- Sports in New Orleans
New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the
New Orleans Saints (NFL) and theNew Orleans Hornets (NBA), the annualSugar Bowl , the annual Zurich Classic (PGA Tour ) and horse racing at theFair Grounds Race Course . Also, New Orleans regularly hosts theSuper Bowl , the college footballBCS National Championship Game , and the NCAA college basketballFinal Four .Football
*Saints -- The
New Orleans Saints are one of the 32 teams in the NFL. The home stadium of the Saints is theLouisiana Superdome .*Green Wave -- The
Tulane Green Wave football team representsTulane University in NCAA Division Icollege football .*Voodoo -- The
New Orleans VooDoo are an indoor football team in the AFL*Blaze -- The New Orleans Blaze are a women's football team in the
National Women's Football Association .Former football teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Breakers of the
United States Football League (which became thePortland Breakers ) and theNew Orleans Night of theArena Football League (1991–1992).pecial Football Games
*Sugar Bowl -- New Orleans has been home to the annual
Sugar Bowl since 1935. Originally played atTulane Stadium , it has been played in theLouisiana Superdome since 1975.*The Bayou Classic -- an annual football game between two
historically black universities , Grambling State andSouthern University .*Super Bowl -- More
Super Bowl s have been played at theLouisiana Superdome than at any other sports facility: 1978, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1997, and 2002.*BCS National Championship Game -- The
Louisiana Superdome rotates with three other locations as the host for theBCS National Championship Game . The Superdome hosted the BCS National Championship Game in 2000, 2004, 2008, and will continue to do so in 2012, 2016, etc.*New Orleans Bowl -- New Orleans has been home to the annual
New Orleans Bowl since 2001.*ArenaBowl -- New Orleans played host to the AFL's championship game in 2007 and will do so again in 2008.
Basketball
*Hornets -- The
New Orleans Hornets are one of the 30 teams in the NBA. The home arena of the Hornets is theNew Orleans Arena *Green Wave -- The
Tulane Green Wave basketball team representsTulane University in NCAA Division Icollege basketball .*Privateers -- the
New Orleans Privateers basketball team represents theUniversity of New Orleans in NCAA Division Icollege basketball .*Blues -- The
New Orleans Blues are an expansion American Basketball Association franchise.Former basketball teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Jazz (1974–1980) which became the
Utah Jazz and theNew Orleans Buccaneers (c. 1967–1970).pecial Basketball Games
*The Final Four -- the Superdome hosted the NCAA college basketball
Final Four in 1982, 1987, 1993, and 2003.*NBA All Star Game -- The
NBA All Star Game was hosted by New Orleans in 2008Baseball
*Zephyrs -- The
New Orleans Zephyrs are a PCL baseball team affiliated with theNew York Mets . The home stadium of the Zephyrs isZephyr Field insuburb an Metairie.*The Green Wave -- The
Tulane Green Wave baseball team representsTulane University in NCAA Division Icollege baseball .*Privateers -- The
New Orleans Privateers baseball team represents theUniversity of New Orleans in NCAA Division Icollege baseball .Former baseball teams in New Orleans include the
New Orleans Pelicans (1887–1959; 1977)Golf
Zurich Classic -- The
Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on thePGA Tour .Horse racing
New Orleans is home to the
Fair Grounds Race Course , the nation's third-oldest thoroughbred track.Running
New Orleans hosts the
Crescent City Classic , a 10k race every April. It also hosts theMardi Gras Marathon .occer
*Shell Shockers -- The
New Orleans Shell Shockers are a soccer team in theUSL Premier Development League Former soccer teams in New Orleans include the
New Orleans Storm (1993-1999).Yachting
New Orleans is also home to the
New Orleans Yacht Club andSouthern Yacht Club , both of which are located at West End on the shore ofLake Pontchartrain . Southern Yacht Club was established in1849 and is the second oldestyacht club in the United States.Roller Derby
As of September 2006, The
Big Easy Rollergirls has about 60 active members.Ice Hockey
Former ice hockey teams in New Orleans include the
New Orleans Brass (1997–2003).Rugby
The New Orleans Halfmoons, a women's rugby team and member of
USA Rugby , was disbanded after its members were scattered byHurricane Katrina . The Halfmoons, one of the oldest women's teams in theUnited States , hosted the annual "Throw Me Something Rugger"tournament held the weekend beforeFat Tuesday . Feb 2007, the Halfmoons returned to once again host the annual tournament.Car Racing
In 1991, 1992, and 1995, New Orleans was home to the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras. The sports car races took place on 2 different street circuits downtown. The circuit used in 1991 used streets near the riverfront, but was regarded as being too narrow. A course that ran around the Superdome was used the other years. Low attendance, dates that resulted in hot or rainy weather, and complaints from business owners contributed to the event's demise.
High School Sports
New Orleans has produced many championship teams at the
LHSAA and national levels. Some of the most notable of these isJohn Curtis Christian School, , located in the River Ridge suburb, with 21 state championships in football and a national ranking in the 2007 season. Other schools have earned high national rankings recently inbasketball ,baseball , andsoccer New Orleans Teams
ee also
*
List of Louisiana sports teams
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