Smoothie King Center

Lounge access, premium entrances, and which tickets unlock extras.

• Club seats (100-level, sections 101–115) include access to the Club Level lounge with food and beverage service - the primary premium tier for non-suite holders at Smoothie King Center.
• The 200-level Club sections (midcourt) include a dedicated lounge space with full bar service - a modest but meaningful upgrade from general concessions for a price premium that remains below NBA average.
• Full season ticket holders (41-game) get free pre-game drinks and access to special events at the team's training facility - the most tangible perk differentiating full STH status from partial plans.

Fastest gates, bag policy, and when to arrive.

• The main entrance is on Loyola Avenue (east side). Gate 2 (Loyola Ave, northeast) is fastest for most sections; Gate 1 (south, Poydras Street) is recommended for sections 101–108 and avoids Champions Square congestion.
• Bag policy: clear bags maximum 12"×6"×12"; small non-clear clutch purses up to 4.5"×6.5" permitted. Smoothie King Center and Caesars Superdome share a campus - confirm which building you're entering before joining a security line.
• Arrive 45 minutes before tip; Champions Square outdoor plaza between the two venues fills 60–90 minutes before tip on big game nights and creates a street party atmosphere that rivals any pre-game scene in the league.

Where to park, transit options, and postgame exit tips.

• Champions Square garage (directly between the arena and Caesars Superdome) is the closest option at $20–$25; the Loyola Ave garages further north are $15 and a 5-minute walk.
• New Orleans' transit infrastructure is limited for the arena - the Loyola Avenue streetcar runs on the west side of the building and connects to the Union Passenger Terminal, but most fans drive or use rideshare.
• Rideshare surge pricing in the CBD post-game is significant - waiting 20–25 minutes inside the arena before requesting reduces surge noticeably. The French Quarter (15-min walk or 5-min rideshare) provides better driver density.

Pro fan knowledge you won't find on the official site.

• Champions Square - the 100,000 sq ft outdoor plaza between Smoothie King Center and Caesars Superdome - is the best outdoor pre-game party space in the NBA on nice-weather nights, with live music, food vendors, and bars.
• Fiery Crab now has the best fried fish strips inside the arena - Krispy Krunchy Chicken (formerly the fan favorite) has declined in quality. Worth seeking out on the concourse.
• The French Quarter is 15 minutes on foot and arguably the best post-game neighborhood in the NBA for first-time visitors - Frenchmen Street (for live jazz), Bourbon Street, and Café Du Monde for beignets are all within reach.