Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation
Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation
Xavier University of Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation have partnered to host the Tamika Catchings Legacy Tour Basketball Clinic on July 19 at the Xavier University Convocation Center.
After a final presentation by New Orleans Saints owner Mrs. Gayle Benson, the NFL owners voted to award New Orleans its record 11th Super Bowl. The awarding of the 2024 Super Bowl wraps up a seven-month confidential bid negotiation led by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and the Saints.
“Beginning back in 2017 and now continuing through 2024, Louisiana has and will host many of the top profile, highest economic impact events in the world, including the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, 2018 WrestleMania, 2020 College Football National Championship, 2020 NCAA Women’s Final Four, 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four and 2024 NFL Super Bowl,” Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President and CEO Jay Cicero said. “The awarding of the 2024 Super Bowl is the perfect way to honor the legacy of Tom Benson.”
Key partners in the Super Bowl bid include Mrs. Gayle Benson, Dennis Lauscha and the entire Saints/Pelicans organization, the State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, SMG, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans & Compnay and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. The 2013 Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers generated $480 million in economic impact and $21 million in additional state tax dollars, according to the study performed by the University of New Orleans Division of Business and Economic Research.
From April 2nd through April 10th, the WrestleMania Local Organizing Committee, led by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the City of New Orleans, SMG, the Ernst Morial Convention Center, the New Orleans CVB and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, hosted WWE’s signature event, WrestleMania, throughout the Greater New Orleans area. The mega-event returned to New Orleans in a record four short years after an inviting Local Organizing Committee business proposition was packaged with the aspect of hosting during the City’s Tricentennial Celebration.
The 8-day celebration was kicked off by WWE Superstars attending numerous community outreach events. From Hire Heroes, to the Special Olympics, to fundraising events for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana, WWE and their talent’s positive message and presence was felt throughout the region. In all, the entire weekend totaled more than 35 events and 1,064 Superstar appearances.
“The sheer size of 2014 WrestleMania was a nice surprise to our hospitality community, welcoming visi-tors from all 50 states and 30 countries,” said Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President/ CEO Jay Cicero. “With the addition of two new spectator events, NXT Takeover on Saturday and Smackdown Live on Tuesday at the Smoothie-King Center, we are expecting the 2018 economic impact to exceed the $140 million recorded four years ago.”
WrestleMania 34 packed 78,133 fans into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with over 141,000 fans at-tending the entire week of events.
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SEC Announces New Orleans as Site for 2019 Gymnastics Championship
The Southeastern Conference will host the 2019 SEC Gymnastics Championship at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, it was announced Thursday.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring the SEC Gymnastics Championship to New Orleans for the first time in 2019,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “New Orleans has a rich tradition of hosting championship events in all sports and the SEC is proud to have played a significant role in that legacy. The SEC Gymnastics Championship is annually a preview of competition at the national championship meet, and we know this will be another successful event that will produce life-long memories for our student-athletes, coaches and fans in the sport of gymnastics.”
This will mark the first time that the SEC Gymnastics Championship will take place in the state of Louisiana. Previous host sites include: Birmingham, Ala. (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 and 2014); Duluth, Ga. (2004, 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2015); North Little Rock, Ark. (2007, 2013 and 2016); Nashville, Tenn. (2009), Jacksonville, Fla. (2010 and 2017); and St. Louis, Mo. (2018).
“The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is honored to have partnered with SMG to attract the 2019 SEC Gymnastics Championship,” said Jay Cicero, President/CEO of the GNOSF. “The popularity of New Orleans as a fan favorite destination and the tremendous growth in interest in the sport of college gymnastics should be the perfect recipe for an exciting Championship in 2019. Gymnastics fans from the entire state and SEC footprint are going to love it.”
The Smoothie King Center is a state-of-the-art venue adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and situated on the 55-acre campus of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District. It is home to the New Orleans Pelicans, and has previously hosted regionals for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and the Women’s Final Four.
“New Orleans’ history as a premier sports and entertainment host city is well known and continues to flourish,” notes SMG General Manager Alan Freeman. “New Orleans is a tourist destination and we are confident the 2019 SEC Gymnastics Championship will appeal to both locals and fans from all the SEC schools. We are thrilled the SEC has awarded us the opportunity to showcase our event venues and all the attractions available in our home city.”
