Getting a group to a New Orleans Pelicans game sounds simple — until you actually try to do it. Poydras Street backs up in both directions before tip-off, the parking garages around the Superdome campus fill fast and charge $30–$50 a spot on game nights, and rideshare pickup is pushed onto Poydras Street between Clara and Loyola where everyone is hunting for the same car at the same time. The single question that decides whether your crew walks straight into Smoothie King Center or scatters across four city blocks is a simple one: where does the bus drop us off, and where does it wait?

This guide answers it plainly, using the arena's own published information, then walks you through everything else a group trip to Smoothie King Center needs: which vehicle fits your party, what shapes the price, and how a New Orleans charter bus rental lets your group skip the downtown parking scramble entirely and land at the door. We make these game-night and concert trips into the CBD regularly, so the logistics below come from doing it — not from a brochure. For the full picture of how we handle sporting events across the city, see our New Orleans sporting event party bus rental service.

Arena address

1501 Dave Dixon Drive, New Orleans, LA 70113

Home team

New Orleans Pelicans — NBA, plus concerts and events

Capacity

16,867 for Pelicans games · 17,971 for concerts

Rideshare zone

Poydras Street between Clara Street and Loyola Avenue

Closest garage

Champions Garage off Girod Street — from $20, often $30–$50 on game nights

Bag policy

Clear bags only — 14" × 14" × 6" max, or one gallon Ziploc

Why Rent a Bus to Smoothie King Center?

The Smoothie King Center sits on Dave Dixon Drive in the Central Business District, directly in front of the Caesars Superdome — which means it shares the most event-saturated parking and traffic corridor in New Orleans. On a Pelicans game night, the garages that serve both venues fill well before tip-off, Poydras Street gets heavy in both directions, and the one-way grid of downtown streets turns what looks like a short drive on the map into a 25-minute crawl with no guaranteed spot waiting at the end of it.

A New Orleans party bus or charter bus rental cuts through all of it. Your group loads up from wherever you're starting — a hotel in the French Quarter, a house in Uptown, a restaurant on Magazine Street — and the route is handled for you. Everyone rides together, the pregame energy builds on board, and there's no drawing straws for who has to stay sober and navigate downtown.

When the final buzzer sounds and 17,000 people head for the exits at once, your bus is parked and ready — not circling the block while Poydras backs up.

Renting a bus to Smoothie King Center with New Orleans Party Bus is the simplest game-night decision you'll make. Call 504-459-0899 to lock in your date.

Charter Bus Pickup & Drop-Off at Smoothie King Center

Here's the part most rental pages gloss over. Smoothie King Center is accessed via Dave Dixon Drive, with the main arena entrances facing the Champions Square plaza between the arena and the Superdome. For private vehicles and rideshare, the designated drop-off and pickup zone is on Poydras Street, between Clara Street and Loyola Avenue — per the venue's own published directions.

That puts rideshare passengers on the north edge of the campus, with a walk across the plaza to reach the arena entrance.

Charter buses and larger vehicles use the access road network around the Superdome campus — Girod Street on the south side is the most common approach for groups, putting passengers near the Champions Garage and the arena's south-side entry. Because the exact drop point shifts slightly by event type and which gates are open, we confirm your group's approach for your specific event when you book. The one-line version: your group arrives closer to the door than a Poydras rideshare pickup drops you, and there's no hunting for a phone in a crowd of 17,000 people trying to summon the same car.

Key detail: the venue's official rideshare zone sits on Poydras Street — a walk from the arena entrance, through the plaza, after a game when everyone is leaving at once. A private bus waits nearby and picks your group up at a confirmed spot, not a shared street corner with surge pricing.

Smoothie King Center, 1501 Dave Dixon Drive, New Orleans — home of the New Orleans Pelicans, located on the Champions Square plaza directly in front of the Caesars Superdome in the Central Business District.

The Parking Situation — Why It Matters for Your Bus

The Superdome campus operates seven parking garages (Garages 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 5, 6, and Champions Garage) and two surface lots (Lots 3 and 4) — roughly 7,000 spaces in total shared across the Smoothie King Center and Caesars Superdome. For Pelicans games, parking in these structures typically runs $30–$50 per event, credit and debit only. Champions Garage off Girod Street is the closest structure to the arena and goes first — don't count on walking up and finding a spot in the hour before tip-off on a weekend game.

