Sports in New Orleans facts for kids
New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), the annual Sugar Bowl, the annual Zurich Classic (PGA Tour) and horse racing at the Fair Grounds Race Course. New Orleans has also occasionally hosted the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff semifinal game and the NCAA college basketball Final Four.
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Contents
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.
College
- 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.
- 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.
- The 1892 world heavyweight championship match between John L. Sullivan and Gentleman Jim Corbett 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 Arena.
- The Louisiana Superdome hosted the 1978 fight some called the Ali rematch where Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks in front of a crowd of 65,000; it was Ali's last professional win.
- Leonard–Durán II, 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 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 in the 10th round.
Fishing tournaments
- Bassmaster Classic -- The Bassmaster Classic is a fishing tournament that was held in the New Orleans area in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2011.
- City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo -- The City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo is a fishing tournament founded in 1946. It is held annually in New Orleans' City Park and is the country’s oldest freshwater fishing tournament.
Horse racing
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 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 (1950s–1990).
Ice hockey
- New Orleans Brass -- The New Orleans Brass was a former ice hockey team in New Orleans from 1997–2002.
Ironman 70.3
- Ironman 70.3 New Orleans -- The Ironman 70.3 New Orleans, also known as a Half-Ironman, is one of a series of middle-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The event comprises a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run.
Mixed martial arts
- UFC 16 -- UFC 16 took place on March 13, 1998 at the Pontchartrain Center 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 Pontchartrain Center 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.
Motorsports
- NOLA Motorsports Park -- NOLA Motorsports Park is a road race track in Avondale, Louisiana, approximately twenty minutes from downtown New Orleans. The north track circuit and kart circuit opened in 2011.
Special Auto Races
- AMA Supercross -- New Orleans has hosted AMA Supercross races in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 (2), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2012.
- Grand Prix du Mardi Gras -- In 1991, 1992, and 1995, New Orleans was home to the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras. The IMSA sports car races took place on 2 different 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 inaugural Verizon Indycar Series race was held on April 12, 2015 at NOLA Motorsports Park.
Offshore 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 Popeye's Offshore Grand Prix held annually from 1983–1991. 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 1980–90. The race team was formed by Al Copeland Sr., the founder of Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits Restaurants and Copeland's Restaurants. He was a six-time U.S. national champion and world champion in 1985 and 1986.
Professional bull riding
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.
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 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 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
- ISLANO -- The International Soccer League Association New Orleans (ISLANO) is a men's semi-professional soccer league. ISLANO teams Motagua N.O. and NOLA F.C. are part of the Louisiana Soccer Association.
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.
Honduras national football team vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies -- On March 28, 1982, in a World Cup tune-up match, the Honduras national football team played the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League to a 1–1 draw at Tad Gormley Stadium.
Swimming and Diving
College
- 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 Grand Prix -- The New Orleans Grand Prix was a men's tennis tournament played in New Orleans from 1978–1980. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit.
- 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.
- Virginia Slims of New Orleans -- New Orleans played host to the Virginia Slims Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.
College
- 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.
- New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers men's tennis team and New Orleans Privateers women's tennis team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college tennis.
- Loyola Wolfpack -- The Loyola Wolfpack men's tennis team and Loyola Wolfpack women's tennis team represents Loyola University-New Orleans in the NAIA.
Track and Field/Cross country
College Track and Field
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- 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.
- New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers men's track and field team and New Orleans Privateers women's track and field team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college track and field.
- 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 Wolfpack -- The Loyola Wolfpack men's track and field team and Loyola Wolfpack women's track and field team represents Loyola University-New Orleans in the NAIA.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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 Wolfpack -- The Loyola Wolfpack men's cross country team and Loyola Wolfpack women's cross country team represents Loyola University-New Orleans in the NAIA.
- SUNO Knights -- The SUNO Knights men's cross country team and SUNO Lady Knights women's cross country team represents Southern University at New Orleans in the NAIA.
- 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.
Special Track and Field Meets
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 - June 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.
Volleyball
College
- 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.
- New Orleans Privateers -- The New Orleans Privateers women's volleyball team represents the University of New Orleans in NCAA Division I college volleyball.
- Dillard Lady Bleu Devils -- The Dillard Lady Bleu Devils women's volleyball team represents Dillard University in the NAIA.
- Loyola Wolfpack -- The Loyola Wolfpack women's volleyball team represents Loyola University-New Orleans in the NAIA.
- SUNO Lady Knights -- The SUNO Lady Knights women's volleyball team represents Southern University at New Orleans in the NAIA.
- Xavier Gold Nuggets -- The Xavier Gold Nuggets women's volleyball team represents Xavier University of Louisiana in the NAIA.
Special Volleyball Matches
- AVP New Orleans Open -- The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held the men's and women's New Orleans Open in 2015 and 2016. The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held the men's New Orleans Open in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1999.
- WPVA New Orleans -- The WPVA Pro Beach Volleyball Tour held women's tournaments in New Orleans in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
- 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.
Yachting
Clubs
New Orleans is home to the New Orleans Yacht Club and Southern Yacht Club, both of which are located at 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
- 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 -- The 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.
Water sports
Fishing tournaments
- Bassmaster Classic — is a fishing tournament that was held in the New Orleans area in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2011.
- City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo — is a fishing tournament founded in 1946. It is held annually in 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 Popeye's Offshore Grand Prix held annually from 1983–1991. 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 1980–90. The race team was formed by Al Copeland Sr., the founder of 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 Orleans is home to the New Orleans Yacht Club and Southern Yacht Club, both of which are located at 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.
Images for kids
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The New Orleans Saints take on the Dallas Cowboys on September 29, 2019. The Saints would take the victory 12-10.
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New Orleans Pelicans huddle pregame before taking on the Memphis Grizzlies on January 31, 2020. The Pelicans would win, 139-111
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Tulane Stadium was New Orleans' main venue for big games before the construction of the Louisiana Superdome (1979 photo)
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Smoothie King Center
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Loyola Wolf Pack guard Brandon Davis prepares to shoot a free throw on March 12, 2022. One of his 19 points along with 11 assist, which helped to prevail the Wolf Pack into the NAIA Round of 16.
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Old Pelican Stadium, aka Heinemann Park, in 1921
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Shrine on Airline
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City Park Golf Course Map - 1938
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Horse racing on the current site of the Fair Grounds Race Course in 1839
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Tad Gormley Stadium
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