New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the New Orleans Saints (

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...

) and the

New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...

(

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

), the annual

Sugar Bowl The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in New Orleans, Louisiana. Played annually since January 1, 1935, it is tied with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl as the second-oldest bowl games in the country, surpassed onl ...

, the annual Zurich Classic ( PGA Tour) and horse racing at the Fair Grounds Race Course. New Orleans has also occasionally hosted the

Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the game ...

, College Football Playoff semifinal game and the NCAA college basketball Final Four. CBD from Baptist Garage 20 June 2011 Superdome and NOA

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram (49487799403)

Professional sports teams

Football

Professional

* New Orleans Saints -- The New Orleans Saints, founded in 1967, are one of the 32 teams in the

. The home stadium of the Saints is

Caesars Superdome The Caesars Superdome, commonly known as the Superdome (formerly known as Mercedes-Benz Superdome), is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the home stadium of the New Orleans Saints ...

. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. * New Orleans Breakers- Founded in 2021, are one of eight teams in the new United States Football League (2022) *New Orleans Hurricanes are member's of the Women's Football Alliance (2019–present). Former football teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (1984) (which became the Portland Breakers), the

New Orleans Night The New Orleans Night were an Arena Football League (AFL) team that competed in the 1991 and 1992 AFL seasons and were based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team was officially announced at a press conference on March 18, 1991. On April 9, the na ...

of the Arena Football League (1991–1992), the New Orleans Thunder of the Regional Football League (1999), the

Louisiana Jazz The Louisiana Jazz was a women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. They played their home games at St. Martin's Episcopal School. History New Orleans Spice The New Orleans Spice women's football team was established in 200 ...

of the Women's Football Alliance (2002–2014), the

New Orleans VooDoo Louisiana Voodoo (french: Vaudou louisianais, es, Vudú de Luisiana), also known as New Orleans Voodoo, is an African diasporic religion which originated in Louisiana, now in the southern United States. It arose through a process of syncretis ...

of the Arena Football League (2004–2005, 2007–2008, and 2010–2015), the

New Orleans Jazz football club New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

of the Stars Football League (2011) and

New Orleans Krewe New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the New Orleans Saints (National Football League, NFL) and the New Orleans Pelicans (National Basketball Association, NBA), the annual Sugar Bowl, the ann ...

of the US Women's Football League (2016).

Collegiate

Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave football team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I FBS

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

. Former college football teams in New Orleans include the Dillard Bleu Devils (1935–1965), the Loyola Wolf Pack (1921–1939) and the Xavier Gold Rush (1925–1960).

Special Football Games

-- More Super Bowls have been played at

than at any other sports facility:

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd go ...

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of Humankind, humanity on Earth, Astroph ...

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of t ...

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

and

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...

. Tulane Stadium also hosted the game in

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli intensity of X (''Extrem ...

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...

, and

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. *

1976 Pro Bowl The 1976 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 26th annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1975 season. The game was played on Monday night, January 26, 1976, at the new Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, with 32, ...

-- The 1976 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 26th annual all-star game. The game was played on Monday, January 26, 1976, at the Louisiana Superdome. *

College Football Playoff National Championship Game The College Football Playoff National Championship is a post-season college football bowl game, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which began play in the 2014 college football season ...

-- Caesars Superdome hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship game in

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

. * College Football Playoff semifinal Game -- Caesars Superdome rotates among six sites as the host for a College Football Playoff semifinal game every three years. The Superdome hosted semi-final games in

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

and

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

and is scheduled to host semi-final games in 2021 and 2024. * BCS National Championship Game -- Caesars Superdome rotated with three other sites as the host for the BCS National Championship Game. The Superdome hosted the BCS National Championship Game in

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

and

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

. *

-- New Orleans has been home to the annual Sugar Bowl since 1935. Originally played at Tulane Stadium, it has been played in Caesars Superdome since 1975. * New Orleans Bowl -- New Orleans has been home to the annual New Orleans Bowl since 2001 in Caesars Superdome. *

Bayou Classic The Bayou Classic is an annual college football classic rivalry game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held under that name in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, although the series it ...

-- The Bayou Classic is an annual football game, also played in Caesars Superdome, between the state's two largest historically black universities,

Grambling State Grambling State University (GSU, Grambling, or Grambling State) is a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana. Grambling State is home of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum and is listed on the Louisiana African American Heritage ...

and

Southern University Southern University and A&M College (Southern University, Southern, SUBR or SU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is the largest historically black college or university (HBCU) in Louisiana, a ...

. *

Pelican Bowl The Pelican Bowl is a defunct, Louisiana-based NCAA Division II bowl game that was intended to match the overall champions or top-seeded co-champions from the then-new Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the long-established Southwestern At ...

-- The Pelican Bowl was an NCAA Division II bowl game played in New Orleans in 1974 and 1975 that pitted the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to determine the black college football national championship. *

East–West Shrine Game East West (or East and West) may refer to: *East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture Arts and entertainment Books, journals and magazines *'' East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...

