NEW ORLEANS, LA – Pollstar recently released its 2017 Year End Special Edition with rankings for the top entertainment tours, promoters, and venues worldwide. SMG New Orleans is pleased to announce that the Smoothie King Center is once again in Pollstar’s Top 200 Arenas in ticket sales– reaching #71 worldwide, and #38 out of all U.S. arenas (#87 worldwide and #45 in U.S. in 2016). These rankings are based on reported tickets sold for public events excluding home sports teams. The Smoothie King Center reported a total of 288,542 tickets sold in 2017.

Despite being closed for several weeks in September for the installation of an LED sports lights system, the Smoothie King Center hosted 33 ticketed events during 2017 (not including New Orleans Pelicans home games) consisting of 24 concerts, 6 family shows, 2 non-NBA sporting events, and 1 comedy show. Of the various concerts held, 10 were sold out events and included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billy Joel, Charlie Wilson, Radiohead, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, The Weeknd, Journey, Bruno Mars, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and XSCAPE.

Commenting on ticket sales from 2017, SMG General Manager Alan Freeman observes “Ticket sales for events in New Orleans continue to outperform our market size. Clearly this is reflective of New Orleans’ status as a tourist destination city. Our shows attract not only local fans, but also many visitors from outlying markets who spend several days in the city sampling all the attractions New Orleans has to offer. As the local economy continues to grow, we see nothing but upside for the touring entertainment industry.”

###

About SMG
Celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming; construction and design consulting; and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com.

Media Contact:
Savannah Chamblee
Event Marketing & Media Coordinator
savannah.chamblee@smgneworleans.com