Lakefront Arena

Lakefront Arena
Lakefront Arena
Full name Senator Nat G. Kiefer University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena
Former names University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena (1983–1987)
Location 6801 Franklin Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70122-5707
Coordinates 30°1′48″N 90°3′2″W / 30.03000°N 90.05056°W / 30.03000; -90.05056Coordinates: 30°1′48″N 90°3′2″W / 30.03000°N 90.05056°W / 30.03000; -90.05056
Owner University of New Orleans
Operator University of New Orleans
Capacity 8,933
Surface Multi-surface
Opened 1983 (1983)
Tenants
New Orleans Privateers men's basketball
(1983–2005, 2008–present)
New Orleans Privateers women's basketball
(1983–2005, 2008–present)
New Orleans Privateers volleyball (2008–2011)
Website
Lakefront Arena Website

The Senator Nat G. Kiefer University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena (commonly Lakefront Arena or UNO Lakefront Arena) is an 8,933-seat multi-purpose arena located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The arena is home to the University of New Orleans Privateers men's and women's basketball teams.[1]

It was built in 1983 and is named in honor of Nat G. Kiefer, the late state senator who aided UNO's efforts to obtain state funding for the building. It is part of the university's East Campus, where most of the school's athletic facilities are located.

Sports

Basketball

Lakefront arena is the home venue for both the New Orleans Privateers men's and women's basketball teams.

The arena hosted the 1991 NCAA Women's basketball Final Four, where the University of Tennessee beat the University of Virginia for their third national title. The arena was contracted to host the men's and women's Sun Belt Conference basketball tournaments between 2014 and 2019.[2] The arena previously hosted the 2002 men's Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament.

The arena is also notable for hosting Larry Bird's career-high of 60 points on March 12, 1985, against the Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting a series of special "home" games in New Orleans during the 1984–1985 season.[3]

The Harlem Globetrotters have also played at the arena.

Boxing

On July 14, 2018, a full card was held at the arena with a co-main event of Regis Prograis versus Juan Jose Velasco for the WBC Super Lightweight Diamond Belt and William Silva versus Teofimo Lopez for the WBC Continental Americas title.[4][5]

MMA

UFC 27 was held at the arena in September 2000.

Roller Derby

Lakefront Arena plays host to flat-track roller derby games held by the Big Easy Rollergirls, a member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, and the New Orleans Brass Roller Derby, a member league of the Men's Roller Derby Association. These games include the Big Easy Rollergirls' annual "SweatFest" invitational tournament, which features competition among high-ranking WFTDA leagues.

Swimming and diving

The UNO Aquatic Center is located in the arena and on the arena grounds.[6] It has been home to the UNO men's and women's swimming and diving teams. The aquatic center has also hosted many national and state events including Sugar Bowl Swimming meets, AAU National Championships and Junior Olympics,[7] LHSAA State meets, Syncro National competition, and hosted the 2010 Short Course and Long Course state meets.

Volleyball

From 2008 to 2011, the arena along with the Human Performance Center were the home venues for the New Orleans Privateers volleyball team.[1]

Wrestling

The arena has hosted LHSAA state wrestling tournaments.

Professional Wrestling

Ring of Honor wrestling's Supercard of Honor XII was hosted at Lakefront Arena on April 7, 2018 during WrestleMania 34 weekend.[8]

Events

The arena also hosts graduations and concerts,[1] such as 3 Doors Down, 311, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Anthrax, Blink-182, Brandy, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Daughtry, Def Leppard, Demi Lovato, Eric Church, Exodus, Great White, Guns N' Roses, Helloween, Kid Rock, Kix, Korn, Lady Gaga, Limp Bizkit, Mötley Crüe, Nas, Ne-Yo, Poison, Rammstein, Ratt, Pearl Jam , Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Rush, Scorpions, Skid Row, Slipknot, Tesla, The Black Keys, The Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, Tom Petty, Trixter, Van Halen, Warrant, White Lion, Whitesnake, Xandria and Zac Brown Band. Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on June 26, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During their Walking Into Everywhere tour, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed on October 1, 1998 and the show was recorded for later broadcast by Westwood One.

Events held at the arena have included Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, Shrine Circus, So You Think You Can Dance: The Tour, WWE and Fox's singer search program The X Factor.

Comedians such as Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Katt Williams and Dave Chappelle have performed at the venue.

Pope John Paul II celebrated mass to over 150,000 people on the grounds of the arena and prominent political figures such as Bill Clinton and John Kerry have also spoken at the arena.

Large festivals, including Lollapalooza and Steel Pony Express have also been held on the grounds.

Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, as a result of massive damages sustained during Hurricane Katrina, the building closed for substantial repairs and renovations for nearly three years. During this time, the school's men's and women's basketball teams played their home games in their former home, the Human Performance Center (or "The Chamber of Horrors" as it grew to be known during the late '70s and early '80s).

The arena held its grand re-opening May 2, 2008. Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour was the first show to perform.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lakefront Arena". unoprivateers.com. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  2. ↑ http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2016/6/15/MBB_0615163718.aspx
  3. ↑ Finney, Peter (January 8, 2003). "Larry Legend had 60 on Boston's '85 visit". The Times-Picayune. p. C1.
  4. ↑ "Regis Prograis faces Juan Jose Velasco, eyes 140-pound WBSS tournament". espn.com. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  5. ↑ "Regis Prograis, Juan Jose Velasco make weight for title fight". nola.com. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  6. ↑ "UNO Lakefront Arena". neworleansonline.com. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  7. ↑ "Swimming" (PDF). aauresults.org. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  8. ↑ "ROH BRINGS SUPERCARD OF HONOR XII TO NEW ORLEANS ON SATURDAY APRIL 7TH". rohwrestling.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
Five Seasons Events Center		 Ultimate Fighting Championship venue
UFC 27		 Succeeded by
Trump Taj Mahal
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