-- The 18th annual East–West Shrine post-season college football all-star game was held in New Orleans on January 1, 1943, due to WWII travel restrictions on the West Coast. * ArenaBowl -- New Orleans played host to the AFL's championship game in

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

and

hosting all games in the New Orleans Arena.

Basketball

Professional

-- The New Orleans Pelicans, founded in 2002 as the New Orleans Hornets, are one of the 30 teams in the

. The home arena of the Pelicans is the Smoothie King Center. Former professional basketball teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Jazz of the

(1974–1979) (which became the Utah Jazz) and the New Orleans Buccaneers of the

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger, American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger in 1976, ...

(1967–1970) (which became the Memphis Pros). Other professional basketball teams include the

New Orleans Hurricanes New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz (South Korean band), The Boyz Albums and EPs * New (album), ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartn ...

of the Professional Basketball League of America (1947), New Orleans Sports of the

Southern Basketball League Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express ...

(1948–1949),

New Orleans Pride The New Orleans Pride was a women's professional basketball team located in New Orleans, United States, that competed in the Women's Professional Basketball League, the first women's pro league in the United States, from 1979 to the leagues foldi ...

of the Women's Professional Basketball League (1979–1981) and

New Orleans Cougars New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

of the

. The NBA's Atlanta Hawks played 12 special "home" games in New Orleans during the 1984–85 season.

Collegiate

* Dillard Bleu Devils -- The Dillard Bleu Devils men's basketball team and Dillard Lady Bleu Devils women's basketball team represents Dillard University in the NAIA. * Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack men's basketball team and Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team represents

Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans is a Private university, private Jesuit university in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name o ...

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team and

New Orleans Privateers women's basketball : ''For information on all University of New Orleans sports, see New Orleans Privateers'' The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team is the women's basketball team that represents the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. T ...

team currently represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college basketball. * SUNO Knights -- The SUNO Knights men's basketball team and SUNO Lady Knights women's basketball team represents Southern University at New Orleans in the NAIA. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team and

Tulane Green Wave women's basketball The Tulane Green Wave women's basketball team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the American Athletic Conference. They play home games on campus in Devlin Fieldhouse, the 9th-oldest active bas ...

team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college basketball. * Xavier Gold Rush -- The Xavier Gold Rush men's basketball team and Xavier Gold Nuggets women's basketball team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.

Special Basketball Games

* Men's Final Four --

hosted the NCAA college basketball Final Four in

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...

1987 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peace ...

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...

and

. The Final Four will return to the Superdome in 2022. *Women's Final Four -- The Women's Final Four has been held in New Orleans in 1991, 2004 and 2013. The New Orleans Arena hosted the Women's Final Four in 2004 and 2013. Lakefront Arena hosted the women's Final Four in 1991. * NBA All-Star Game -- The NBA All-Star Game was held in New Orleans in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

and

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

at the Smoothie King Center.

Baseball

Baseball was first played in New Orleans as early as 1859. In that year, amateur baseball leagues played games on the grounds of Delachaise Estates in Uptown New Orleans and the Lone Star Base Ball Club was organized. There were many innovations in baseball that originated in New Orleans. The first

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

was held in New Orleans in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings (now

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

) traveled to the city to play the Cincinnati Red Stockings, but stayed several weeks to train. The practice of covering the infield with a modified canvas tarpaulin on rainy days was first used in New Orleans in 1887. On April 29, 1887, a recurring Ladies' Day was established to create an environment in the stands free of unsavory characters and conduct, as well as to make baseball a family oriented event. In 1889, issuing " rain checks" for rained out games using a perforated ticket stub was invented in New Orleans by Abner Powell.

Professional

Former baseball teams with the longest tenure in New Orleans include: * New Orleans Zephyrs/Baby Cakes -- American Association (1993–1997),

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

(1998–2019) *

-- Southern League (1887, 1889, 1898–99),

Texas-Southern League The Texas-Southern League was a sports league of Minor League Baseball, minor league baseball teams that operated from 1895 to 1899, primarily in Texas. During the 1896 season, the league renamed itself as the Texas Association. History of the Tex ...

(1888), (1890), Southern Association (1892–96, 1901–59), American Association (1977) *

New Orleans Black Pelicans The New Orleans Black Pelicans were a minor Negro league baseball team that played in the first Negro Southern League and were based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were formed in 1926 to replace the New Orleans Ads in the league and played at P ...

-- pre-Negro leagues (1907–08, 1938), both Negro Southern Leagues (1920, 1926, 1945), Texas–Louisiana League (Negro league) (1931), Negro American League (1951, 1954). Former baseball teams in New Orleans include: * Comet Base Ball Club (f. 1860) *

Detroit–New Orleans Stars The Detroit–New Orleans Stars, originally the Detroit Stars and briefly the Detroit Clowns, were a minor Negro league baseball team that played in the Negro American League from 1954 until 1961 after the integration of white baseball. After the ...

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

(1960–61) *

Gretna Lookouts Gretna may refer to: Places Australia *Gretna, Tasmania Canada *Gretna, Manitoba Scotland *Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway *Gretna Green, Dumfries and Galloway United States *Gretna, Florida *Gretna, Kansas *Gretna, Louisiana *Gretna, N ...

