news release

NEW ORLEANS – As the NBA season approaches, the New Orleans Pelicans are looking for energetic, reliable and hardworking Pelicans fans to audition for the 2016-2017 Swoop Troop Interactive Squad.

The Swoop Troop is comprised of enthusiastic men and women, 18 years of age or older, who display the ultimate Pelicans spirit while getting the Smoothie King Center pumped up each game night. Members play an integral role in community events and the Pelicans game-night experience by leading the crowd in chants, hosting contests, throwing T-shirts and simply entertaining the best fans in the NBA.

Swoop Troop auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Pelicans Practice Facility. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. and auditions will start at 2:00 p.m. Please wear athletic attire and non-marking sneakers – feel free to show your Pelicans spirit.

Please download and complete the Audition Application and email to entertainment@pelicans.com.

CLICK HERE for more information. Please note that auditions are closed to the public.

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New Orleans Pelicans to Hold 2016-17 Swoop Troop Auditions

NEW ORLEANS – On Saturday, August 27, New Orleans Pelicans fans will have the chance to choose from the best available seat locations, which includes newly-released inventory that will be accessible to the public for the 2016-17 season, at the Pelicans’ Select-a-Seat event at the Smoothie King Center. The event will be free and open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.

Fans will have the opportunity to select their seats for 2016-17 season-ticket packages, as well as half-season and 12-game plan packages. The Pelicans, beset by an inordinate amount of injuries throughout the 2015-2016 season, look to bounce back in 2016-2017 and return to playoff form.

In addition to being able to visually identify and claim the best seat locations, Pelicans Season Ticket Holders enjoy numerous exclusive benefits throughout the year, including the significant savings over individual ticket prices, a dedicated Season Ticket Account Executive and invitations to exclusive events, meet-and-greets and more, all in the comforts of the newly upgraded Smoothie King Center.

Fans can learn more by visiting Pelicans.com or by calling a Season Ticket Account Executive at 504-525-HOOP. Seats are available at various price points throughout the arena.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Douglas Miller at 985-789-2645 with any questions.

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Pelicans to Host Select-A-Seat Event on Saturday, August 27

NEW YORK – New Orleans has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2017, the NBA announced today.  The 66th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Smoothie King Center – home of the New Orleans Pelicans. The game was previously scheduled to be held in Charlotte, N.C.

In addition to the game, the Smoothie King Center will host the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 17 and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 18 while the NBA All-Star Practice, NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This will mark the third time the “Crescent City” has been the site of the league’s annual midseason celebration, having previously hosted the event in 2008 and 2014.

“New Orleans is a world-class destination for sports and entertainment and we are very appreciative that the city is once again hosting our All-Star festivities,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “We are grateful to Tom and Gayle Benson and the Pelicans organization and to Governor John Bel Edwards, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for inviting us back for what promises to be another exciting and memorable celebration of the game.”

“We are grateful that the NBA has selected us to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans,” said New Orleans Pelicans Owner Tom Benson.  “We have made tremendous upgrades to the Smoothie King Center and know the building will be a first-class venue to host the myriad of events associated with All-Star weekend.  New Orleans has hosted the All-Star Game twice in the past nine years, and is a perfect destination for NBA fans.  As we know, the NBA will engage thousands of local children and charities during this weekend.  On behalf of my wife Gayle and the entire Pelicans organization, we thank Governor Edwards, Mayor Landrieu, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, SMG, and all of the others that worked so hard in a short amount of time to bring the All-Star Game to New Orleans.”

In addition, in the wake of the devastating floods that have affected tens of thousands of Louisiana residents, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have joined the Pelicans and the New Orleans Saints to provide financial and other ongoing support of the flood rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts.

NBA All-Star oncourt festivities tip off Friday, Feb. 17, with the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, where the league’s top rookies and second-year players will compete in a U.S. versus World game format for the third consecutive year.  On Saturday, Feb. 18, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will feature current NBA players showcasing their unique abilities in exciting basketball competitions, including the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, where participants compete head-to-head in a series of passing, shooting and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest; and Verizon Slam Dunk.  The weekend concludes on Sunday, Feb. 19, with the NBA All-Star Game.

“Even in the midst of a historic crisis, I am excited that the NBA has recognized how great the City of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana are,” said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.  “In Louisiana, one of the strongest bonds that unites all of us is our passion for sports.  Not only will NBA fans be able to participate in the All-Star Game events, they will also be a part of our world-famous Mardi Gras festivities.  The fan experience can't get any better than that.  While we move into the recovery phase of this disaster, I want to thank the NBA for the vote of confidence in our state to host this event and their support of the relief efforts currently underway.  I want to congratulate Mayor Landrieu, the City of New Orleans, and the Pelicans for working in short order to make this all possible.”

