Smoothie King Center is an indoor arena located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is home to the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and also hosts concerts and other events throughout the year.
The Smoothie King Center’s Main Tenant – The New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are the main sports team that calls the Smoothie King Center home. The Pelicans joined the NBA in 2002 as an expansion team, originally known as the New Orleans Hornets. After 12 seasons as the Hornets, the team was renamed the Pelicans in 2013.
Some key facts about the Pelicans:
- They joined the NBA as an expansion team in 2002 along with the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets).
- They were originally known as the New Orleans Hornets from 2002 to 2013.
- They rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013, adopting the state bird of Louisiana as their mascot.
- They have made the playoffs 4 times in their history (2008, 2011, 2015, 2018). Their best playoff run was reaching the second round in 2008.
- Some star players for the Pelicans have included Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, and Zion Williamson.
- The team is currently owned by Gayle Benson and coached by Willie Green.
The Pelicans have played their home games at the Smoothie King Center since moving there partway through the 2002-03 season. The arena has been the site of all of the franchise’s home games and seen the highlights and ups and downs of Pelicans basketball.
Noteworthy Pelicans Moments at Smoothie King Center
Here are some of the most memorable Pelicans games and moments that have occurred at the Smoothie King Center over the years:
- First game in arena – On February 8, 2003, the Hornets played their first game at the Smoothie King Center, defeating the Chicago Bulls 83-67.
- First playoff appearance – On April 19, 2008, the Hornets hosted their first ever playoff game in New Orleans, beating the Dallas Mavericks 101-82 in Game 1 of a first round playoff series.
- Last game as Hornets – On April 17, 2013, the franchise played its final game known as the Hornets, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 104-96.
- First game as Pelicans – On October 30, 2013, the newly rebranded Pelicans tipped off their first game under the new moniker, beating the Indiana Pacers 95-90.
- Anthony Davis draft – On June 28, 2012, the Hornets selected Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the NBA draft at the Smoothie King Center.
- Zion Williamson draft – On June 20, 2019, the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson first overall, again doing so at home in the Smoothie King Center.
- First playoff win as Pelicans – On April 21, 2018, the Pelicans beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-102 to earn the franchise’s first playoff victory with the Pelicans name.
Those represent some of the biggest moments and memories over the years for the Pelicans franchise while playing at the Smoothie King Center.
Other Sports Events Hosted
In addition to Pelicans games, Smoothie King Center has hosted various other sporting events since opening in 1999.
NCAA Basketball Tournaments
On the college basketball front, the arena has been a March Madness site on multiple occasions. This includes hosting early rounds of both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball tournaments.
Some of the years it hosted NCAA tournament games:
- 2001 – Men’s first and second rounds
- 2002 – Women’s Final Four
- 2003 – Men’s first and second rounds
- 2008 – Men’s first and second rounds
- 2012 – Men’s second and third rounds
- 2013 – Women’s Final Four
- 2014 – Men’s second and third rounds
Seeing both male and female student-athletes from top college programs compete in the facility during March Madness has created great excitement at the arena.
NBA All-Star Weekend
Smoothie King Center hosted the 2014 NBA All-Star Game and its associated weekend events from February 14-16, 2014. It marked the second time New Orleans and the arena hosted All-Star weekend.
Having the league’s midseason showcase helped cement the Pelicans and Smoothie King Center as an elite NBA venue.
Boxing & MMA Events
The arena has also put on various boxing and MMA events over the years. Two of the most prominent fights were:
- September 2004 – Roy Jones Jr. vs. Glen Johnson boxing match for the IBF Light Heavyweight title.
- September 2010 – UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Davis mixed martial arts event headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis.
Combat sport fans have been treated to live entertainment from top fighters at the Smoothie King Center.
Other Sports & Events
Some other sporting events and miscellaneous bookings have included:
- Arena Football League’s New Orleans VooDoo (2004-2008, 2011-2015)
- 2002 Women’s Final Four
- 2004 Women’s NCAA Gymnastics Championships
- NBA Summer League games
- United Football League’s New Orleans VooDoo (2011-2012)
- LHSAA State High School Championships
The versatility and large capacity of Smoothie King Center has allowed it to host a bit of everything on the sporting scene.
Concerts
In addition to being a premier venue for basketball and other sports, the Smoothie King Center has long been a top destination for major concerts passing through New Orleans. The arena can be configured for end stage or center stage shows.
Some of the noteworthy musicians and groups that have performed concerts at Smoothie King Center include:
- U2
- The Rolling Stones
- Paul McCartney
- Elton John
- Bruce Springsteen
- Madonna
- Janet Jackson
- Cher
- Garth Brooks
- Taylor Swift
- Celine Dion
- Rihanna
- Pink
- One Direction
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church
- Ariana Grande
- Drake
- Eagles
- Justin Timberlake
Fans have been able to see their favorite pop, rock and country superstars illuminate the stage at Smoothie King Center.
Other Notable Events
Smoothie King Center also gets utilized for various other high-profile events. Some of these have included:
- WWE wrestling events including WrestleMania 30 in 2014
- National Christian revival conferences
- Major concert tours like American Idols LIVE! and Vans Warped Tour
- Mardi Gras balls
- Graduation ceremonies
- Comedy shows by acts like Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer
- Disney on Ice shows
- Sesame Street Live productions
- Cirque du Soleil acrobatic productions
- New Orleans Home & Garden Show
- Political rallies
The Smoothie King Center calendar is filled year-round with something for everyone – music, comedy, family shows, sports, religious gatherings, graduations and more.
By The Numbers: Events and Capacity
Here is a quick by-the-numbers look at the Smoothie King Center’s event hosting and capacity:
| Category | Number / Capacity |
|---|---|
| Opened | October 1999 |
| Construction cost | $114 million |
| Seating capacity | Basketball: 16,867; Concerts: 18,000+ |
| Pelicans games hosted | Over 800 regular season and playoff games |
| NCAA tournament games hosted | Over 25 games |
| Concerts hosted | Over 300 |
Smoothie King Center delivers a big league experience with arena-sized capacity for any event.
Future Events Coming Up
Smoothie King Center continues to book great events into the future. Here is a sampling of some notable happenings coming up on the calendar:
Pelicans 2022-23 NBA Season
The Pelicans are currently in the midst of their 2022-23 NBA regular season slate. They host over 40 home games at the Smoothie King Center between October and April. Come out to see stars like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum leading the team.
Monster Jam
Monster truck extravaganza Monster Jam will roll into the arena January 21-22, 2023. See big air and car crushing from the legendary Grave Digger, Max-D and more mechanical beasts.
NCAA Women’s Final Four
The Smoothie King Center will host its fifth Women’s Final Four from March 31-April 2, 2023. It will be the 21st anniversary of the first time the arena hosted the seminal women’s college hoops event.
More Concerts
More big-name concerts are ahead, like country duo Dan + Shay coming March 11, 2023. Keep an eye out as more major tour announcements roll in.
Conclusion
Smoothie King Center has been the premier indoor event venue in New Orleans for over 20 years. It is best known as the home of the NBA’s Pelicans franchise, hosting over 800 games in its two decades. But it is also a versatile arena that has put on NCAA tournaments, NBA All-Star Weekend, boxing and MMA fights, major concerts, family shows, graduations and more. With a capacity reaching upwards of 18,000, it continues to bring big league entertainment to the Big Easy. The calendar is filled annually with Pelicans action and top acts coming through New Orleans. Check out a game or show at the Smoothie King Center soon to experience this top-tier arena destination for yourself.
