Municipal Auditorium (New Orleans)

Municipal Auditorium in 2008

The Morris F.X. Jeff, Sr. Municipal Auditorium is a 7,853-seat multi-purpose arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a component of the New Orleans Cultural Center, alongside the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. It is located in the Treme neighborhood in Louis Armstrong Park near Congo Square.

The arena opened in 1930. It was constructed by the contractor George A. Caldwell, who also designed nine buildings on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge and three parish courthouses. It has hosted many concerts and events, perhaps being best known as the site of many of the New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe balls.

It hosted the New Orleans Buccaneers of the American Basketball Association in 1969 and 1970 and also hosted the New Orleans Jazz basketball team, during its inaugural 1974-1975 season, before the team moved to the Louisiana Superdome. The arena was also home ice to the minor-league hockey franchise, the New Orleans Brass, from 1997 to 1999, before they moved into the New Orleans Arena.

The venue also was a casino before the new Harrah's New Orleans building on Canal Street was opened.

In August 2005 the auditorium suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina and associated flooding (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans). Future usage of the arena is currently uncertain. FOMA (Friends of the Municipal Auditorium) will be making plans to revitalize and repair the Auditorium for future use.

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Preceded by first arena

Home of the New Orleans Jazz 1974 – 1975

Succeeded by Louisiana Superdome

Coordinates: 29°57′41″N 90°4′9″W / 29.96139°N 90.06917°W / 29.96139; -90.06917