a team store and a 360-degree LED matrix board.

The Arena has 2,800 Club Seats, all located in the middle sections of the lower bowl, with direct access to two club lounges. The Korbin Foods.com Club Lounge and the South Club Lounge members also have food and beverage service in their seats, first right to tickets to all Arena events, and easy ticket purchasing procedures.

The Arena floor has end zone seating that can be adjusted to maximize sight lines for hockey and basketball. The end zone seating units can also be removed to provide a total floor area of 85 ft. by 290 ft. (24,650-sq. ft.).

Spectators have the convenience of two main escalators servicing all levels; one escalator for access to the Club Level only; four elevators to all levels; and one freight elevator. The Arena has 18 ladies' restrooms and 14 men's restrooms.