Bring a group of 30 or 40 people in separate cars and you're looking at 8–10 parking passes, 8–10 different approaches to downtown, and 8–10 separate decisions about when to leave and where to meet after the game. One New Orleans charter bus rental rolls all of that into a single number, a single arrival, and a confirmed pickup time so nobody's stranded when the Poydras rideshare queue stretches to the corner. We recommend checking the official Smoothie King Center parking page before your event for any rate or access updates.

Every Transportation Option Compared

New Orleans has real transit options that work well for individuals. For a group, the math changes fast. Here's the honest comparison for a crew heading to Smoothie King Center.

Option Cost shape Arrive together? After the game Best for
Private charter bus or party bus One flat rate, split by the group Yes — one vehicle, one arrival Bus is parked and waiting Groups of 15–56
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) Per car each way + post-game surge No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs Poydras pickup zone, surge prices, long waits 1–4 people
Driving and parking $30–$50 per vehicle in campus garages No — caravan splits up Post-game exit traffic on downtown grid 1–2 cars maximum
RTA Streetcar (Loyola-UPT line) $3/day fare per person No — public, no group control Crowded post-game, limited frequency Individual visitors

For one or two people, the Loyola-UPT streetcar or a single rideshare makes total sense — no reason to charter a bus for a pair. But once your group outgrows two cars' worth of people, the coordination cost of separate vehicles — different arrival times, scattered parking, multiple post-game fares, and the question of who stays sober — tips decisively toward one bus. That's the group the rest of this guide is written for.

The RTA Streetcar and Public Bus Options, Explained

The Loyola-UPT streetcar line is the most useful transit option for getting to Smoothie King Center — it stops at Julia Street, closest to the arena, and runs a flat all-day fare of $3. The Canal Street streetcar stops at Poydras, which is a short walk to the arena entrance from the north. Several RTA bus routes (including routes 51, 52, and 91) stop within walking distance, with the Loyola at Girod stop about eight minutes from the door.

For a group of 30 trying to coordinate streetcar timing, wait for the next car if it's full, and then reunite inside the arena after everyone boards separately — that's where the transit option starts working against you. A New Orleans party bus rental means the whole group boards together at your chosen pickup point and walks into the arena together.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

Not every group trip to a Pelicans game looks the same, and not every vehicle in our network fits every occasion. Here's how the fleet breaks down for a Smoothie King Center run.

Vehicle Typical seats Best for Key amenities
14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van Up to ~14 Small groups, VIP outings, suite holders Premium leather, USB charging, tinted windows
Party bus (15–50 passengers) ~15–50 Fan groups wanting the party before tip-off Built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs, dance area
15–35 passenger minibus ~15–35 Mid-size groups, office outings, corporate block tickets Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, overhead storage
40–56 passenger charter bus Up to 56 Large fan groups, company outings, group ticket blocks Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays

For groups wanting the full pregame energy built into the ride itself, our 15- to 50-passenger party buses come with a built-in bar, LED lighting, and Bluetooth sound — the party is already started before you reach Dave Dixon Drive. For larger corporate or fan groups, a full-size charter bus gives you undercarriage storage for gear and bags, plus an onboard restroom so nobody's scrambling before the game. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — just let us know before your event date so we can arrange the right vehicle.

Smoothie King Center Bus Rental Prices

New Orleans Party Bus offers all-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds — you'll know the exact price before you ever commit. There's no single sticker number, because the quote is shaped by a handful of clear factors:

  • Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
  • Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, including pregame time and the post-game wait.
  • Date and event — a regular-season Tuesday Pelicans game prices differently than a sold-out concert or an NBA playoff night.
  • Pickup location and mileage — a pickup from the French Quarter is a shorter run than Metairie or the Northshore.

For real ranges to anchor your estimate: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Pricing depends on mileage, time of year, and vehicle type, and you will never be surprised by hidden costs.

Here's the value point that usually settles it. Split the cost of one bus across 30, 40, or 50 people, and the per-head number routinely beats multiple separate rideshares — especially on the way home, when post-game surge pricing on Poydras Street makes a round-trip rideshare for a group of four look a lot less attractive. One private bus, one predictable quote.