“The NBA has been a great partner, so we are excited and honored to be selected to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Game,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.  “Together with the staff of the GNO Sports Foundation and the hospitality industry, the dedicated members of the New Orleans police, fire, EMS, airport, permitting and sanitation departments, among others, make these major events possible.  The combination of NBA All-Star with the first weekend of Mardi Gras will provide our residents, visitors and NBA fans an even more special experience.  Having served as Lieutenant Governor and Mayor for the two prior NBA All-Star Games held in New Orleans, I also know the NBA is committed to giving back to our community and providing great learning experiences for our kids.  The NBA and the Players Association’s generous donations to organizations responding to the devastating flooding across Louisiana is a testament to their commitment to the people of our state.”

“The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is honored to partner with Tom and Gayle Benson and the Pelicans as the All-Star Host Committee for an unprecedented third time in the past 10 years,” said President/CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero.  “The strong relationships with our sports, governmental and hospitality communities allowed for a customary eight-month bid process to be compressed into a mere three weeks.  The 2014 All-Star Game generated over $100 million in economic impact for the State of Louisiana and the greater New Orleans area.  It’s a thrill to welcome our NBA partners back to New Orleans.”

“The NBA and New Orleans have a history of producing world-class sporting events, having most recently hosted the All-Star Game in 2014.  When we learned that we had an opportunity to host next year’s NBA All-Star Game, we went straight to work to lay the groundwork for 2017,” said President and CEO of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Stephen Perry.  “Our tourism industry is second-to-none at planning and accommodating massive events like this.  Within three weeks, we were able to ensure the NBA that all the pieces were in place to make the 2017 NBA All-Star Game an unforgettable experience that will combine our world famous Mardi Gras with all the excitement that the NBA All-Star Game delivers.”

The NBA will continue to honor its commitment to social responsibility during All-Star 2017 with a full schedule of NBA Cares and Jr. NBA events in and around New Orleans throughout the week.  By working with local schools, government agencies and nonprofits, the NBA will engage thousands of children and families and provide important resources to community-based programs.

The 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be televised in prime time on TNT for the 15th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 32nd year of NBA All-Star coverage.  The game will be broadcast worldwide in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages.

NBA ALL-STAR HISTORY IN NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans last hosted NBA All-Star in 2014, when the Eastern Conference overcame an 18-point deficit to post a 163-155 victory, snapping a three-game losing streak.  Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth quarter and handed out a game-high 14 assists on his way to capturing MVP honors.  Carmelo Anthony added 30 points for the East, while Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin each finished with 38 points for the West.

The 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans marked the city’s first major sporting event since Hurricane Katrina.  In addition to the East’s 134-128 victory and LeBron James’ MVP performance, more than 2,500 members of the NBA family participated in 10 local service projects across New Orleans as part of the inaugural NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, now an annual tradition and a highlight of the league’s All-Star festivities.

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New Orleans to Host NBA All-Star 2017

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans today announced the team’s six-game 2016 preseason schedule, highlighted by their participation in the NBA Global Games China 2016 presented by Master Kong. The Pelicans will play the Houston Rockets in Shanghai on Oct. 9 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena and in Beijing on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the LeSports Center.

Prior to their trip overseas, New Orleans will kick off the preseason with a neutral site home game at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, La. against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Pelicans will then play their lone contest at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday, Oct. 4 with a matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

Upon the team’s return from China, the Pelicans will conclude their preseason schedule with a two-game road trip which includes contests against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Oct. 18 and the Orlando Magic on Thursday, Oct. 20.

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Pelicans Announce 2016 Preseason Schedule

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans will hold auditions for the 2016-17 Pelikids, the organization’s junior hip-hop dance team, on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Pelicans and Saints Practice Facilities (5800 Airline Drive, Metairie).  Registration begins at 9 a.m. and auditions begin promptly at 10 a.m. The Pelicans are looking for boys and girls between the ages of 7-12 who are energetic, have previous dance experience and want to be a part of the exciting hip-hop team that performs at select home games.

Application forms, release forms and additional details on the audition process and audition tips are available at Pelicans.com.

The Junior Dance Team performs choreographed hip-hop dance routines at select Pelicans home games as well as performs at community appearances throughout the season. Applicants should bring personality, energy, showmanship and confidence to the auditions.

Parents must complete an application form, submit a recent headshot or photo of their child and bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate.  Release forms must be signed by a parent at registration.  While there are no specific guidelines for attire, applicants should be dressed in comfortable athletic gear. Only one parent/guardian per child will be permitted to stay for the audition.