* Hancock Base Ball Club (f. 1869) *

Hop Bitters Base Ball Club A hop is a type of jump. Hop or hops may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Hop'' (film), a 2011 film * Hop! Channel, an Israeli TV channel * '' House of Payne'', or ''HOP'', an American sitcom * Lindy Hop, a swing dance of the 1920s an ...

(1880) *

Hope Base Ball Club Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish ...

(f. 1868) * Lone Star Base Ball Club (f. 1859) *

Mandeville Base Ball Club Mandeville may refer to: People * Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733), Dutch-English philosopher, economist, and satirist * Chris Mandeville (born 1965), American football defensive back * De Mandeville, the surname of a Norman noble family * Fr ...

(f. 1869) *

Melpomene White Sox In Greek mythology, Melpomene (; grc, Μελπομένη, Melpoménē, to sing' or 'the one that is melodious), initially the muse of chorus, eventually became the muse of tragedy, and is now best known in that association. Etymology Melp ...

Meraux Tigers Meraux is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,804 in 2020. It is part of the New Orleans– Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. History In 2005, the town was de ...

* Metairie Pelicans -

New Orleans Acid Iron Earth New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

Gulf League The Gulf League was an independent United States, American minor baseball league that played in the 1886 season. The four–team league franchises were based in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana, with each city hosting two teams. The Acid ...

(f. 1886) *

New Orleans Ads The New Orleans Ads were a Negro Southern League (NSL) baseball team in 1920 based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team was started by Fred Caulfield, a local backer, and the team is often referred to in newspapers as the Caulfield Ads. While th ...

- Negro Southern League (1920–21, 1935–36) *

New Orleans Algiers Giants New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

- Independent Negro leagues (1926) *

New Orleans Baseball Club New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

(f. 1886) *

New Orleans Black Eagles New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

New Orleans Black Rappers New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

- pre-Negro leagues (f. 1907) * New Orleans Blue Rappers - pre-Negro leagues (f. 1907) * New Orleans Bucks/Kings - South Atlantic League *

New Orleans Cohens New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

New Orleans Creoles The New Orleans Creoles were a Negro league baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, from at least 1945 until at least 1952. The team was a member of the second Negro Southern League from 1947 to 1948 and 1950 to 1951, and a member of the ...

- Negro Southern League (1947–48, 1950–51), Negro Texas League (1949) *

New Orleans Crescents New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

/Unions - Southern League of Colored Base Ballists (f. 1886) *

New Orleans Crescent Stars The New Orleans Crescent Stars were an independent Negro league baseball club that existed from 1933 to 1934. The New Orleans team helped produce several players as Pepper Bassett, Gene Bremer, Lloyd Davenport, Harry Else, Barney Morris, Tom P ...

Independent Negro leagues (1921, 1932–33, 1935–37), Negro Southern League (1922, 1934), Texas Colored League (1923) *

New Orleans Dumonts New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

New Orleans Eagles The Newark Eagles were a professional Negro league baseball team which played in the Negro National League from 1936 to 1948. They were owned by Abe and Effa Manley. History Formation The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Dodg ...

(1915–16) *

New Orleans Eclipse New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

- pre-Negro leagues (f. 1907) *

New Orleans Expos New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

- Independent (f. 1886) * New Orleans Jacks/Generals - South Atlantic League *

New Orleans Little Pels New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

- Cotton States League (1912) *

New Orleans Pinchbacks New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

New Orleans Stars The New Orleans Stars were a minor league baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States that played in the independent Negro leagues for one season in 1924. See also *List of Negro league baseball teams References Negro league ba ...

- Independent Negro leagues (1924) *

New Orleans–St. Louis Stars New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

- Negro American League (1940–41) * New Orleans Zephyrs/Baby Cakes -

(1993–2019) *

Pelican Base Ball Club Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents be ...

- (1865–67),

Louisiana Base Ball Association Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

(1868–74), (1875–79),

Crescent City League A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase in the first quarter (the " sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is often shown wearing a crescent moon on hi ...

(1880–84) *

Plaquemine Tigers Plaquemine is a city in and the parish seat of Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area. At the 2010 United States census, the population was 7,119; the 2020 census determined its ...

Robert E. Lee Base Ball Club The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(f. 1864, 1869, 1886) *

Armstrong Secret 9 The Armstrong Secret 9, originally known as the Raggedy 9 and later also as the Smart 9, were a semi-pro Negro league baseball team. The team was sponsored by American jazz musician Louis Armstrong in 1931 in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

- Independent Negro leagues (1931) *

Shrewsbury Globetrotters Shrewsbury ( , also ) is a market town, civil parish, and the county town of Shropshire, England, on the River Severn, north-west of London; at the 2021 census, it had a population of 76,782. The town's name can be pronounced as either 'Shr ...

* Slidell Creoles -

Southern Base Ball Club Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express ...

