Worth A Visit: New Orleans

Worth a Visit: New Orleans

By Diane Novak

New Orleans is a City of fans.

Between the Hornets, Saints and Louisiana State University Tigers, they have a lot to cheer for: all three are known for their powerful, winning seasons. Chants of “Who dat!” ring in the streets, are painted on the walls—a shortened version of the longer “Who dat sayin’ they gon’ beat them Saints?” inundating the Superdome’s echoes. Who better to play for than these fans? Even if your team isn’t a New Orleans favorite, playing in front of those who know sports, appreciate them—what more can one ask for? The Crescent City’s love for sports reflects in the many excellent places for recreation around town, making New Orleans a great travel destination for any team.

Inside Features • • • •

PLACES TO PLAY FAN-FRIENDLY ROAD TRIP FUN FACTS

See Page 2 for full detail

Contact New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com.

New Orleans Recreation Department, (504) 658-3000, www.cityofno.com/pg-32-1-nord-home.aspx. index.php.

Places toTulane Play University Reily Recreation Center: Gymnasiums, an

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indoor and outdoor track, Olympic-size swimming pool and football field make the Reily Center the ideal spot for your team’s sporting event. A number of fields are available around campus as well, making it entirely possible to host any tournament within uptown New Orleans.

Fun Facts

Easton Park: Located in downtown New Orleans, Easton Park is a great spot for your outdoor event. With a football field and baseball diamond for the team members and a playground for their siblings, Easton has something for every player and fan. Field supervision is available.

Hunter’s Field: Also in downtown New Orleans, Hunter’s Field is home to a baseball diamond, football field, paved sporting area and gym. Field supervision is available.

Perry Roehm Stadium: Named for the former physical director of the New Orleans YMCA, Perry Roehm Stadium can host baseball and football games both outside on fields and inside the stadium itself.

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New Orleans is the largest port on the Gulf of Mexico, the second largest in the U.S., and the third largest in the world in volume of cargo handled.

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New Orleans is the No.1 port in trade with Latin America.

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Originally built in 1718, the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is the oldest cathedral in the U.S. The present structure, the third one on the site, dates from 1789.

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The First Sugar Bowl game was played in New Orleans in 1935; the score was Tulane 20, Temple 14.

Rosenwald Center: As one of the few large sports complexes in the city, the Rosenwald Center offers a complete range of facilities for any team’s needs. These include a pool, gym, baseball diamond, basketball court, football field, paved sports arena and playground equipment.

Stallings Center: Similar to both the Rosenwald and Reily centers, the Stallings Center boasts multiple sites for almost any sport. With a baseball diamond, basketball court, gym, pool and paved sports area, it’s a great venue for tournaments.

Fan Friendly Allstate Sugar Bowl: While the Sugar Bowl itself is only once a year, the venue is open year-round for college sporting events. If you can’t make it to see football’s top players showcase their talents on New Year’s Day, come to see basketball, swimming, tennis, sailing, and track and field.

New Orleans Hornets: With extremely reasonable ticket prices at the Hornets’ stadium in the shadow of the Superdome, take your team to see some of the NBA’s finest in person. The addition of Chris Paul to the team ensures that you will witness some stellar basketball action. Group packages available.

New Orleans Saints: Saints football is the lifeblood of this embattled city. Come cheer on the team with the locals and see what all the hype is about. They play in the newly remodeled Louisiana Superdome, a massive structure located in the center of the city, infamous site of refuge for those who refused to leave the city during Hurricane Katrina. Newly renovated, help revamp the team’s spirit to match. Group packages available.

Contact New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com.

New Orleans Recreation Department, (504) 658-3000, www.cityofno.com/pg-32-1-nord-home.aspx. index.php.

Fan Friendly Cont...

New Orleans Zephyrs: Baseball is at its finest at Zephyr Stadium, home of the 1998 Triple-A World Series Champions.

Group pricing available.

Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World: This is the only place on earth where you can watch the painstaking creation of Mardi Gras’ fun. Blaine Kern’s workshop creates the creative and colorful floats that make Mardi Gras parades so special, so if you are not getting the chance to see them in action, at least come to see their home. Take the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen boat to the shop to see the port of New Orleans on your way to its most unique entertainment.

Audubon Zoo: Listed among the top five zoos in the country, the Audubon is located at the back of famous Audubon Park.

With exhibits housing white alligators, Komodo dragons and elephants, there is sure to be an animal for every fancy. A working carousel featuring all endangered species and a Swamp train add to the fun.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas: Come see the nation’s largest collection of sharks and jellyfish at one of the top five aqariums in the country. It is located along the Riverwalk, between the Central Business District and French Quarter. Don’t miss the extraordinary white alligator.

R OAD T RIP

Flying: Many major airlines fly into Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, including AirTran, Delta, Southwest, American, JetBlue, United, Continental, Northwest and US Airways. Flights from Chicago are just over two hours, just over three hours from New York and just over one hour from Atlanta. At the airport, car rentals, taxis and limousine services are all available to take you into the city.

By Car: New Orleans is seven hours from Atlanta and about the same from Houston. Driving along the coast from Atlanta to New Orleans is beautiful with lots of room for beach breaks, but the somewhat barren scenery from Texas is less than thrilling. However, New Orleans is only three hours south of Jackson, Miss., and five hours from Oxford, so its central location makes for a great stop on a Southern road trip. Interstate 10 is the main highway into New Orleans and can be accessed from most Louisiana highways.

By Train: New Orleans is accessible by Amtrak from most major cities. The trip is about 20 hours from Chicago, 12 hours from Atlanta and 10 hours from Houston.

Contact New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com.

New Orleans Recreation Department, (504) 658-3000, www.cityofno.com/pg-32-1-nord-home.aspx. index.php.