Smoothie King Center: Capacity, Seating Chart & Visitor Guide

Smoothie King Center is the 17,805-seat arena in downtown New Orleans that has hosted three NBA All-Star Games, hundreds of concerts, and every New Orleans Pelicans home game for more than two decades. Opened in 1999 as New Orleans Arena, it remains one of the most recognizable venues in the Gulf South — and one of the most-searched, thanks to lingering confusion over its old name, its exact seating numbers, and when it was actually built.

This guide breaks down the arena’s capacity for concerts and Pelicans games, its seating chart and sections, its construction history and naming-rights story, and everything you need to know before a visit — parking, bag policy, tickets, and getting around the Central Business District campus it shares with the Caesars Superdome.

Quick Answer

Smoothie King Center seats up to 17,805 fans for center-stage concerts and 16,867 for New Orleans Pelicans NBA games (expandable to roughly 18,500 for NBA Playoff games and other high-demand events). The arena opened on October 29, 1999, as New Orleans Arena at a cost of $114 million, and was renamed Smoothie King Center in February 2014 under a 10-year naming-rights deal. It sits at 1501 Dave Dixon Drive in New Orleans’ Central Business District, immediately next to the Caesars Superdome.

Smoothie King Center Capacity: Concerts vs. NBA Games

Capacity depends entirely on the event configuration. Center-stage ‘in the round’ concerts — the arena’s largest layout — max out at 17,805 seats wrapped fully around the performer. End-stage shows, with the stage set at one end of the floor, hold about 17,221. Half-stage setups, common for smaller touring acts, seat roughly 7,500 close to the stage.

For New Orleans Pelicans basketball, the standard NBA capacity is 16,867 for regular-season games, growing to around 18,500 for playoff games, NCAA tournament games, and other high-demand events when additional seating is opened. Because the building’s original name was New Orleans Arena, these same figures are what people are usually after when they search ‘new orleans arena capacity’ or ‘smoothie king arena capacity’ — it’s the same building and the same seat counts.

Seating Chart: Sections, Floor Seats & Suites

The lower bowl wraps around the arena as sections 101–124, giving strong sightlines for both Pelicans games and end-stage concerts. Section 201–216 make up the upper, mid-tier bowl, offering a wider view at a lower price point. For fully seated concerts, floor sections A, B, C, and D sit closest to the stage, with extra floor sections (E through H) or a standing-room pit added for larger in-the-round shows; for end-stage concerts, the first ten rows of floor sections A and B are generally considered the best seats in the building.

Premium options include 56 privately owned luxury suites plus two large party suites (accommodating 4 to 28 guests) with leather seating, a private entrance, and in-suite catering; 16 loge boxes on the 100 level; and eight semi-private VIP Club Booths with bottle service and Club Lounge access. Suite and premium ticket holders also get entry to the Club Level concourse.

When Was the Smoothie King Center Built? History from New Orleans Arena

The Louisiana Legislature approved the arena in 1993, and construction wrapped in 1999. Smoothie King Center opened on October 29, 1999, as New Orleans Arena, built at a cost of $114 million on the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District campus, immediately adjacent to what is now the Caesars Superdome. Its first event was a New Orleans Brass minor-league hockey game that same day, followed days later by its first concert, a co-headlining show from ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The arena carried the New Orleans Arena name for its first 15 years. On February 5, 2014 — days before that year’s NBA All-Star Game, which the building hosted — Smoothie King, the smoothie chain founded in New Orleans in 1973, signed a 10-year naming-rights agreement, and the building became Smoothie King Center. Fans nicknamed it ‘The Blender’ soon after. Because of that rebrand, both ‘new orleans arena’ and ‘smoothie king arena’ still refer to this same venue today.

Home Court of the New Orleans Pelicans

Smoothie King Center is the official home arena of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, making it the answer whenever fans search for the ‘Pelicans arena.’ The franchise played its first game in the building on October 30, 2002, as the New Orleans Hornets, before renaming itself the Pelicans in 2013. The arena has also hosted three NBA All-Star Games — 2008, 2014, and 2017 — putting the Pelicans’ home court in the national spotlight three separate times.