(1869) *

Stonewall Base Ball Club (Algiers) Stonewall or Stone wall may refer to: * Stone wall, a kind of masonry construction * Stonewalling, engaging in uncooperative or delaying tactics * Stonewall riots, a 1969 turning point for the modern LGBTQ rights movement in Greenwich Village, N ...

(1867)

Collegiate

* Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack baseball team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers baseball team currently represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college baseball. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave baseball team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college baseball.

Youth

* Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy -- The Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy has a location in New Orleans at Wesley Barrow Stadium. It is a 650-seat baseball stadium and includes a grass tee-ball and softball field.

Special baseball games

Spring Training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

Boston Beaneaters Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most po ...

(1884), Boston Red Sox (1925–27),

/ Chicago White Stockings (1870, 1907, 1911–12), Chicago White Sox (1905–06),

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

(1896–97, 1900), Cincinnati Red Stockings (1888), Cleveland Indians (1902–03, 1916–20, 1928–39),

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

(1921),

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

(1895), New York Yankees (1922–24),

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oaklan ...

(1908–09), St. Louis Browns (1921) * Major League Baseball Exhibitions -- 1915 -

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

vs.

, 1967 -

vs. Cleveland Indians, 1969 -

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

vs. New York Mets, 1974 - Atlanta Braves vs. Baltimore Orioles, 1976 -

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

vs.

, 1980 - Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees, 1981 - New York Yankees vs. New York Mets,

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

, 1982 - New York Yankees vs. Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, 1983 - New York Yankees vs. Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, 1984 -

vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 1989 - Oakland A's vs. San Francisco Giants, 1991 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland A's, 1993 - New York Mets vs. Oakland A's, 1994 - Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, 1999 -

vs.

and

New Orleans Zephyrs New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

, 2013 -

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

vs.

* Triple-A All-Star Game -- The 12th annual Triple-A All-Star Game took place on July 14, 1999, at

Zephyr Field Gold Mine on Airline, formerly Shrine on Airline, is a 10,000-seat stadium in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. It is home field for the New Orleans Gold team in Major League Rugby. Known as Zephyr Field when built in 1997 as the h ...

in the New Orleans suburb of

Metairie, Louisiana Metairie ( ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and is part of the New Orleans metropolitan area. With a population of 143,507 in 2020, Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish and was (a ...

, home of the Pacific Coast League's

. *Busch Challenge/Winn-Dixie Showdown -- College baseball tournament held in the Superdome from 1987 to 1999. LSU, Tulane and University of New Orleans played an in-state team and out-of-state teams from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas in the annual tournament. The in-state team was

Louisiana-Lafayette The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, University of Louisiana, ULL, or UL) is a public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus University of Louisiana System and the s ...

. The out-of-state teams were Alabama, Arkansas,

Auburn Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area *Electoral district of Auburn *Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region *Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania *Aub ...

, Cal State Fullerton, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia,

Georgia Southern Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hin ...

, Georgia Tech, Houston, Lamar, Miami (FL), Mississippi State, NC State, North Carolina,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oral Roberts, South Alabama, Southern California, Southern Mississippi, Texas A&M and UCLA. *Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic -- College baseball game held annually at

from 2004–present. The LSU Tigers baseball team plays an opponent in the game to honor former LSU Baseball player and Oakland A's draftee, Wally Pontiff Jr., who died at the age of 21 from a genetic heart disorder. In 2004, LSU won the first game of the series vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 9–3. Wally

Pontiff Playground Wally Pontiff Jr. Playground, formerly Metairie Playground, is a Jefferson Parish public playground located at 1521 Palm Street in Metairie, Louisiana. It is Jefferson Parish's oldest public playground. Sports Baseball The playground offers multipl ...

in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana is also named after the player.

Bowling

Professional

*Professional Bowling tournaments -- New Orleans played host to PBA Tour events in 1963, 1964, 1966–1978 and 1988–1990. A PBA Tour sponsored exhibition tournament took place in 2009 and 2010.

Collegiate

* Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave women's bowling team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college bowling.

Boxing

New Orleans has long been home to boxing events.

Professional

*On May 10, 1870, in the New Orleans suburb of Kennerville, "Gypsy" Jem Mace defeated Tom Allen for what is claimed to be the 1870 heavyweight championship of the bare-knuckle boxing era. This fight is considered by some boxing historians to be the first world heavyweight championship bout. A monument in present-day Kenner, Louisiana marks the spot of the fight near the Mississippi River.Cyber Boxing Zone – Jem Mace
Retrieved on 8 November 2009. OlympicClubTimesDemocratHeadline

*The 1892 world heavyweight championship match between John L. Sullivan and

Gentleman Jim Corbett James John "Jim" Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the only man who ever defeated the great John L. Sullivan (hence the " man who beat the man" c ...

is sometimes considered the start of the modern era of boxing. In contrast to earlier bare-knuckle fights held out of doors, the match was held using boxing gloves according to the Marquis of Queensbury rules, indoors at night in the electrically illuminated

Olympic Club The Olympic Club is an sports club, athletic club and private social club in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. First named the "San Francisco Olympic Club", it is the oldest sports club, athletic club in the United States. Established o ...