Call 504-459-0899 or use our online tool for instant availability.

A Real Game-Night Example

To put real numbers behind the math: for a Pelicans-vs.-Lakers game last season, a 35-person fan group booked a 40-passenger party bus. Pickup was at 5:30 PM from a hotel on Canal Street, at the Girod Street drop zone by 6:15 PM — 90 minutes before tip-off. The group hit Champions Square for pregame drinks, walked into the arena, and the bus waited nearby for a 10:30 PM pickup after the final buzzer.

The 5-hour all-inclusive rental came to $1,800 — about $51 per person, with the parking scramble, the post-game Poydras queue, and the who-stays-sober problem all folded into one flat number.

Getting There: Routes, Traffic & Timing

Smoothie King Center sits in the heart of the Central Business District, which means it's easy to reach from most of New Orleans — and easy to get stuck approaching if you underestimate game-night traffic. Here are approximate drive times from common starting points before event congestion sets in:

From… Approx. distance Typical drive time (off-peak)
French Quarter / Canal Street ~1 mile 5–10 minutes
Uptown / Magazine Street corridor ~3–4 miles 10–20 minutes
Mid-City ~4 miles 15–20 minutes
Metairie ~8–10 miles via I-10 20–30 minutes
Kenner / Airport area ~15–17 miles 25–40 minutes
Slidell / Northshore (via Lake Pontchartrain Causeway) ~40–45 miles 50–70 minutes

Those times balloon on event nights. The I-10 approach into downtown from the west empties onto Poydras Street, and when both Smoothie King Center and Caesars Superdome have events on the same night — which happens regularly — the entire grid of one-way downtown streets locks up from Loyola to Claiborne. Post-game is worse: 17,000 people all trying to reach the Poydras rideshare zone or exit the campus garages at the same time creates a crawl that can add 30–45 minutes to what looked like a five-minute drive on the map.

The upside of renting a bus in New Orleans: the approach route is handled for you. We build the timing around your specific event and pickup point, have the bus ready for a clean post-game exit, and get your group back while everyone else is still watching their surge price tick up. Imagine skipping the parking garage queue and the post-game Poydras scramble entirely — that's the bus.

What's Happening at Smoothie King Center

Smoothie King Center is a year-round venue, and fan groups love arriving by charter bus so the pregame starts on the ride rather than in a parking garage. The events drawing the most group bookings:

  • New Orleans Pelicans (NBA). The regular season runs October through April, with home games at Smoothie King Center throughout. High-demand games — rivalry matchups, nationally televised games, playoff push dates — book out faster and see higher parking rates and rideshare surge in the Poydras zone. Lock in your bus before the schedule drops for the best vehicle selection.
  • Major concerts. The arena's 2026 concert calendar included Bryan Adams, Metro Boomin with JID, $uicideboy$, CeCe Winans, and Billy Strings — the kind of lineup that fills the CBD and makes the Champions Garage a first-come situation hours before doors. For sold-out shows, book your New Orleans concert bus rental as soon as you have tickets.
  • WWE events, boxing, and UFC. The arena hosts marquee combat sports events and pro wrestling shows throughout the year, drawing out-of-town groups who need airport-to-arena transfers and clean post-event pickups.
  • NCAA tournaments and special events. Smoothie King Center has hosted three NBA All-Star Games (2008, 2014, 2017) and multiple NCAA tournament rounds — events that spike hotel rates, rideshare demand, and parking across the entire downtown corridor. For any event that brings 18,000-plus people into the CBD on top of regular French Quarter and convention traffic, a private bus rental in New Orleans is the only option that picks your whole group up at one door and drops them at another with no transfers.

Whichever event brings your group together, the booking logic is the same: lock in early. For concert sellouts and playoff games, the right-size vehicles go first. Call 504-459-0899 to discuss your event date.

Champions Square and the Pregame Scene

One advantage of arriving by bus is landing near Champions Square — the 90,000-square-foot outdoor amphitheater and plaza between Smoothie King Center and the Caesars Superdome. For Pelicans games, Champions Square is the natural pregame gathering point, with food vendors, bars, and the kind of open-air setup that makes an hour before tip-off worth showing up early for. Groups arriving by charter bus can be dropped near the plaza and have time to enjoy it before heading into the arena, instead of burning that time searching for a parking spot and walking from a garage.

