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 construction history and naming-rights story, and everything you need to know before a visit — parking, 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). The arena opened on October 19, 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.
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 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.
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 19, 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 on October 29, 1999, 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, Tickets & Getting There
Smoothie King Center sits at 1500 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 serve event nights nearby, and box office and general arena questions can be directed to (504) 587-3822.
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 or club seating with added amenities. Box office hours generally follow each event’s schedule rather than a fixed daily calendar, so it’s worth checking before a visit. For current events, seating charts, parking maps, and box office hours, see the official Smoothie King Center website.
smoothie king center capacity and history 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 (up to about 18,500 for playoff games).
When was the Smoothie King Center built?
It was approved by the Louisiana Legislature in 1993 and opened on October 19, 1999, as New Orleans Arena, at a construction cost of $114 million.
Is Smoothie King Center the same as New Orleans Arena?
Yes. The building opened in 1999 as New Orleans Arena and was renamed Smoothie King Center in February 2014 after a 10-year naming-rights deal with the New Orleans-founded Smoothie King brand; both names refer to the same arena.
What arena do the New Orleans Pelicans play in?
The Pelicans play their home games at Smoothie King Center, which has served as the franchise’s arena since 2002, when the team was still known as the New Orleans Hornets.
What is Smoothie King Center’s nickname?
Fans call it ‘The Blender,’ a playful nod to the Smoothie King naming sponsor.
What major events has Smoothie King Center hosted?
Three NBA All-Star Games (2008, 2014, and 2017), the Women’s Final Four (2004 and 2013), NCAA tournament games, multiple ArenaBowl championships, WWE pay-per-view events, and hundreds of concerts.
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