Concert Experience at The Blender

Beyond Pelicans games, Smoothie King Center is one of the Gulf South’s busiest concert venues. Its flexible staging — half-stage, end-stage, and full center-stage — lets promoters scale a show to demand, from intimate 7,500-seat setups to full 17,805-capacity arena tours. A $54 million renovation completed before the 2014–15 NBA season upgraded club spaces, added new LED boards, and refreshed concourse concessions.

The building’s Central Business District location — steps from the Caesars Superdome and a short ride from the French Quarter — keeps it a natural stop for major touring acts, with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife all within walking distance.

A Landmark in New Orleans Sports and Entertainment

Since 1999, the arena has hosted the New Orleans Brass (ECHL), the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (2004–2015), the Women’s Final Four (2004 and 2013), NCAA tournament games, WWE pay-per-views, and multiple ArenaBowl championships, in addition to hundreds of concerts and three NBA All-Star Weekends. The nickname ‘The Blender’ has stuck because the building blends sports, music, and New Orleans culture under one roof.

Planning Your Visit: Parking, Bag Policy, Tickets & Getting There

Smoothie King Center sits at 1501 Dave Dixon Drive in New Orleans’ Central Business District, on the same Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District campus as the Caesars Superdome. Multiple surface lots and parking garages, including Superdome garages, serve event nights nearby; tailgating is not permitted in the arena’s lots and garages. General arena and box office questions can be directed to (504) 587-3822.

The venue enforces a clear-bag policy at most events: permitted bags are clear vinyl bags no larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a small clutch purse no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″, with one bag allowed per person. All guests pass through metal detectors on entry, so it’s worth checking the specific event page before you go, since policies can vary by event.

Tickets for Pelicans games, concerts, and other events are sold in multiple tiers — floor and lower-bowl seats closest to the action, upper-bowl and end-stage seats at lower price points, and premium suites, loge boxes, or club booths with added amenities. On event days, the box office at the arena typically opens by noon and stays open through the start of the show; for non-Pelicans events, the shared Superdome campus box office also keeps limited weekly hours. For current events, seating charts, parking maps, and box office hours, see the official Smoothie King Center website.

Smoothie King Center capacity and visitor guide FAQs

What is the capacity of Smoothie King Center?

Smoothie King Center holds up to 17,805 fans for center-stage concerts, about 17,221 for end-stage shows, roughly 7,500 for half-stage shows, and 16,867 for Pelicans NBA games (expandable to about 18,500 for playoff games and other high-demand events).

What is the address of Smoothie King Center?

The arena is located at 1501 Dave Dixon Drive, New Orleans, LA 70113, in the Central Business District, directly next to the Caesars Superdome.

Why is Smoothie King Center also called New Orleans Arena?

The building opened in 1999 as New Orleans Arena and carried that name for 15 years before Smoothie King signed a 10-year naming-rights deal in February 2014. It’s the same venue, so searches for ‘new orleans arena’ and ‘smoothie king center’ both point here.

Is there a bag policy at Smoothie King Center?

Yes. Most events enforce a clear-bag policy: clear vinyl bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″, one-gallon clear plastic bags, or small clutch purses up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed, one per guest. Policies can vary by event, so check the specific event page beforehand.

Where do you park at Smoothie King Center?

Parking is available in surface lots and garages around the shared Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District campus, including Superdome garages. Tailgating is not permitted in Smoothie King Center’s lots and garages.

What time does the Smoothie King Center box office open?

On event days, the arena’s box office generally opens by noon and stays open through the start of the show. Hours follow each event’s schedule rather than a fixed daily calendar, so it’s best to confirm before visiting.

What teams play at Smoothie King Center?

The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans (originally the New Orleans Hornets) have called Smoothie King Center home since 2002. The arena also previously hosted the New Orleans Brass (ECHL) and the New Orleans VooDoo (Arena Football League).

How many suites does Smoothie King Center have?

The arena has 56 privately owned luxury suites plus two large party suites, 16 loge boxes on the 100 level, and eight semi-private VIP Club Booths with bottle service and Club Lounge access.

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