Louisiana is home to some of the most electric sports stadiums in America. Each year, fans attend events, concerts, sports events, and more. What many across America may not realize is that Louisiana is home to legendary facilities big and small.
Below is the list of the 10 best sports stadiums and arenas in the state of Louisiana. Home to fearsome teams like the LSU Tigers, Mississippi State Bulldogs, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, and others, Louisiana is host to some of the most memorable moments in sports history.
1. Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, LA
Opened in 1975, Caesars Superdome is one of the biggest and best stadiums in Louisiana. Though Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is bigger, business generated at the home of the New Orleans Saints provides millions of dollars in revenue to the city each year. The Caesars Superdome will host the Super Bowl LIX in 2025.
It has undergone a few name changes and renovations throughout the years ($193 million following Hurricane Katrina) and remains one of the biggest venues in the NFL. It is considered the gold standard for Louisiana professional sports stadiums. Since the NFL season kickoff is about to begin it’s a perfect time to visit this venue.
Capacity and Features. Capacity maxes out at around 73,000 for football games and slightly more for basketball games. When baseball is held there, nearly 57,000 fans can make the trip.
Unique Aspects. For years, the field featured “Mardi Grass” turf but has since gone synthetic. Most notably, it was the home of refugees from Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the area.
Check out the New Orleans Saints odds for next season here.
2. Tiger Stadium – Baton Rouge, LA
Since 1924, Tiger Stadium has been one of the most feared road sites in the country. In the heart of Baton Rouge, the LSU Tigers continue to make Death Valley the kind of destination that other teams dread.
Like other major venues, Tiger Stadium is home to major concerts like Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, and Taylor Swift. It has also been home to the Bayou Country Superfest, though renovations eventually led the event to move to the Superdome.
Capacity and Features. With a seating capacity of 102,321, it is one of the biggest sports stadiums in the country and the seventh-biggest stadium on the planet. There is nothing like 100,000+ Tiger fans rocking the stadium every week during the college season.
Unique Aspects. Aside from holding more than 100,000 fans, Tiger Stadium has become a cultural destination. LSU football is an institution and Tiger Stadium is the church.
3. Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
Before the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA came to town, the Smoothie King Center opened in 1999. When the Charlotte Hornets made the move to the then-New Orleans Arena, it would become home to one of the hottest events in Louisiana.
With more than 2,800 club seats and 56 luxury suites, it has become not only the home of the Pelicans but also arena football and hockey games as well.
Capacity and Features. 18,500 for basketball games, 17,971 for concerts. Features a full club level, concessions, and a team store for all the best Pelicans merch.
Unique Aspects. There is nothing quite like seeing games or concerts at the Smoothie King Center. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and the noise levels could compete with any raucous Baton Rouge crowd.
4. Alex Box Stadium – Baton Rouge, LA
When we think of Baton Rouge, we tend to think of LSU Tiger Stadium. That said, Tiger fans have made Baton Rouge synonymous with college baseball, creating one of the best atmospheres in college baseball. Home to the LSU Tigers college baseball team, Alex Box Stadium was a feared place to play.
Originally built in 1938, it has since been demolished and replaced with a new park in Baton Rouge. Like Tiger Stadium, it holds a special place in history for fighting Tigers fans. Given that it was located right across the street from Tiger Stadium, the two fed off one another to create a unique home advantage.
Capacity and Features. With a capacity of 7,700 fans and media members, Alex Box Stadium has been home to major games and championships. Its demolition was a sad moment in LSU and Baton Rouge sports.
Unique Aspects. College baseball stadiums aren’t the largest, but Alex Box had a reputation like few others. Host to some of the biggest moments in LSU baseball history, its reputation as a premier baseball site was second to none.
5. Yulman Stadium – New Orleans, LA
Opened in 2014, Yulman Stadium is home to the Tulane Green Wave football team. Previously, the Wave had shared the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. It is considered the crown jewel of the Tulane athletic program.
Home games throughout the season have turned Tulane from a pushover into a feared road playing site. Though it still has a lot to do in order to top the former Tulane Stadium (prior to Mercedes-Benz Superdome), game weeks in New Orleans have taken on a bigger meaning.
Capacity and Features. Yulman seats 30,000 fans and has a huge 1,500-seat club level. Premium seating features 3,000 seats and is located right above the Glazer Club. With panoramic views of the New Orleans skyline, there is unlike anything you are going to find.
Unique Aspects. Yulman is one of the newest stadiums in college football. Though lots of Louisiana stadiums feature grass, Yulman features Hellas Matrix turf. Having new facilities has had an exponential impact on the Tulane football program, helping it to compete with larger programs.
6. Cajun Field – Lafayette, LA
There is nothing more “Louisiana” than Cajun heritage. Permeating Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette, it is an attitude more than anything else. The Ragin’ Cajuns have played there since 1971 when the venue was built to replace McNaspy Stadium.
