Upcoming New Orleans Pelicans dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Pelicans seats: what to buy and what to avoid
For a New Orleans Pelicans game, buy a lower-level sideline seat around rows 5 to 15 if the view is your priority, or the front rows of a center-court 300-level section if value is. Smoothie King Center seats 16,867 for basketball, one of the smallest capacities in the NBA, so the upper deck sits nearer the floor than it does in bigger buildings.
- Bench side: lower sections 111–114. Seating guides put the Pelicans in front of 111–112 and the visitors in front of 113–114.
- Far sideline: sections 123, 124, 101 and 102, which look across at both benches.
- Upper value: sections 314–318 on one side, 330–332 and 301–302 on the other.
- Avoid: the lowest rows behind the baskets and the top rows of the upper end sections.
The team plays 41 home games between late October and mid-April.
Two levels and a suite ring next to the Dome
The arena opened on October 29, 1999, as the New Orleans Arena and became Smoothie King Center in 2014. It sits beside the Caesars Superdome in the Central Business District. For college basketball and some playoff setups it expands to about 18,500. A 2013 renovation upgraded suites, club seating, concessions and video boards, and 2014 work redid the entrances and exterior. It has hosted the NBA All-Star Game three times: 2008, 2014 and 2017.
There is no middle seating deck. Instead, a suite ring separates two seating levels:
- Lower level, sections 101–124. Wraps the court; the sideline blocks are 111–114 and 123–124 with 101–102.
- Upper level, sections 301–332. Above the suites, with center court at about 314–318 and 330–332 with 301–302.
- Premium. Sideline Premier and Club seats with club lounge access and in-seat service.
Section numbers here come from a resale seating guide, so confirm positions on your listing's map.
Matching Smoothie King Center seats to your night
Lower sideline, rows 5–15
The first 25 rows on either sideline are the premium inventory. Rows 5 to 15 are the practical target: you clear the scorer's table yet still feel the pace of the game. Choose 111–114 for timeouts and substitutions up close; choose 123–124 or 101–102 for the full court with both benches in view.
Lower corners
A sensible middle ground on both price and angle, with a diagonal look at each basket.
Behind the baskets
The low rows here are the weakest seats downstairs. The glass and stanchion block part of your view, and the opposite end loses depth.
Center-court 300s
The best value in the arena. The small bowl keeps the first rows close enough to read plays, and you see the whole floor at once.
Upper end sections
The top rows are fine for atmosphere but poor for following action at the far basket.
Which Pelicans dates move fastest
The NBA schedule runs from early-October preseason games to an 82-game regular season ending in mid-April, with NBA Cup group games in November and December counting in the standings. The play-in round and playoffs follow, into June.
- Star opponents. In a smaller market, the visiting team matters most. Teams with the league's biggest names sell first and carry the strongest resale demand.
- Texas neighbors. The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs share the Southwest Division and are close enough for their fans to drive in.
- Big city weeks. Mardi Gras, the Sugar Bowl, festival season and large conventions fill hotels. Game demand may not jump, but nearby rooms and parking can.
- Weekends and postseason. Friday and Saturday outsell weeknights, and playoff games go quickly.
The easiest ticket is usually a January or February weeknight against an Eastern Conference visitor.
Superdome garages, the Loyola streetcar and house rules
The arena shares parking with the Superdome: Garages 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 5 and 6, the Champions Garage and surface Lots 3 and 4, about 7,000 spaces in all. Garages take cards only and do not allow re-entry, and event parking can be reserved ahead. When the New Orleans Saints or another Superdome event shares the date, spaces disappear early, so check the Dome's calendar first.
Rideshare pickup is on Poydras Street between Clara Street and Loyola Avenue. The Loyola Avenue streetcar stops at Poydras near the Superdome and connects to Union Passenger Terminal and the Canal Street line toward the French Quarter. Plenty of downtown hotels are within walking distance.
Posted rules as of fall 2026, to confirm in the arena's A to Z guide:
- Bags: up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches, though the limit can change by event.
- Payment: cashless for parking, food and retail, with cash-to-card kiosks near sections 108 and 310.
- Exits: no re-entry.
- Smoking: banned throughout, vaping and e-cigarettes included.
Every Reserved Seat order includes guaranteed entry.
Charlotte, Katrina and a new name
George Shinn moved the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans in 2002. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the team spent two seasons playing mostly in Oklahoma City as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, then came home full time for 2007–08. The arena itself reopened about a month after the storm to support relief work, and Hornets games resumed there in March 2006.
- 2007–08: a 56–26 record, the franchise's best, its only division title and a run to the West semifinals.
- 2012–13: New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson bought the club and in 2013 renamed it for the brown pelican, Louisiana's state bird. When Charlotte took back the Hornets name in 2014, the league reassigned the old Charlotte records, so the Pelicans' history officially starts in 2002.
- 2018: a sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers, the second series win in franchise history, before a loss to Golden State.
- The draft: Chris Paul (2005), Anthony Davis (first overall, 2012) and Zion Williamson (first overall, 2019).
Gayle Benson has owned the Pelicans and the Saints since 2018. The only retired number is 7, for Pete Maravich of the New Orleans Jazz, who won the 1976–77 scoring title at 31.1 points a game. Pierre the Pelican, chosen by fan vote, arrived in 2013. Check the team's site for the current roster.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of Smoothie King Center has the Pelicans bench?
Seating guides place the Pelicans bench in front of sections 111 and 112, with the visitors in front of 113 and 114. Confirm on your listing's seat map.
What are the best value seats for a Pelicans game?
The front rows of the center-court 300 sections, about 314 to 318 and 330 to 332 or 301 to 302. The small arena keeps them close to the floor.
How big a bag can I bring to Smoothie King Center?
As of fall 2026, the posted limit is 14 by 14 by 6 inches, though it can vary by event. Check the arena's A to Z guide before you go.
Can I take the streetcar to a Pelicans game?
Yes. The Loyola Avenue line stops at Poydras near the Superdome, a short walk from the arena, and connects to the Canal Street line.
Is parking harder when the Superdome has an event?
Yes. The arena and the Superdome share about 7,000 spaces, so garages fill early when both host events on the same day.
When did the Hornets become the Pelicans?
In 2013, a year after Tom Benson bought the team. The name honors the brown pelican, Louisiana's state bird.