New Orleans Pelicans: An insider’s look at attending a game at SKC

Finally, it happened. My husband and I were confirmed for tickets to a New Orleans Pelicans game on Wednesday night versus the Washington Wizards.

As I’ve mentioned before, we share a full season ticket package with two other friends, so we typically get 14 or so games a season plus any additional games we decide to purchase tickets to.

However, with the ongoing restrictions due to the Covid pandemic, we were unsure going into this season how things would work.

The Pelicans’ ticket office has already told us we have tickets to most of the games scheduled, but not all. So we proceeded with our normal “draft” to pick each game and figured we’d adjust as the season progressed.

Some of the notifications of tickets have been just days before the actual game. We found out we were confirmed for tickets to Wednesday’s game against the Wizards last Friday.

It’s a different fan experience, on so many levels.

All tickets are issued through SeatGeek. A few hours prior to the tip, the New Orleans Pelicans send you an email with details on what group and time you are allowed to enter the arena.

Once you arrive, Acadian Ambulance has EMTs set up outside of security to check your temperature. You then go through security as normal and show your ticket code for scanning before entering the arena.

There are hand sanitizing stations everywhere and tons of signage to remind people to stay six feet apart.

What’s it like to attend a New Orleans Pelicans game in person?

Concessions in the arena have changed. Due to the bar limitations in the city, there is no alcohol served at the Blender right now. So those concession areas are completely closed. There are plexiglass barriers at the others, giving some extra protection to those who work those stands.

To get to our seats, we had to show our tickets on the phone and made our way to our seats.

Because of the limitations on fans, every game is different as to where our tickets are. Typically we sit in the corner above the Pelicans bench, along the railing of the tunnel to the team’s locker room. For this game, we were in section 123, row 19.

As you can see, we were across from the benches. Not bad seats, just not the seats we are used to being in.

Also, as with pretty much everywhere in the city right now, masks are required unless you are eating or drinking. Obviously, we complied.

Overall, the experience was pretty easy to navigate. The drawback was the fact that even with 750 fans, it was not that loud. I hate that for the team.

But they won, and it was a much-needed win!

Starting Friday, the city is allowing just over 1400 fans to be in attendance. I’ll be there and am looking forward to comparing the two experiences.

I know our tickets are already in a different section, so that will be the first thing that is noticeable. We’ll be in section 113, but a little higher up in row 25.

Hopefully, the New Orleans Pelicans can get us another win then.