Cajun Field has largely been the home of the University of Louisiana Lafayette but has also hosted the New Orleans Bowl (2005) and even a New Orleans Breakers USFL game in 1984. There aren’t many events held at the stadium, but game days create the kind of atmosphere that makes Louisiana sports special.
Capacity and Features. The stadium has enough room for more than 41,000 fans. It jumped up from 31,000 to 41,000. The most recent renovation project came in 2014 and “The Swamp” has become quite the fit with the local geographic layout. The lot that the stadium was built on is two- feet below sea-level, supported by a sophisticated drainage system that keeps the field dry even during rainstorms.
Unique Aspects. Cajun Field has become a staple in Lafayette. It became a popular meeting spot for both students and visitors to campus. Nicknamed “The Swamp” in 1988, the stadium removed its natural grass and turned to a turf installation in 2008.
7. Turchin Stadium – New Orleans, LA
Turchin Stadium could be in the running for most raucous facility despite being one of the smallest stadiums in major college sports. It won’t set a record for seating capacity and will need to be maintained to keep it going, but it is an electric atmosphere.
Tulane baseball makes its home at Turchin, and it is one of the most incredible times a fan could have. Each tailgate is electric, and the stadium is jumping by the time the Green Wave takes the field. The record for the stadium is just over 5,200 but it is a game that local fans will remember for a long time.
Capacity and Features. Turchin Stadium seats just 5,000, making it one of the smallest in the state, but it has become known for its incredible atmosphere. The Plaza shows off the passion of Tulane sports, featuring bricks purchased by the most die-hard fans.
Unique Aspects. Good luck being heard over the roar of the crowd during a game, especially college baseball games. The field might not be the biggest, but Tulane baseball games have become events like no other.
8. Independence Stadium – Shreveport, LA
There is little doubt that Independence Stadium is one of the most unique facilities in the state. In addition to sports, it has hosted the Louisiana State Fair and is also home to the NCAA’s Independence Bowl.
Throughout the season, it is host to high school football games and soccer matches since most of the schools in Shreveport don’t have an on-campus facility. The field has been renovated several times and it is perhaps the most unique place to play on the list.
Capacity and Features. Capable of handling more than 50,000 fans, Independence Stadium is one of the most unique stadiums in the state. At no time has it been host to a specific program, playing host to a wide array of events.
Unique Aspects. The stadium has become a legend of sorts because it has been home to so many local and state events. At times, it has been home to games for the American Football Association, World Football League, and was even a neutral site for the Arkansas-LSU rivalry from 1924-1936.
Independence Stadium, one of the stadiums in Louisiana, is owned by the city of Shreveport and is the home of the Independence Bowl. (Wikipedia)
9. Strawberry Stadium – Hammond, LA
Strawberry Stadium plays host to the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions. Interestingly enough, the field is not only home of the football team but the soccer team as well. It is one of the few stadiums on the list that is host to multiple sports teams.
Prior to the 2008 season, renovations were completed. Six luxury suites were installed, and a multilevel parking garage was constructed to the west of the stadium to accommodate 500 vehicles. It might not be Tiger Stadium, but each home game feels like an event.
Capacity and Features. Strawberry Stadium seats 7,408 fans for Southeastern Louisiana University. It is one of the smallest stadiums in the state for collegiate programs, playing host to state high school championship games in the past.
Unique Aspects. Those looking for a loud but intimate NCAA experience need only to attend a SLU game during the season. Though the facility is small, it is able to accommodate raucous crowds for each home game.
10. Joe Aillet Stadium – Ruston, LA
Joe Aillet Stadium was originally built for the NCAA team the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs in 1968. It was named for head coach and athletic director Joe Aillet in 1972 and has had that name since, though it was called Louisiana Tech Stadium initially. There is just a shade under 29,000 seats in the stadium, creating one of the most intimate places to watch sports.
The stadium has undergone adjustments to seating capacity throughout the years. At one point, more than 30,600 fans were granted seating, but the number has since come down to 28,562.
Capacity and Features. Joe Aillet Stadium currently seats 28,562 people. The site features the Charles Wyly Athletic Center and Davison Athletics Complex, plus the Sarah and A.L. Williams Champions Plaza.
Unique Aspects. Despite being one of the smaller stadiums on the list, the facilities are unique thanks to local support from the community. Anyone familiar with the area knows that there is more to it than the field. Plus, the giant LED screen is named Dawgzilla and that is pretty cool.
FAQs
What is the oldest stadium in Louisiana?
Tiger Stadium, home of the LSU Tigers, is currently the oldest stadium in the state. It was opened on November 25, 1924.
Are there any NFL stadiums in Louisiana?
The New Orleans Saints of the NFL make their home at the Caesars Superdome, formerly the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Which one is the biggest of the stadiums in Louisiana?
LSU Tiger Stadium has a seating capacity of 102,321. It is the second-largest in the Southeastern Conference, fifth-largest in the NCAA, and seventh-largest in the world.
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