Capacity 7,853 General contractor George Caldwell | Opened 30 May 1930 Owner New Orleans Construction cost 2 million USD | |
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Address New Orleans, LA 70130, USA Similar Louis Armstrong Park, Mahalia Jackson Theater o, Municipal Auditorium Kansas C, Kiel Auditorium, Denver Auditorium Arena | ||
The Municipal Auditorium is a 7,853-seat multi-purpose arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a component of the New Orleans Cultural Center, alongside the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. It is located in the Tremé neighborhood in Louis Armstrong Park adjacent to Congo Square.
The auditorium opened on May 30, 1930. It was constructed by the contractor George A. Caldwell, who also designed nine buildings on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge and three parish courthouses. It has hosted many concerts and events, perhaps being best known as the site of many of the New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe balls.
It hosted the New Orleans Buccaneers of the American Basketball Association during the 1969–70 season. It also hosted the New Orleans Jazz basketball team, during its inaugural 1974–1975 season, before the team moved to the Louisiana Superdome. The arena was also home ice to the minor-league hockey franchise, the New Orleans Brass, from 1997–1999, before they moved into the New Orleans Arena. It has also hosted boxing and professional wrestling matches.
The venue was a temporary casino before the new Harrah's New Orleans building on Canal Street was opened.
In August 2005 the auditorium suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina and associated flooding (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans). Future usage of the arena is currently uncertain.