Arena - called "the epicenter of professional boxing" in the mid-1880s-late 1890s era. *The

Coliseum Arena The Coliseum Arena or Coliseum Auditorium was an arena at 401 North Roman Street in the Tulane/Gravier neighborhood of New Orleans. It was located at the corner of N. Roman St. and Conti St. Venue In early 1921, John Dillon, Frankie Edwards an ...

hosted boxing matches from 1922 until 1959 with the arena closing in 1960. Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Brown,

Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He rei ...

, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pastrano and Ralph Dupas are some of the boxers that fought at the arena. *On August 24, 1956, Joe Brown defeated Wallace 'Bud' Smith at the Municipal Auditorium in a fifteen-round split decision to win the lightweight championship of the world. *The Louisiana Superdome hosted the 1978

Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II, was a professional boxing match contested on September 15, 1978, in New Orleans for the WBA and ''The Ring'' heavyweight championships. Background After his shock win over Ali to become Heavyweight champion, L ...

fight some called "The Ali rematch" where

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

defeated Leon Spinks in front of a crowd of 65,000; it was Ali's last professional win. *

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán II Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

, also known as the ''No Más Fight'', is one of the most famous fights in boxing history. Taking place on November 25, 1980, at the Louisiana Superdome, it was the second of three bouts between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durán. In the match, Leonard defeated Duran to regain the WBC Welterweight Championship. The match gained its famous appellation in the end of the eighth round when Durán turned away from Leonard, towards the referee and quit by saying "No más" (Spanish for "No more"). *The

Carnival of Champions The Carnival of Champions, as Don King nicknamed it, was an important boxing event held in New Orleans's Louisiana Superdome on December 3, 1982. The event had caught the international attention of boxing fans worldwide, but particularly in the U ...

was held on December 3, 1982, at the Louisiana Superdome. In the first of two co-main events, Wilfredo Gómez would defend his WBC world Jr Featherweight championship against WBC's world Bantamweight champion Lupe Pintor. In the second, Wilfred Benítez defended his WBC world Jr Middleweight championship against the former WBA Welterweight champion of the world Thomas Hearns. *On September 9, 2000, the New Orleans Arena hosted a light heavyweight title fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Eric Harding. Jones won by

TKO TKO may refer to: Sports * Technical knockout, a professional fighting term * Total Knock Out, a professional wrestling move Music Artists * TKO (band), a rock band from Seattle, Washington * TKO, a pop group led by Katie White Albums * ''TKO ...

in the 10th round.

Collegiate

Former college boxing teams in New Orleans include the Loyola Wolf Pack.

Cross country

Collegiate

* Dillard Bleu Devils -- The Dillard Bleu Devils men's cross country team and Dillard Lady Bleu Devils women's cross country team represents Dillard University in the NAIA. * Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack men's cross country team and Loyola Wolf Pack women's cross country team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers men's cross country team and New Orleans Privateers women's cross country team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college cross country. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave men's cross country team and Tulane Green Wave women's cross country team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college cross country. * Xavier Gold Rush -- The Xavier Gold Rush men's cross country team and Xavier Gold Nuggets women's cross country team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.

Golf

Professional

* Zurich Classic of New Orleans—The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a golf tournament held annually on the PGA Tour at the

TPC of Louisiana TPC Louisiana is an 18-hole golf course in the southern United States, located in Avondale, Louisiana, a suburb southwest of New Orleans. Opened in 2004, it was designed by renowned golf course architect Pete Dye in consultation with tour profe ...

. *

New Orleans Women's Open The New Orleans Women's Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1952 to 1954. It was played in New Orleans, Louisiana at City Park Golf Course in 1952 and 1953 and at the Colonial Golf and Country Club in 1954. Winners *1954 Marlene Bau ...

—The

LPGA The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization for female golfers. The organization is headquartered at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekl ...

Tour New Orleans Women's Open golf tournament was held in New Orleans in 1952, 1953 and 1954. *

Southern (Spring) Open The Southern (Spring) Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played only in 1922 at the New Orleans Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gene Sarazen won the event with a four-round total of 294 (+10), beating Leo Diegel by eight stroke ...

—The Southern (Spring) Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played only in 1922 at the New Orleans Country Club.

Collegiate

* Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack women's golf team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers men's golf team currently represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college golf. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave women's golf team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college golf.

Gymnastics

*The USSR National Gymnastics team performed at the Louisiana Superdome in 1976. The event featured Olga Korbut,

Nelli Kim Nelli is a feminine given name and a surname. It may refer to: Given name * Nelli Abramova (born 1940), Jewish former Soviet competitive female * Nelli Chervotkina (born 1965), former pair skater for the Soviet Union * Cornelli Nelli Cooman (b ...

Nicolai Andrianov Nikolai Yefimovich Andrianov (russian: Никола́й Ефи́мович Андриа́нов; 14 October 1952 – 21 March 2011) was a Soviet and Russian gymnast. He held the record for men for the most Olympic medals at 15 (7 gold medals, ...

and Alexander Dityatin. *The 1995 U.S. Gymnastics National Championships were held at the Louisiana Superdome. *The AAU Junior Olympics gymnastics competition was held in the Louisiana Superdome in 1996. *The 2019 SEC gymnastics championship will be held at the Smoothie King Center.