The immediate neighborhood around the Smoothie King Center campus tends to be quiet on game nights outside Champions Square itself — the French Quarter (about a mile east) and the Central Business District offer established dining. Hotels within easy walking distance include the Hyatt Regency New Orleans (0.3 miles) and the Hyatt House New Orleans Downtown (0.3 miles), making them practical pickup points for groups staying downtown. If your crew is based in the French Quarter, a party bus picks you up on Canal or Bourbon and gets you to the arena in under 10 minutes — no parking, no Uber math.

Trip Types We Coordinate to Smoothie King Center

Different groups, same goal: everyone arrives together, on time, and ready to actually enjoy the game. A few of the trips we handle most often:

  • Fan groups and Pelicans faithful. Season-ticket holder groups, office trip blocks, and watch-party regulars who want one bus picking everyone up and one bus waiting when the game ends. No one stuck staying sober, no parking pass math, no Poydras queue at 10:30 PM.
  • Corporate and suite groups. Moving executives and clients from Canal Street hotels to suite-level seating without anyone worrying about whether the garage has a spot left. A 25-passenger minibus handles a corporate block cleanly — WiFi, reclining seats, the route handled for you. See our New Orleans corporate event party bus rental page for recurring contract options.
  • Concert groups. Sold-out nights when every rideshare in the CBD is pricing at 3x and the garage filled at 5 PM. A charter bus rental in New Orleans takes the group straight to the door and picks everyone up when the show ends.
  • Birthday and celebration groups. A Pelicans game or a concert that doubles as a milestone night — with a party bus, the celebration starts the moment the bus pulls away from the curb.
  • Out-of-town groups flying in. Groups landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), about 15–17 miles west of the CBD via I-10, who need one coordinated transfer from baggage claim to a French Quarter hotel to the arena and back. One bus, one itinerary, no airport scramble.

Flying In? MSY Airport to Smoothie King Center

For groups flying into New Orleans for a game or a concert, the airport-to-arena leg is where a charter bus earns its keep most. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) (900 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062) sits about 15–17 miles west of Smoothie King Center via I-10 East — a 25–40 minute drive in normal conditions, longer with event traffic stacking up at the downtown exits. A private airport shuttle bus in New Orleans collects your whole group at baggage claim, loads luggage in the undercarriage bays, and runs everyone downtown together instead of splitting a 30-person group across eight rideshares that arrive at the hotel at different times.

For groups doing a multi-stop evening — landing at MSY, checking in at the hotel, grabbing dinner in the French Quarter, then heading to the game — a single charter bus threads all three stops on one itinerary so nobody gets separated on the one-way grid downtown. We also handle the return trip after the game, which means no surge-priced Uber from the arena at 11 PM when half the CBD is trying to leave at once.

Tips for Visiting Smoothie King Center

A few things every group should know before game night:

  • The clear-bag policy applies to all events. Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 14" × 14" × 6" (or a one-gallon clear Ziploc), plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Backpacks, luggage, and opaque bags are turned away at the gate — plan accordingly so nobody in your group is held at security while the rest of the crew is already inside.
  • Parking garages on the campus are credit and debit only. No cash accepted at the main garages. If part of your group plans to drive separately, that's one more detail to communicate in advance.
  • Champions Garage off Girod Street goes first. It's the closest structure and the first to fill on a high-demand game night. Third-party lots on Loyola Avenue (about 10–11 minutes on foot) are cheaper — $5–$11 — but that walk after an evening game adds up.
  • Rideshare pickup is on Poydras Street between Clara and Loyola. That's the official designated zone, which means it's where thousands of other people are also heading after the final buzzer. Post-game surge is real and predictable — it's exactly when a private bus that's already waiting nearby becomes the obvious move.
  • Tailgating is prohibited in all garages and lots. Champions Square is the sanctioned pregame area. For groups arriving by charter bus, the Champions Square stop before tip-off is the move — your bus drops you there, you enjoy the plaza, and you walk into the arena without having burned 45 minutes looking for parking.

