New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center: What You Need to Know

The Smoothie King Center is the home arena of the New Orleans Pelicans NBA team. If you're planning to attend a game, visit for an event, or simply want to understand what this venue offers, here's what the facility provides and how it works.

The Basics: What Is Smoothie King Center?

Smoothie King Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It serves as the primary home for the Pelicans, the city's NBA franchise. The arena also hosts concerts, conventions, other sporting events, and community gatherings throughout the year.

The facility operates as a public venue, meaning access is generally available to anyone purchasing tickets or attending approved events. Like most NBA arenas, it's designed to accommodate large crowds—typically ranging from several thousand to over 16,000 people depending on the event configuration and setup.

Attendance and Event Types

The arena functions year-round, though the Pelicans' regular season runs from October through April, with potential playoff games extending into June. During the NBA season, the venue hosts home games roughly 40 times annually.

Beyond basketball, Smoothie King Center serves as:

  • Concert and music venue — hosting touring artists and local performers
  • Convention and trade show space — for regional business events
  • Wrestling and entertainment events — including WWE and other performances
  • Graduation and ceremonial events — for local schools and organizations

The type of event determines what you'll experience, how seating is arranged, and what amenities are available on any given day.

Getting There: Location and Parking

The arena is situated in downtown New Orleans, near the Central Business District. Its location affects how you plan your visit:

Transportation options vary by your starting point. Many attendees drive and use on-site or nearby parking facilities. Others use public transportation, rideshare services, or walk if they're staying nearby. The specific parking situation—including availability and cost—depends on the event date, time, and demand.

Parking availability is not guaranteed and tends to fill up during popular events like playoff games or major concerts. Arriving early or exploring alternative parking options beforehand can help reduce uncertainty.

Seating, Capacity, and Venue Layout

The arena contains multiple seating sections organized by level (lower bowl, club level, upper level). Your experience depends partly on where your seat is located:

  • Lower bowl seats offer closer proximity to the action
  • Club and premium seats typically include enhanced amenities and access
  • Upper level seats provide a broader view of the court or stage but are farther from the action

Capacity and available seating vary by event type. A basketball game uses the full court and standard configuration, while a concert might reconfigure the floor entirely. This means seat availability, pricing, and sightlines differ significantly depending on what's happening.

Amenities and Facilities

Smoothie King Center, like most modern NBA venues, provides standard arena amenities:

  • Food and beverage concessions — available throughout the venue at multiple locations
  • Restrooms — distributed across levels
  • Climate control — indoor air conditioning
  • Accessibility accommodations — wheelchair seating, accessible entrances, and facilities for guests with disabilities
  • Video displays and sound systems — for enhanced event experience

The specific options available—food vendors, pricing, menu items, and specialty concessions—can change seasonally or by event. If you have particular dietary needs or preferences, checking ahead with the venue is wise, as availability isn't universal.

Ticketing: How to Attend

Tickets for Pelicans games and other events are typically sold through official channels:

  • Official team/venue websites — the primary source for Pelicans games
  • Authorized ticket resellers — secondary marketplaces where existing ticket holders resell
  • Box office — in-person ticket purchase at the arena itself

Pricing varies dramatically based on:

  • Event type (NBA game vs. concert vs. convention)
  • Team performance and playoff status
  • Opponent or artist popularity
  • Seat location and tier
  • How far in advance you purchase
  • Day of week and time

There's no single "typical" ticket price—the range is broad, and what you'll pay depends entirely on your specific event choice and circumstances. Resale market prices can fluctuate significantly, sometimes exceeding or falling below face value depending on demand.

What to Know Before You Visit 🎫

Bag policies and security screening are standard. Most arenas, including Smoothie King Center, restrict what you can bring inside. Typical prohibited items include large bags, outside food and beverages, recording devices for commercial use, and weapons. Policies can be updated, so confirming current restrictions on the official website before arriving is practical.

Arrive early. Security lines, parking, and finding your seat all take time. Arriving 30–60 minutes before event start is a reasonable buffer for most attendees.

Accessibility. If you require wheelchair access, companion seating, accessible parking, or other accommodations, contact the venue in advance. They can direct you to appropriate parking, entrances, and seating options rather than leaving you to figure it out upon arrival.

Inclement weather doesn't affect attendance for indoor events—the arena is climate-controlled. However, weather may affect your parking or transportation getting to and from the venue.

Pelicans Games Specifically 🏀

If you're attending an NBA game, the experience includes:

  • Pre-game entertainment and performances
  • National anthem
  • Halftime show and entertainment
  • In-game promotions and fan engagement
  • Post-game departures that can create congestion in parking and on nearby streets

Games typically last 2.5 to 3 hours from entry to exit. Crowd size and energy vary based on opponent, day of week, and team performance.

Your Next Steps

Before booking or attending, consider what matters most to you:

  • Which event interests you (Pelicans game, concert, other)?
  • What date and time work for your schedule?
  • What's your budget for tickets and concessions?
  • How do you plan to get there and park?
  • Do you have any special needs (accessibility, dietary, etc.)?
  • Do you want to arrive early to explore the arena or grab food?

Once you've identified what you're attending, the official Smoothie King Center and New Orleans Pelicans websites provide the most current, accurate information on ticketing, policies, parking options, and event-specific details. That's where you'll find the real-time information needed to make your visit work for your situation.