Smoothie King Center: Guide for Visiting Fans

The arena is located in the Central Business District, adjacent to the Caesars Superdome. It's just over a mile away from the French Quarter and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. If you're staying in the Quarter or the CBD, you can walk it in 15–20 minutes without breaking a sweat — and in New Orleans, that walk comes with jazz, street food, and no shortage of distractions.

For transit, the RTA Streetcar Line 46 is the closest streetcar option, stopping at Poydras Street Station (N), about a 5-minute walk from the arena. The venue's own guide notes that a public transportation stop is located on Poydras Street across from the Superdome at Gate A Ground Level.

Coming from the airport? The closest airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), is a 15–20 minute drive away. The RTA's Route 202 Airport Express travels from MSY to downtown New Orleans, serving stops on Poydras Street from Loyola Ave. to Convention Center Blvd., for just $1.25. By rideshare from MSY, expect around $25–40 depending on surge. If you're driving into town, the arena is accessible by car via the Pontchartrain Expressway, U.S. Route 90, and Interstate 10. For rideshare drop-off, the area around Dave Dixon Drive and Le Rouge Lane is typically used — the app will suggest it, but be prepared for a small crowd bottleneck if you're arriving close to tip.

The arena is surrounded by seven parking garages and two surface lots, accommodating approximately 7,000 vehicles. Parking fees range from $9 to $55 depending on the event, and garages accept only credit or debit cards. Garages include #1, #1A, #2, #2A, #5, #6, and Champions Garage, and you can reserve parking in advance using the Premium Mobile Parking app, BestParking, or ParkWhiz.

Champions Garage is located at the corner of Lasalle Street and Dave Dixon Drive, just south of the Champions Square, and is often used for VIP parking. For a regular game, pre-booking online is strongly advised — lots close to the arena fill up fast on primetime matchups. If you're willing to walk six to eight blocks, you can often find cheaper street or surface lot options toward the Warehouse District. Budget $20–35 for a pre-booked garage spot on a typical game night, and closer to $45–55 for a playoff or marquee matchup.

The CBD is the obvious base camp: you can walk to the arena from most hotels there in under 15 minutes, and you'll be well-positioned to hit Poydras Street before the game. The Hyatt Regency is literally connected to the Superdome complex, so it doesn't get more convenient than that — prices reflect it, expect $180–280/night on game days. Le Pavillon is located just down Poydras Street and offers a more classic New Orleans elegance at a comparable price. The Virgin Hotels New Orleans is close to the action and features a pool and rooftop bar, with an eclectic atmosphere.

The Warehouse District, just south of the arena, is the hipper and slightly cheaper alternative. Boutique hotels here put you within a 10-minute walk and a block from some of the city's better restaurants. The French Quarter is perfectly walkable but tends to price up on event nights — factor in $200–350 for decent options. If you want value, book in the CBD and reward yourself with the saved cash at the concession stand.

Cochon Butcher (930 Tchoupitoulas St.) — The Warehouse District sibling of the acclaimed Cochon restaurant, this is a sandwich and charcuterie counter that might ruin other food for you. Get there an hour before tip-off, order the debris po'boy, and thank yourself later. Cochon and Cochon Butcher both appear consistently as top restaurant picks near the arena.

Willa Jean (611 O'Keefe Ave.) — A CBD bakery-restaurant that does serious Southern cooking in a bright, modern space. The biscuits, honey butter, and fried chicken sandwich are worth the pre-game detour. Reviewers have called it a favorite breakfast spot in New Orleans, with multiple return visits. It's close enough to the arena that you won't be racing to your seat.

Domenica (123 Baronne St.) — A reliable local go-to before night games, especially if you can catch happy hour. Italian-focused, located in the Roosevelt Hotel, and the wood-fired pizzas are the real move. The fresh handmade pastas and Napolitano-style pizzas from the wood oven are complemented by craft cocktails and an Italian-focused wine list.

Vintage Rock Club — This is just steps away from the arena and often hosts pre-parties to games and concerts in the area. If you want to drink close to the building without paying arena prices, this is your spot. Not a fine dining situation, but it gets the job done and the energy is good.

All bags are prohibited other than clear vinyl bags no larger than 14" wide × 14" height × 6" deep, gallon-size Ziploc bags (limit 1 of either), and small clutch purses no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". You can bring ONE clear bag or one clutch purse — the arena prohibits combining both, so you must choose. Backpacks, luggage, strollers, and other items are not permitted.

Doors to Smoothie King Center typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before event time. For NBA games, plan to arrive at least an hour before tip-off — the security lines can stack up quickly along the main entrance on the Dave Dixon Drive side. The arena has multiple entry points, including Howard Avenue, East Ground via Le Rouge Street, and entrances near Girod Street and Dave Dixon Drive. The east side entrance (Ground Level) tends to move faster on typical game nights. Note that the arena has a strict no-re-entry policy except for medical emergencies. Don't wander out to grab a to-go daiquiri thinking you can stroll back in — you cannot.

The entire arena is a cashless operation including all concessions, merchandise, and parking — cash will not be accepted at any location within the venue. Cash conversion to a MasterCard prepaid card is available at Section 108 near Guest Services, with a $20 minimum and $500 maximum.

The arena is well-equipped for guests with disabilities, offering wheelchair-accessible seating, elevators, ramps, and attentive staff. ADA Facilitators are positioned inside main entry gates to assist patrons via wheelchair to and from seating sections, though they do not transport guests to restrooms or concession stands due to safety and liability reasons. The designated ADA drop-off and pick-up location is on the corner of Dave Dixon Drive and Le Rouge Lane, though access may be temporarily restricted during peak egress times for larger events.