High school sports

New Orleans has produced many championship teams at the LHSAA and national levels. Schools have earned high national rankings in

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

, basketball, baseball and

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

. The annual Louisiana Prep Classic state championship football games organized by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association have been held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome since 1981.

Horse racing

First race at the Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans

New Orleans is home to the Fair Grounds Race Course, the nation's third-oldest thoroughbred track. The most prestigious race held at the track is the Louisiana Derby, a

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

stakes prep for the Kentucky Derby. The race course opened in 1852 as the Union Racetrack and later became the Creole Racetrack. Former horse racing tracks in the New Orleans area include Eclipse Track (opened 1837), Metairie Race Course (1838–1872), Bingaman Race Track, City Park Race Track (1905–1920), Jefferson Park Race Track (1918–1934) and Jefferson Downs Racetrack (1959–1992).

Ice hockey

Professional

* New Orleans Brass -- The New Orleans Brass was a former ice hockey team in New Orleans from 1997 to 2002.

Ironman 70.3

*Ochsner

Ironman 70.3 New Orleans An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting o ...

-- The Ochsner

Ironman 70.3 An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The "70.3" refers to the total distance in miles (113.0 km) covered in the race, consisting o ...

New Orleans, also known as a Half-Ironman or a 70.3 (miles), is one of a series of middle-distance triathlon races organized by the

World Triathlon Corporation The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a sports event promotion company owned by conglomerate Advance Publications, that produces the Ironman Triathlon, Ironman 70.3, the 5150 series of triathlon races, and other sports events. History In De ...

(WTC). The event comprises a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run.

Lacrosse

The Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Lacrosse Series was held at Pan American Stadium from 2011 to 2015. The Allstate Sugar Bowl High School Lacrosse Classic first held in 2007 has been played at multiple locations in the New Orleans metropolitan area such as City Park,

Lafreniere Park Lafreniere Park is the largest park in Metairie, Louisiana. The park is funded by local residents surrounding the park, and a few dollars are added onto their water bill every month. History Nicolas Chauvin de la Frenière (senior) received a 5 ...

, LaSalle Park and Pan American Stadium. *2007: LaSalle Park *2008: LaSalle Park *2009: City Park *2010: Lafreniere Park *2011: Lafreniere Park *2012: Lafreniere Park *2014: Lafreniere Park

Mixed martial arts

* UFC 16 -- UFC 16 took place on March 13, 1998, at the

Pontchartrain Center The Pontchartrain Center is a 4,600-seat multi-purpose arena in Kenner, Louisiana, USA. The facility opened in 1991. It hosts concerts and local sporting events. It is also used for conventions and trade shows, with of exhibit space and of m ...

in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, Louisiana. It featured the first ever UFC Lightweight tournament (for fighters under 170 lb), as well as a Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight and a Middleweight Superfight, and two alternate bouts in case of tournament injury. * UFC 18 -- UFC 18 took place on January 8, 1999, at the

in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, Louisiana. The event featured a UFC Lightweight Championship (now known as the Welterweight Championship) bout and six other bouts. UFC 18 was technically part two of what the UFC called "The Road To The Heavyweight Title", a tournament, spanning four events, held to crown the new UFC Heavyweight Champion after the title was vacated by Randy Couture. * UFC 27 -- UFC 27 took place on September 22, 2000, at the Lakefront Arena in the New Orleans. The event featured UFC legend Dan "The Beast" Severn returning to the promotion after more than 3 years on the independent scene to face off against top heavyweight contender Pedro Rizzo. Severn was the fan favorite, but he submitted to leg kicks from "The Rock" in the first round. Also, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith took on the first KOTC Heavyweight Champion Bobby Hoffman. Smith won via majority decision. There were 2 preliminary fights and 6 main card fights. * UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger (also known as UFC Fight Night 25) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 17, 2011, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. * UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson (also known as UFC Fight Night 68) was a mixed martial arts event held on June 6, 2015, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Motorsports

The NOLA Motorsports Park is a road race track in

Avondale, Louisiana Avondale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the west bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 4,582 in 2020. It is part of the New Orleans– Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statist ...

, approximately twenty minutes from downtown New Orleans. The north track circuit and kart circuit opened in 2011. New Orleans has hosted several auto races: *

AMA Supercross The AMA Supercross Championship (commercially known as Monster Energy AMA Supercross) is an American motorcycle racing series. Founded by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1974, the AMA Supercross Championship races are held from J ...

—New Orleans has hosted AMA Supercross races in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 1977–1980, 1998–2002, 2009, and 2012. *

Grand Prix du Mardi Gras The Grand Prix du Mardi Gras was an IMSA GT Championship street race held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1991, 1992 and 1995. The 1991 IMSA GTP/Lights race was held on June 16, 1991 using a circuit near the Mississippi River. The winner of ...

