New Orleans Morial Convention Center facts for kids
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is a very large building in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It sits right by the Mississippi River. The center is named after Ernest Nathan Morial, who was the first African American mayor of New Orleans.
This huge building has about 1.1 million square feet (102,000 square meters) of space for exhibits. That's like covering almost 11 city blocks! The front of the main building is about 1 kilometer long.
Contents
History of the Convention Center
Plans for the convention center began in 1978. The first part of the building was finished in 1984. It was built as part of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, which was a big fair. Over the years, more sections were added, making it even bigger.
In 1992, the complex was named after Ernest Nathan Morial. He was a very important mayor for New Orleans. In 2008, its name was changed slightly to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. This was to make sure everyone knew it was in New Orleans.
In August 2005, the TV show Wheel of Fortune was taping episodes here. But they had to stop early because Hurricane Katrina was coming. After Hurricane Katrina hit, the Convention Center became a very important place. Thousands of people who had to leave their homes found shelter there. It was a temporary place for people to stay after the storm.
After Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina, many people went to the Convention Center. They hoped to find help and buses to leave the city. However, for several days, there were no supplies like food, water, or medical help. Conditions were very difficult for the thousands of people gathered there.
The lack of help at the center was shown on TV news. This helped people across the country understand the serious situation. The Morial Convention Center was finally cleared out by September 4, 2005.
Improvements After the Storm
The Convention Center was fully repaired and updated by November 2006. It looked new and ready for visitors again. A new part was added, called the New Orleans Theater. This theater has 4,032 seats and is used for concerts, Broadway shows, and other special events.
Sporting Events Held Here
The Convention Center is not just for meetings! It also hosts fun sporting events.
- In 2014, the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Jam Session was held here. This included the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and team practices.
- A mixed martial arts event called PFL 8 took place at the center on October 5, 2018.
See also
In Spanish: New Orleans Morial Convention Center para niños