Details on ticket information for the 2019 SEC Gymnastics Championship in New Orleans are being finalized. Fans interested in receiving advance ticket information can go to www.gnosports.com to register their name, email and favorite SEC school.
From April 5th-8th, WWE and their marquee event, WrestleMania, returns to New Orleans. Ranked by Forbes as the 6th most valuable sporting event in the world, WrestleMania and its surrounding events are expected to generate over $150 million in economic impact for Louisiana from the tens of thousands of tourists to New Orleans.
Hosting the event for the second time in 4 years, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is leading the New Orleans Local Organizing Committee, consisting of the State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, SMG, and New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.
“WrestleMania is an outstanding event and a perfect fit for one of the best host cities in the world. We’re proud to have won the bid and are ready to welcome back the event, which brought visitors from all 50 states and more than 20 countries to New Orleans in 2014,” said Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President and CEO Jay Cicero.
In 2014, a total of 75,167 fans packed the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to witness WrestleMania. The entire week of special events and celebrations generated an overall economic impact of $142.2 million dollars and an additional $6.2 million in tax revenue for the State of Louisiana. Since 2014, the event has continued to grow. WWE has added events including Smackdown Live and NXT to the week’s list of shows. In 2016, WrestleMania Dallas generated a total of $170.4 million dollars.
WrestleMania is more than just a one-day event; it is a week-long celebration. In addition to WrestleMania 34, other events include: WrestleMania Axxess, WWE’s four-day, interactive fan festival at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and four spectacular live events taking place at Smoothie King Center, including the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; NXT TakeOver, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.
The CBS Sports Classic, CBS and KemperLesnik donated the official basketball playing court to the YMCA of Greater New Orleans to become the centerpiece of Belle Chasse’s YMCA expansion project. Through the event’s partnership with the SMG and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the court donation to the YMCA is a lasting legacy that the residents of Louisiana will enjoy for years to come.
Global transportation provider and New Orleans Bowl title sponsor R+L Carriers donated their expertise to transport the court to storage until the completion of the Belle Chasse YMCA Gymnasium in 2019, where the CBS Sports Classic court will serve the entire community as the focal point of the newly expanded facility.
Combing for 26 national Championships, 177 NCAA Tournament appearances and more than 7,900 victories, Kentucky, UCLA, Ohio State and North Carolina shared the court at the Smoothie King Center for the 2017 CBS Sports Classic.
In partnership with SMG, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation played host to the doubleheader basketball game that saw #5 North Carolina versus Ohio State and #7 Kentucky versus UCLA.
In game one, Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson of North Carolina each combined for 19 points to lead the Tar Heels past the Buckeyes 86-72. Game two saw Aaron Holiday (brother of Pelicans Guard Jrue Holiday) score 20 points and lead UCLA to an upset of freshman laden Kentucky 83-75.
“The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation was proud to partner with SMG to attract and host four of the elite programs in all of college basketball, said GNOSF President and CEO Jay Cicero. “The live CBS broadcast of both games brought significant digital and broadcast exposure to Louisiana.”
On Saturday, December 16th, the Trojans of Troy University capped off an 11-win season with a 50-30 victory over the Mean Green of North Texas. The 80 combined points marked the highest scoring game in New Orleans Bowl history.
Lead by senior quarterback and bowl MVP Brandon Silvers (24/31, 306 yards 4 TDs), the Sun Belt Conference Champion Trojans 11-2 record stands as the best final record for a New Orleans Bowl champion.
Established and managed by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the New Orleans Bowl celebrated its 17thanniversary in 2017. Formed to fill a hole in what is a traditionally slow time for tourism in New Orleans, the bowl game has become a staple on the annual sports calendar.
“During our 30-year history, the Sports Foundation has hosted major events that have created huge economic impact and positive media exposure for the State of Louisiana,” said Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President/CEO Jay Cicero. “The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl is our anchor event, and we are proud of the growth and success over the years. The bowl and it’s special events generate between $20 and $25 million in annual economic impact, depending upon the size of the traveling fans of the two teams. The live broadcast on ESPN is a three-hour commercial for New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.”
Broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Radio, the matchup drew an overnight rating of 1.3 and showcased Louisiana to viewers from around the world.