—In 1991, 1992, and 1995, New Orleans was home to the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras. The IMSA sports car races took place on two street circuits downtown. In 1991, streets near the riverfront were used for the race course. In 1992 and 1995, a course that ran around the Superdome was used. * Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans—The AMA Pro Racing Superbike Championship race was held October 5–7, 2012 at the NOLA Motorsports Park. * Cooper Tires WinterFest—The U.S. F2000 Winterfest race featuring Indy Lights, Pro Formula Mazda and F2000 cars was held February 21–22, 2014 at the NOLA Motorsports Park. *

Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana The Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana was an IndyCar Series race held at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana in 2015. The only race held in 2015 was plagued by heavy rain, which turned much of the facility in a quagmire. Qualifying was cancel ...

—The inaugural IndyCar Series race was held on April 12, 2015, at NOLA Motorsports Park.

Professional bull riding

Professional Bull Riders, Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR), a professional bull riding organization held competitions in the New Orleans Arena in 2000–2003, 2007 and 2010.

Roller derby

*Big Easy Rollergirls -- The Big Easy Rollergirls is the name of a female roller derby league in New Orleans. The league plays at the Human Performance Center. * New Orleans Brass Roller Derby -- New Orleans Brass Roller Derby is the name of a male roller derby team in New Orleans.

Rugby

Professional

* New Orleans Gold -- The New Orleans Gold, founded in 2017, competes in Major League Rugby.

Amateur/Semi-Pro

* New Orleans Rugby Football Club (NORFC) -- The New Orleans Rugby Football Club, founded in 1973, is a men's rugby union club serving the greater New Orleans area. NORFC competes in Division I of the Deep South Rugby Football Union of USA Rugby. NORFC has won two club rugby national championships. * New Orleans Halfmoons -- The New Orleans Halfmoons is a women's rugby team and member of USA Rugby. It is one of the oldest women's teams in the United States, and has hosted the annual "Throw Me Something, Rugger!" Mardi Gras Rugby tournament the weekend before Fat Tuesday since 1980. The team practices at the City Park Practice Track. Former rugby clubs in New Orleans include the Crescent City Rugby Football Club (1976–1979).

Running

*Crescent City Classic -- The Crescent City Classic is a 10k race held every April. *Crescent City Fall Classic -- The Crescent City Classic is a 5k race held every November. *Crescent Connection Bridge Run -- The Crescent Connection Bridge Run is a 4-mile race held in June. *Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon -- The Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon (formerly the Mardi Gras Marathon) is held in February.

Soccer

New Orleans was one of the first cities in the world where modern soccer was played. Beginning in 1858 as a community sport, the sport became popular among many athletic clubs in the late 19th century. A semi-professional league consisting of some of the best players in the world, several of whom later played for Football League First Division, first division teams in England and Scotland, briefly used the old grounds on what would become Pelican Stadium.

Professional

*New Orleans Jesters -- The New Orleans Jesters is a soccer team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Former professional soccer teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Storm of the USL A-League (1993–1999) and FC New Orleans of the National Premier Soccer League as a provisional member (2012).

Amateur/Semi-Pro

Leagues *ISLANO -- The International Soccer League Association New Orleans (ISLANO) is a men's semi-professional soccer league and part of the Louisiana Soccer Association. Teams *Motagua New Orleans competes in the Gulf Coast Premier League and ISLANO. Former amateur/semi-pro soccer teams in New Orleans include the Louisiana Fire of the Gulf Coast Premier League (2016–2017).

Special Soccer Games

Chicago Fire Soccer Club vs. Real C.D. España -- An international friendly match between Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire Soccer Club and Honduran soccer club Real C.D. España was played at Tad Gormley Stadium on February 4, 2012. New England Revolution vs. C.D. Olimpia -- An international friendly match between Major League Soccer's New England Revolution and Honduran soccer club C.D. Olimpia was played at Tad Gormley Stadium on March 25, 2007. Honduras national football team, Honduras national team vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93), Tampa Bay Rowdies -- On March 28, 1982, in a FIFA World Cup, World Cup tune-up match, the Honduras national football team played the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (1968–84), North American Soccer League to a 1–1 draw at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Swimming and diving

Collegiate

* Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack men's swim team and Loyola Wolf Pack women's swim team represents

in the NAIA. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave women's swimming and diving team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I swimming and diving.

Tennis

Professional

*New Orleans Sun Belt Nets—The New Orleans Sun Belt Nets were a franchise of World Team Tennis (WTT). The Nets moved to New Orleans for the 1978 season and played their home matches in the Louisiana Superdome. Following the 1978 season, the Nets announced that the team would fold.

Collegiate

* Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack men's tennis team and Loyola Wolf Pack women's tennis team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers#Men's & women's tennis, New Orleans Privateers men's tennis team and New Orleans Privateers#Men's & women's tennis, New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college tennis. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave men's tennis team and Tulane Green Wave women's tennis team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college tennis. * Xavier Gold Rush -- The Xavier Gold Rush men's tennis team and Xavier Gold Nuggets women's tennis team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.