Booking, Timing & Pickup

Booking a bus to Smoothie King Center is straightforward, and a little planning makes it seamless:

  1. Request a quote with your group size, pickup location, event and date, and whether you want the bus to wait or arrange a post-game pickup time.
  2. Confirm the vehicle and drop point. We lock in the right vehicle and verify the current approach and waiting spot for your specific event.
  3. Set your pickup window. Arrange your post-game pickup time in advance so the bus is right there when you exit — no last-minute Poydras surge.

A few timing notes worth knowing: for Pelicans games, arriving 60–75 minutes before tip-off gives your group time to enjoy Champions Square and get through security without rushing. For sold-out concerts, add another 15–20 minutes — the arena's single-entry bag check line moves slower with a full house. And for NBA playoff games or especially high-demand events, book your New Orleans party bus rental as soon as tickets are confirmed.

The right-size vehicles go first, and flexibility narrows fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does a charter bus drop off at Smoothie King Center?

The official rideshare and vehicle drop-off zone is on Poydras Street between Clara Street and Loyola Avenue, on the north side of the arena campus. Charter buses and private groups commonly use the Girod Street side (south of the campus) near Champions Garage, which is closer to the arena's main entrances. Because the most practical approach shifts slightly by event configuration, we confirm your group's exact drop point when you book so there's no guessing at a closed lane.

How much does it cost to rent a bus to Smoothie King Center?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours (including pregame and post-game wait), the event and date, and your pickup location. For real ranges: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. We provide an all-inclusive quote with no hidden costs — call 504-459-0899 or use our online tool for an instant price.

How far in advance should we book for a Pelicans game or concert?

For regular-season games and most events, two to four weeks of lead time is workable. For sold-out playoff games, NBA All-Star events, or major concerts where the whole CBD fills up, book as soon as your tickets are confirmed. Vehicle availability tightens fast on high-demand nights, and the bus that fits your group perfectly is the first one to go.

What is the bag policy at Smoothie King Center?

A clear bag policy is in effect for all events. Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 14" × 14" × 6" — or a one-gallon clear Ziploc — plus one small clutch no larger than 4.5" × 6.5". Backpacks, opaque bags, and luggage are not permitted at any entrance.

Make sure every person in your group knows this before arrival — security enforces it without exceptions.

Can a party bus or minibus pick us up in the French Quarter?

Yes. Pickups anywhere in the Greater New Orleans area — the French Quarter, Uptown, Mid-City, Metairie, the Northshore — are standard. We confirm the most practical pickup point and route for your specific starting location and event time.

Is parking available on the Smoothie King Center campus?

The ASM Global-managed campus operates seven parking garages and two surface lots with approximately 7,000 total spaces, shared with the Caesars Superdome. For Pelicans games, rates typically run $30–$50 per vehicle, credit and debit only. Champions Garage off Girod Street is the closest structure and fills earliest on high-demand nights.

Pre-purchased event parking is available through the official Smoothie King Center parking page.

Does the bus wait during the game?

Yes. The bus is booked as a block of hours, so it can wait nearby during the game and be right there when your group walks out — no post-game rideshare queue, no garage crawl. You set the pickup window with our team before the game so everyone knows exactly where to go when the final buzzer sounds.

Do you have ADA-accessible vehicles?

Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are always available. Let us know your needs before your event date and we'll arrange the right vehicle from our network.

What's the closest hotel to Smoothie King Center?

The Hyatt Regency New Orleans and Hyatt House New Orleans Downtown are both within 0.3 miles of the arena — walkable before the game and easy pickup points for a charter bus. The Sheraton New Orleans (500 Canal Street) and other French Quarter-area hotels are about a mile east and make natural pickup spots for a bus that also does a quick French Quarter dinner stop before tip-off.

Book Your Bus to Smoothie King Center Today

The perfect ride to Dave Dixon Drive is one call away. Whether it's a Pelicans game night with 40 fans from Metairie, a corporate block for a sold-out concert, or an out-of-town group flying into MSY and wanting one clean transfer from baggage claim to the arena, New Orleans Party Bus has access to a fleet of party buses, charter buses, minibuses, Sprinter vans, and Sprinter limos across New Orleans — and we drop your group at the door while everyone else circles the CBD looking for a spot. Give us a call any time at 504-459-0899 for an all-inclusive price quote, or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Transportation, parking, and bag policy details at Smoothie King Center change by season and event, so we link directly to the sources that publish them. Confirm event-specific figures against the official pages below before your visit — verified June 2026.