New Orleans Pelicans Arena (New Orleans, LA)
Smoothie King Center Address: 1501 Dave Dixon Dr, New Orleans, LA 70113
About Arena:
Opened in 1999 as the New Orleans Arena and renamed in 2014, the Smoothie King Center (nicknamed “The Blender”) sits in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District, right next to the Caesars Superdome. It was built to be resilient & community-centric, the arena survived Hurricane Katrina with minimal damage and even served as a medical hub during recovery.
Notable Features:
- On Game Nights, near the north entrance, you might find a Jazz or Brass Band setting the mood.
- Inside, the lobby features a Louisiana basketball history exhibit, complete with high school jerseys from across the state, Pelicans memorabilia, and even a large pelican statue—perfect for photos.
- The 300-level concourse includes a fun arcade area and a mock locker room where you can compare your wingspan or shoe size with Pelicans stars like Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson.
- The upper concourses also offer sweeping glass-paneled views of the New Orleans skyline
Notable Food & Drinks:
This arena features more seafood dishes than any other arena in the country. Look for options like this:
- Zatarain’s stand (section 122) delivers Louisiana fare like alligator po’boys and jambalaya
- NOLA Nachos (section 106) – feature seafood nachos—a distinctly coastal spin on a game-day classic
- Pier 121 (section 121) – serves shrimp or catfish platters, shrimp po’boys, and shrimp & cheese fries
- Drink: Big Easy Daiquiri (section 114, 301) or of course a Smoothie King Smoothie (sections 101, 301)