Special Tennis Matches

*New Orleans Grand Prix—The New Orleans Grand Prix was a men's tennis tournament played in New Orleans from 1978 to 1980. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. *Virginia Slims of New Orleans—New Orleans played host to the Virginia Slims Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in 1984 Virginia Slims of New Orleans, 1984 through 1988 Virginia Slims of New Orleans, 1988.

Track and Field

Tad Gormley Stadium (New Orleans, LA) - Away Grandstand

Collegiate

* Dillard Bleu Devils -- The Dillard Bleu Devils men's track and field team and Dillard Lady Bleu Devils women's track and field team represents Dillard University in the NAIA. * Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack men's track and field team and Loyola Wolf Pack women's track and field team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers#Men's & Women's Track & Field/Cross Country, New Orleans Privateers men's track and field team and New Orleans Privateers#Men's & Women's Track & Field/Cross Country, New Orleans Privateers women's track and field team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college track and field. * SUNO Knights -- The SUNO Knights men's track and field team and SUNO Lady Knights women's track and field team represents Southern University at New Orleans in the NAIA. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave men's track and field team and Tulane Green Wave women's track and field team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college track and field. * Xavier Gold Rush -- The Xavier Gold Rush men's track and field team and Xavier Gold Nuggets women's track and field team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.

Special Track and Field Meets

*1992 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), 1992 United States Olympic track and field trials—The 1992 United States Olympic track and field trials were held at Tad Gormley Stadium from June 19–28. It was organised by USA Track and Field and served as the national championships in track and field for the United States. The results of the event determined qualification for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain. *1998 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships—The 1998 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships took place between June 17–21 at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Volleyball

Collegiate

*Dillard Bleu Devils and Lady Bleu Devils, Dillard Lady Bleu Devils -- The Dillard Lady Bleu Devils women's volleyball team represents Dillard University in the NAIA. * Loyola Wolf Pack -- The Loyola Wolf Pack women's volleyball team represents

in the NAIA. * New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers#Volleyball, New Orleans Privateers women's volleyball team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college volleyball. *Southern–New Orleans Knights and Lady Knights, SUNO Lady Knights -- The SUNO Lady Knights women's volleyball team represents Southern University at New Orleans in the NAIA. * Tulane Green Wave -- The Tulane Green Wave women's volleyball team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I. The school also has a women's beach volleyball team; the NCAA holds a single national championship in that sport for members of all three of its divisions. *Xavier Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, Xavier Gold Nuggets -- The Xavier Gold Nuggets women's volleyball team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.

Special Volleyball Matches

Beach volleyball

*AVP New Orleans Open—The Association of Volleyball Professionals, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held the men's and women's New Orleans Open in 2015 and 2016. The Association of Volleyball Professionals, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held the men's New Orleans Open in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1999. *WPVA New Orleans—The Women's Professional Volleyball Association, WPVA Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held women's tournaments in New Orleans in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Indoor volleyball

*Women's Volleyball Final Four—The 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball final four was held at the New Orleans Arena in December 2002.

Water sports

Fishing tournaments

*Bassmaster Classic — is a fishing tournament that was held in the New Orleans area in Bassmaster Classic XXIX, 1999, Bassmaster Classic XXXI, 2001, Bassmaster Classic XXXI, 2003 and Bassmaster Classic XXXI, 2011. *City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo — is a fishing tournament founded in 1946. It is held annually in City Park (New Orleans), New Orleans' City Park and is the country's oldest freshwater fishing tournament.

Powerboat racing

Offshore powerboat racing has had a long history in New Orleans, Louisiana. Races have been held in either Lake Pontchartrain or on the Mississippi River. The most commonly held race was the Popeyes Offshore Grand Prix held annually from 1983 to 1991. Other powerboat races took place in 1980, 1981, 1982, 2002, 2003 and 2008. New Orleans was also the home port for the Popeyes Offshore race team from 1980 to 1990. The race team was formed by Al Copeland Sr., the founder of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Popeyes Fried Chicken Restaurants and Copeland's Restaurants. He was a six-time U.S. national champion and world champion in 1985 and 1986.

Yachting

New Basin Canal Lighthouse 2013 - New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is home to the New Orleans Yacht Club and Southern Yacht Club, both of which are located at West End, New Orleans, West End on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Southern Yacht Club was established in 1849 and is the second oldest yacht club in the United States. Regattas include: *Mardi Gras Race Week — New Orleans Yacht Club large One Design regatta held on Lake Pontchartrain. *Race to the Coast — Southern Yacht Club Regatta since 1849. Oldest continuously running point to point regatta in the Western Hemisphere United States. *Sugar Bowl Regatta — has been held since 1934. The sailing competition is divided into two separate phases, over four two-day periods, beginning in late November and concluding on New Year's Eve.

Wrestling

*In 1996, the Louisiana Superdome hosted the AAU Junior Olympics wrestling competition. *The 2004 Armed Forces Wrestling Championship was held in the New Orleans area.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sports In New Orleans Sports in New Orleans, New Orleans