USDLast verified: September 14, 2026. We checked the arena, Pelicans, EventPass, RTA, City of New Orleans, SpotHero, ParkWhiz and Vivid Seats pages listed under Sources. Prices can change by event.
Short answer. The arena shares seven garages and two surface lots with the Superdome, and the garages are card only. Advance parking on the arena's EventPass page was $43.89 at Champions Garage, Garage 2A or Garage 5 for Rod Wave on September 19, and $25.08 all-in at Champions Garage for the Pelicans on October 21.
At Pelicans games, Garage 1, Garage 6 and Champions Garage sell spaces at the entrance, while Garage 2, Garage 5 and Lots 3 and 3A take passes only. Independent garages and lots within half a mile ran $5 to $60 on ParkWhiz and $14.25 to $56.50 on SpotHero for Rod Wave.
Options at a glance
Costs are what each source published on September 14, 2026.
| Option | Where | Cost | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official pre-sale, concerts | Champions Garage, Garage 2A, Garage 5 | $43.89 for Rod Wave, Sept 19 (EventPass) | The list does not say if fees are included. Not every garage opens for every event. |
| Official pre-sale, Pelicans | Champions Garage | $25.08 all-in for the Pacers, Oct 21 (EventPass) | The only garage listed for that game. |
| Pay at the entrance, Pelicans | Garage 1, Garage 6, Champions Garage | Rate not published (Pelicans) | Cashless. |
| Pass-only parking, Pelicans | Garage 2, Garage 5, Lots 3 and 3A | Pass price not published (Pelicans) | Mobile passes only, in the Pelicans or SeatGeek app. |
| Independent garages and lots | Girod St, Loyola Ave, O'Keefe Ave, S Rampart St | Within half a mile for Rod Wave: $5 to $60 (ParkWhiz), $14.25 to $56.50 (SpotHero) | Some garages were priced differently on each app. |
| City street meters | City streets | $3 an hour in the CBD and Warehouse District, $2 elsewhere (City of New Orleans) | Charged Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. $30 fine if unpaid. |
| RTA streetcar or bus | Poydras Street, across from the Superdome | $1.25 a ride, $3 for a 1-Day Jazzy Pass (RTA) | The arena does not name the routes. |
Arena garages and lots: the rules
The arena and Caesars Superdome share seven public garages (#1, #1A, #2, #2A, #5, #6 and Champions Garage) and Lots 3 and 4, about 7,000 spaces in all. Event-day rates appear on each event page, not on a rate card.
- Cards only: garages take credit or debit cards, and the A to Z guide says the whole campus is cashless.
- Pelicans games: Garage 2, Garage 5 and Lots 3 and 3A are pass only. Garage 1, Garage 6 and Champions Garage sell at the entrance. Show passes in the Pelicans or SeatGeek app.
- Prohibited: re-entry, overnight parking and tailgating.
- Towing: illegally parked cars can be tagged and towed without notice.
- Bikes: free racks in Lot 3, on the wall closest to Champions Garage.
Naming note: the Pelicans list a Lot 3A that the arena's list leaves out. Garage 2 and Garage 2A are separate garages on the arena's list, so check the number on your pass.
Upcoming events and parking sales
Dates are from the arena calendar, times and pre-sale status from EventPass.
| Date | Event | Start | Official pre-sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 19 | Rod Wave | 8:00 p.m. | $43.89, three garages |
| Sat, Oct 10 | WWE Money in the Bank | 4:30 p.m. | On sale |
| Wed, Oct 14 | $uicideboy$ Grey Day Tour | Not published | Not listed |
| Fri, Oct 16 | Pelicans vs. Wizards (preseason) | Not published | Not listed |
| Wed, Oct 21 | Pelicans vs. Pacers | 7:00 p.m. | $25.08, Champions Garage |
| Sat, Oct 24 | CeCe Winans | 7:00 p.m. | On sale |
| Wed, Oct 28 | Pelicans vs. Nuggets | 7:00 p.m. | On sale |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Pelicans vs. Kings | 7:00 p.m. | On sale |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Pelicans vs. Hawks | 6:00 p.m. | On sale |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Pelicans vs. Jazz | 7:00 p.m. | On sale |
Sources disagree on some times: ParkWhiz lists Rod Wave at 8:30 p.m. and WWE at 5:30 p.m. Vivid Seats labels the Wizards game preseason. The Pelicans open doors one hour before tip-off. Later Pelicans home dates were not verified.
Independent garages nearby
We priced the next major event, Rod Wave on September 19, on both apps.
SpotHero showed 30 garages and lots from $12 to $56.50. The closest, 1301 Girod St, a four-minute walk, was $40. The 1200 Poydras St garage was $25 and 600 Loyola Ave was $35. Prices are shown before fees.
