The Senator Nat G. Kiefer LSU New Orleans Lakefront Arena (commonly Lakefront Arena or LSUNO Lakefront Arena) is an 8,933-seat multi-purpose arena located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Venue
- Lakefront Arena
- Town
- Louisiana, US
- Capacity
- 8,933
The Senator Nat G. Kiefer LSU New Orleans Lakefront Arena (commonly Lakefront Arena or LSUNO Lakefront Arena) is an 8,933-seat multi-purpose arena located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The arena is home to the LSU New Orleans Privateers men's and women's basketball teams. The arena first opened November 1, 1983, with Lionel Richie performing for two consecutive nights. In 1986 it was renamed in honor of Nat G. Kiefer, the late state senator who aided LSUNO's efforts to obtain state funding for the building. Kiefer's state senate district included the LSU New Orleans campus. It is part of the university's East Campus; the arena is southwest of Maestri Field, home to the LSUNO baseball team. Lakefront Arena is the home venue for both the LSU New Orleans Privateers men's and women's basketball teams. Demand for a new basketball arena on the LSUNO campus was seen as an acute need. The school was a founding member of the Sun Belt Conference but was expelled from the league in 1980 on account of its old gym, the Human Performance Center, being deemed unsuitable for league play. On November 26, 1983, LSU New Orleans first played in the arena, hosting in-state rival LSU in a basketball doubleheader. The arena hosted the 1991 NCAA Women's basketball Final Four, where the University of Tennessee beat the University of Virginia for their third national title. The arena was contracted to host the men's and women's Sun Belt Conference basketball tournaments between 2014 and 2019. The arena previously hosted the 2002 men's Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament. The arena is also notable for hosting Larry Bird's career-high of 60 points on March 12, 1985, against the Atlanta Hawks, who were hosting a series of special "home" games in New Orleans during the 1984-1985 season. The Harlem Globetrotters have also played at the arena. On July 14, 2018, a full card was held at the arena with a co-main event of Regis Prograis versus Juan Jose Velasco for the WBC Super Lightweight Diamond