Experience the thrill of NBA basketball by attending a New Orleans Pelicans game at Smoothie King Center, where you can witness the exciting basketball action, embrace the energetic atmosphere, and be part of the passionate cheers of the Pelicans faithful
| Ticket type | E-ticket (direct entry) |
| Game type | Basketball, NBA |
Please note that KKday voucher and confirmation email are NOT your official tickets to the game. Your official tickets will typically be sent within 72 hours before the event starts. It will be delivered via a link to the email address you provided during booking. Please make sure to ACCEPT your ticket through the link before attending the event
Your seat location may not be suitable for those with specific accessibility needs
Large crowds are expected, so if this is a concern for you or those you are traveling with please keep this in mind. Sensory inclusion facilities may be available
The venue might be cashless, please consider this for any extra purchases you wish to make at the event
Present your mobile ticket (not your KKday booking confirmation) at the gate nominated on your ticket for direct entry into the venue
NBA teams, including the New Orleans Pelicans, primarily utilize chartered flights for inter-city travel to their NBA games. This method offers the flexibility required for demanding schedules, ensures privacy, and provides enhanced comfort for players during transit. For shorter distances within New Orleans, team buses are typically used to transport players to and from the Smoothie King Center for home games or practice facilities.
For inter-city travel to compete in NBA games, New Orleans Pelicans players predominantly use chartered planes. This is the most efficient and practical method for covering vast distances between cities quickly. Buses are primarily reserved for local transportation within a city, such as traveling to the Smoothie King Center for a home game or moving between hotels and practice venues.
While NBA teams like the New Orleans Pelicans do not typically own their private planes, they extensively use chartered private jets from specialized aviation companies for their game travel. This arrangement allows the team exclusive use, provides customizable flight schedules to suit game times, and offers amenities tailored for professional athletes, ensuring optimal comfort and efficiency for their demanding schedule.
NBA teams, including the New Orleans Pelicans, have sophisticated travel operations managed by dedicated travel coordinators. These arrangements encompass all aspects of team movement, including scheduling chartered flights, organizing ground transportation via team buses, securing hotel accommodations, and arranging practice facilities in various cities. The meticulous planning aims to minimize player fatigue and ensure timely arrivals for their away games throughout the season.
During the regular NBA season, New Orleans Pelicans players experience a high frequency of travel. With 82 games played, roughly half of which are away games, teams often undertake multiple trips per week. This demanding schedule frequently involves playing back-to-back games in different cities, requiring constant movement across various time zones to fulfill their extensive game calendar.
The logistical considerations for the New Orleans Pelicans' away NBA games are intricate. They include precise scheduling of chartered flights to align with game times, booking entire floors or specific sections of hotels for team privacy, coordinating a fleet of team buses for local transport, managing and transporting equipment, and arranging specific meal plans tailored for athletes. The overarching goal is to create a seamless and supportive travel environment for players and staff.
For local travel, such as arriving at the Smoothie King Center for a New Orleans Pelicans home game, or moving between their hotel and practice facilities in an away city, players primarily use team buses. These dedicated buses provide convenient, secure, and coordinated transportation for the entire team, ensuring everyone arrives together and on schedule for practices, games, and other team events within a metropolitan area.
Extensive travel can significantly impact New Orleans Pelicans players' performance throughout the NBA season. Factors such as frequent time zone changes, disrupted sleep patterns, and cumulative physical fatigue from flying can reduce energy levels, impair concentration, and potentially increase the risk of injury. Teams implement strategies like optimized flight schedules, proper nutrition, and comprehensive recovery protocols to help mitigate these challenges and maintain player well-being.