ParkWhiz had 1301 Girod St at $40 and 1200 Poydras St at $25, both 0.3 miles out. Within half a mile it ran from $5 at the Howard Garage to $60 at 600 Loyola Ave. SpotHero puts the Howard Garage at 0.7 miles.
Compare before you book. The Union Passenger Terminal lot was $25 on ParkWhiz and $50 on SpotHero. SpotHero's event parking average near the arena is $35 to $55.
Street meters. City meters charge Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The rate is $3 an hour in the Central Business District and Warehouse District and $2 elsewhere. The city does not say which rate applies near the arena.
Rideshare and drop-off
- The designated zone is on Poydras Street between Clara Street and Loyola Avenue, about a five-minute walk.
- It is geo-fenced. You can only request a pickup once you are inside the zone.
- After the event, walk through Champions Square and follow the "Rideshare Pickup" signs, per the Pelicans guide.
- The zone can move by event. Changes go on the event page.
Getting there on RTA
The arena's A to Z guide puts a transit stop on Poydras Street across from the Superdome, at Gate A Ground Level. Neither it nor RTA's destinations page names the routes.
RTA's fall 2025 streetcar schedule shows the 46 Rampart/Loyola line serving Union Passenger Terminal. SpotHero lists the terminal's lot, at 1001 Loyola Ave., a 10-minute walk from the arena.
A single ride is $1.25 with a two-hour transfer, and a 1-Day Jazzy Pass is $3. Youth pay $0.50, and children under 5 ride free with a paying rider. You can pay in the Le Pass app.
Accessible parking and drop-off
- Accessible spaces are first come, first served and change event to event. For Pelicans games they are in Lot 3, entered from Girod Street under the overhang.
- Bring proper vehicle registration, a current disabled placard and a matching ID card. Parking is cashless, and no price is published.
- ADA drop-off and pick-up is at Dave Dixon Drive and Le Rouge Lane. At larger events it is restricted during the peak exit, and a courtesy shuttle runs between South LaSalle and North LaSalle for rideshare riders.
What this guide doesn't recommend
- Bringing cash. Garages take cards only.
- Driving to Garage 2, Garage 5 or Lot 3 for a Pelicans game without a pass. They are pass parking only.
- Planning a tailgate or an in-and-out. Both are prohibited.
- Booking the first app price you see. The same lot differed by $25 between apps for the same show.
- Calling a rideshare from the doors. Pickups only work inside the Poydras Street zone.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I park for the Smoothie King Center?
The arena's own garages are closest. For concerts, EventPass sold Champions Garage, Garage 2A and Garage 5 at $43.89 for Rod Wave. For Pelicans games, Champions Garage was $25.08, and Garage 1 and Garage 6 sell at the entrance. Off campus, 1301 Girod St was $40 on both apps.
How much is parking for a Pelicans game?
EventPass sold Champions Garage for $25.08 for the October 21 game, fees and taxes included. Resale passes on Vivid Seats started at $19. The Pelicans do not publish pass prices or drive-up rates.
What is the free parking time in New Orleans?
City meters charge Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are free on Sundays and eight holidays, including Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
What's the best way to get to the arena?
Drivers should reserve a garage and bring a card. Otherwise, use the Poydras Street rideshare zone, a five-minute walk, or RTA, which stops across from the Superdome for $1.25.
Can I buy parking through Ticketmaster?
The arena's pages do not mention it. Advance parking is sold on EventPass, and Pelicans passes load in the Pelicans or SeatGeek app.
Can I tailgate or leave and come back?
No. Tailgating, re-entry and overnight parking are all prohibited.
Sources
All checked September 14, 2026.
- Smoothie King Center, Directions and Parking: garages, card-only rule, EventPass link, rideshare zone.
- Smoothie King Center, A to Z Guide: cashless, re-entry, tailgating, towing, transit stop, bike racks.
- Smoothie King Center, Accessibility: accessible parking and ADA drop-off.
- Smoothie King Center, Upcoming Events: event dates.
- EventPass event list, Rod Wave parking and Pelicans vs. Pacers parking: official times, garages and prices.
- Pelicans A to Z Fan Guide and Know Before You Go: Pelicans garage rules, mobile passes, door time, rideshare route.
- SpotHero event search, SpotHero destination page, ParkWhiz Rod Wave parking and ParkWhiz event list: prices, distances, event times.
- RTA Fares, RTA streetcar schedule (PDF) and RTA Popular Destinations: fares, transfers, the 46 line.
- City of New Orleans, Parking Meter Hours and Rates: meter hours, rates, free days, fine.
- Vivid Seats, Pelicans parking passes (linked in the box above): starting prices.