Smoothie King Center

Smoothie King Center(locally referred to as SKC) is a multi-purposeindoor arenainNew Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in theCentral Business District, adjacent to theCaesars Superdome. The arena opened in 1999 asNew Orleans Arenaand has been home to theNew Orleans Pelicansof theNational Basketball Association(NBA) since 2002.TheNew Orleans VooDooof theArena Football Leagueplayed 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 seasonwhen 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 forPelicansgames, 18,500 forcollege basketballand Pelicans playoff games,and 16,900 forice hockeyandarena football. It has 2,800 club seats and 56 luxury suites.
The arena as aconcertvenue 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 m) 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 hockeyteam of theECHLplayed their first home game in the arena. The team played in the arena their last three seasons.  When theNew Orleans Hornetsarrived 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 Jazzon October 30, 2002. TheJazzhad called New Orleans home from 1974 to 1979.
TheNew Orleans VooDoo, of theArena Football League(AFL), began playing their home games in the arena starting in February 2004.
FollowingHurricane Katrinaon 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 Katrinaand the start of the2005–06season. A sellout crowd of 17,744 watched theLos Angeles Lakersdefeat the Hornets, 113–107.
In 2006, the arena installed anLEDcenterhung 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.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 Leagueresumed play at the arena in March 2011.
In 2013, the arena underwent a significant upgrade. The 2013 renovations were primarily focused for 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.
On February 5, 2014, it was announced that a 10-year agreement was reached to rename New Orleans Arena theSmoothie KingCenter prior to the2014 NBA All-Star Game.
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.
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:
Smoothie King Center has hosted the2008 NBA All-Star Game,the2014 NBA All-Star Game,and the2017 NBA All-Star Game, after the NBA pulled the game fromCharlotte'sSpectrum Centerdue 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 tournamentin2007and2010.
The 2012Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournamentwas held at the arena.
The arena hosted the2004 Women's Final Fourand2013 Women's Final Four. It has also hosted the2008 NCAA women's basketball tournamentSouth Regionals. The arena was set to host the2020 Women's Final Four, before it was eventually 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 2024SECgymnastics championships were held at the arena.
The arena hostedArenaBowl XXIin 2007,ArenaBowl XXIIin 2008 andArenaBowl XXVin 2012.
The arena has also hosted variousWWEevents, includingRoyal Rumblein2001,Extreme Rulesin2009,Hell in a Cellin2011,Elimination Chamberin2013, the 2014WWE Hall of Fameinduction ceremony and the followingRawas part ofWrestleMania XXXweekend, andNXT TakeOver: New Orleans, the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the followingRawandSmackDownevents as part ofWrestleMania 34weekend. The arena has also hosted variousRawandSmackDownshows.