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New Orleans Pelicans to Host Junior Dance Team Auditions on Saturday, August 20

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed forward Shawn Dawson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Dawson, 6-6, 195, has played professionally since 2012 with Israel’s Maccabi Rishon LeZion and is a two-time Israeli League All-Star (2015, 2016) who holds career international averages of 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 22.2 minutes per contest.

Dawson appeared in 39 games for Maccabi Rishon LeZion in the 2015-16 Israeli League, averaging 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 31.3 minutes per contest, earning All-Israeli League Second Team Honors.

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Pelicans Sign Shawn Dawson

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today their schedule for the 2016-17 regular season. The Pelicans will open the season at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday, Oct. 26 against the Denver Nuggets. New Orleans’ first road game of the season will be a Saturday night game against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 29.

“This is always an exciting time of year as we build anticipation for the upcoming 2016-17 season,” said Pelicans Owner Tom Benson. “Mickey Loomis, Dell Demps and Alvin Gentry have worked diligently this offseason to put a product on the court that Pelicans fans will be extremely proud of. We’re excited to add a group of high character, talented and hard-working players to our team. We couldn’t be happier with the way this offseason has gone and are extremely excited about the future of our organization.”

The Pelicans will host the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan. 23 and the defending Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 13.

New Orleans is scheduled to appear on national television 14 times this season. ESPN will broadcast the Pelicans’ home matchups against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 28, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, Nov. 23, and the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Mar. 3, as well a road contest at Portland in the season finale on Apr. 12. TNT will feature the Monday, March 27 game on the road against the Utah Jazz. NBATV is scheduled to broadcast a total of nine Pelicans games throughout the season, featuring Oct. 29 at San Antonio, Nov. 8 at Sacramento, Nov. 22 at Atlanta, Dec. 10 at the L.A. Clippers, Dec. 28 versus the L.A. Clippers, Jan. 16 at Indiana, Jan. 29 versus Washington, Feb. 12 at Sacramento, and Feb. 26 at Oklahoma City.
The Pelicans will play 16 of their 41 home games on Friday (11), Saturday (2), or Sunday (3).

All home games will tip off at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of the two Saturday night home contests tipping off at 6:00 p.m., the three home Sunday contests tipping off at 5:00 p.m, and the three primetime games on ESPN that will tip off at 8:30 p.m.

The Pelicans’ longest homestand will be six games taking place from Jan. 18-29 when New Orleans plays host to Orlando, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Washington. This homestand follows New Orleans’ longest road trip of the year – a five-game trip from Jan. 7-16 taking on Eastern Conference opponents Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Chicago and Indiana.

The Pelicans will play Southwest Division rivals (Dallas, Houston, Memphis and San Antonio) four times each (twice at home/twice on the road). The same holds true for Pacific and Northwest Division foes, with the exception of the Los Angeles Lakers (one home game on Nov. 29), the Minnesota Timberwolves (one road game on Feb. 10), the Los Angeles Clippers (one road game on Dec. 10) and the Utah Jazz (one home game Feb. 8). New Orleans will also play each team in the Eastern Conference once at home and once on the road.

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Pelicans Announce 2016-17 Regular Season Schedule

NEW ORLEANS – The Galloway Group, LLC and the YMCA of the Capital Area will host a youth basketball and life skills clinic in Baton Rouge for 100 children in grades 5-12 on Saturday, August 6 at Team Sportsplex (7122 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge, La. 70808). The clinic will take place from 9am-2pm. The theme of the camp is to promote athletics, academics, health, and faith in order to foster a positive path for kids to take as they and their families navigate their way through sports, school and life.

Galloway, a product of Christian Life Academy, was a two-time District 7 1-A Player of the Year (2008-2010), helped guide his team to the 2010 Class 1A title as a senior and earned Class 1A All-State first team honors.

Following his successful prep days at Christian Life Academy, Galloway matriculated to St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania and started all four years on the basketball team and became the second all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,991 points and career leader in three pointers (343). In addition to the countless accolades and honors he earned for his on-the-court work, Galloway was also recognized for his outstanding commitment to charitable work in the community.

Galloway was signed as a free agent following the 2014 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and after a stint in the NBA Developmental League, earned a promotion to the Knicks’ roster and received second-team NBA All Rookie Team honors. In 2015-2016, Galloway played in all 82 games for the Knicks and averaged 7.6 points per game. He was signed by the Pelicans on July 21, 2016.

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New Orleans Pelicans Guard Langston Galloway to Host Camp for Baton Rouge Children on August 6

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