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available at the Guest Services Desk across from Section 108; a valid government photo ID is required and held until the device is returned. Service animals are permitted, and accessible restrooms are available on every level. All suites at Smoothie King Center are ADA accessible.

There is no formal designated away section at Smoothie King Center for NBA games — away fans scatter throughout based on what tickets they bought. The upper bowl (300-level) is your most affordable option and actually offers solid sightlines given the arena's relatively compact footprint. The arena's design, with a ceiling height of 65 feet to the beam, ensures unobstructed views and an immersive experience whether you're courtside or in the upper levels.

Sections 301–309 along the sides give you the best baseline-to-baseline view without being in nosebleed territory. Sections 101–108 on the lower level in the corners are the sweet spot for mid-range buyers — close enough to feel the action, far enough from the Pelicans' loudest home supporters near the baseline seats. If you're traveling with a group and want to be clustered together in visiting fan-friendly territory without standing out too much, the corners of either level work well. Avoid front-row upper sections directly behind the baskets — the angle makes the far end of the court feel very distant.

The concessions menu includes a number of New Orleans favorites — head to the Crescent City Cuisine stand for BBQ shrimp and cauliflower grits, or the LA Seafood booth for shrimp and catfish po'boys; the Zatarain's stand serves chicken and rice bowls, and red beans and rice and jambalaya can be found at various stands. Several bars around the arena serve beers on tap, with Louisiana-based Abita Brewing heading the craft beer lineup — look for their Strawberry Lager, Purple Haze, and Big Easy IPA. Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the arena. Expect to pay around $13–15 for a domestic draft and $18–25 for a full meal item — standard NBA arena pricing, nothing shocking by the city's own standards.

New Orleans fans are passionate but they're not particularly hostile — this is a city that runs on hospitality and good times, and that bleeds into the arena atmosphere. The Pelicans faithful are genuinely invested on big nights (playoff runs, marquee opponents), but you won't find the organized, coordinated hostility you'd get in, say, Boston or Philadelphia. What you will find is an arena that gets legitimately loud when the team is rolling — the Blender earns its nickname — and a crowd that's sophisticated enough to appreciate good basketball from either side. The thing visiting fans often don't expect: the concourse smells genuinely better than most NBA arenas, because of all the Creole food stands, and it's hard to stay grumpy when you're eating a shrimp po'boy at halftime.

Transit: The nearest streetcar stop, Poydras Street Station (N), is about a 5-minute walk from the arena. Post-game, the RTA runs service but frequency drops late at night — expect a wait of 10–20 minutes on the platform. Wait 10–15 minutes after the final buzzer before heading to the stop; the immediate rush clears fast. If you're heading back to the French Quarter, the walk is genuinely pleasant and probably faster than waiting on a packed streetcar.

Driving: The multiple garages surrounding the arena — including Garages #1, #1A, #2, #2A, #5, and #6 — will all empty simultaneously. Garages closer to the Pontchartrain Expressway on-ramp clear faster than those that funnel onto Poydras. Realistically, add 20–35 minutes to reach a moving road after a full house game. Stay put in the garage for 15–20 minutes post-game; reading the replay highlights in your car beats sitting in a line not moving.

Rideshare: Surge pricing hits the immediate arena radius within minutes of the final buzzer. Walk four to six blocks toward the CBD core — toward Loyola Avenue or toward the Warehouse District on Tchoupitoulas — before calling your ride. You'll cut the estimated price by 30–40% and the wait by half. The one tip worth following: if your game ends between 9:30 and 10:30 PM on a Friday or Saturday, every bar in a two-mile radius is filling up simultaneously. Get your rideshare request in early or commit to the walk.

How do I get to Smoothie King Center from the French Quarter? Walk it — it's just over a mile and takes about 15–20 minutes on Poydras Street. You can also grab the RTA Streetcar Line 46, which stops at Poydras Street Station, a 5-minute walk from the arena.

How do I get from Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) to the arena?

Take the RTA Route 202 Airport Express, which runs from the airport to downtown New Orleans with stops on Poydras Street, for $1.25. Rideshare from MSY runs approximately 15–20 minutes and costs $25–40.

What is the bag policy at Smoothie King Center?

Clear vinyl bags no larger than 14" × 14" × 6", gallon-size Ziploc bags, or small clutch purses no larger than 4.5" × 6.5" are allowed — limit one bag per person. Backpacks are not permitted under any circumstances.

How much does parking cost at Smoothie King Center?

Parking fees range from $9 to $55 depending on the event. Pre-booking online through ParkWhiz or the venue's partners is strongly recommended, especially for big games. Parking garages accept credit or debit cards only.

When do gates open for Pelicans games?

Doors to Smoothie King Center typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before event time. Arriving 60 minutes before tip-off is a comfortable buffer for security lines.

Does Smoothie King Center accept cash?

No — the entire arena is a cashless operation including all concessions, merchandise, and parking. Guests may convert cash to a MasterCard prepaid card at Section 108 near the Guest Services location.

What are the best seats for away fans at Smoothie King Center? There is no dedicated away section. The upper-bowl 300s along the sidelines (Sections 301–309) offer great value and sightlines. Lower-bowl corner sections (101–108) are the best mid-tier option for visitors who want proximity without being in the heart of the home crowd.

Can I bring outside food or drink into the arena?

No — outside food and beverages are not allowed in the Smoothie King Center. Eat your dinner on Fulton Street or at one of the nearby restaurants before you head in.