rita benson leblanc

Pelicans.com

NEW ORLEANS - Chevron and the New Orleans Pelicans welcomed 100 students from the greater New Orleans area to tour the new interactive Chevron STEAM Zone on Monday, one of the Smoothie King Center’s newest elements as the final phase of renovations to the facility is completed.

The Chevron STEAM Zone, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, features several fun and educational exhibits aimed at increasing children’s interests in pursuing careers and educational opportunities in these fields.

Upon entering the Chevron STEAM Zone, the students had a chance to test their knowledge on the science behind the sport of basketball through several games and exhibits, such as the vertical leap test and the anatomy of a basketball shoe display, among others.

The grand opening festivities also included a customized building activity called GoldieBlox, which encourages young girls to learn more about engineering. The students got the opportunity to meet and take photographs with Pelicans forwards Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson, as well as Pierre the Pelican and members of the Pelicans Dance Team.

“Chevron was pleased to be able to introduce these 100 greater New Orleans students to our interactive Chevron STEAM Zone and spark their interests in these important areas of education,” said Chevron Gulf of Mexico Vice President Mike Illanne. “Now that the Chevron STEAM Zone is officially open, we will be able to reach and engage kids and families from all over the country who will be visiting New Orleans for basketball games.”

“The Pelicans appreciate Chevron for their continued partnership and leadership in educating and inspiring local students with the opening of the Chevron STEAM Zone at the Smoothie King Center,” said Pelicans Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson LeBlanc. “The Chevron STEAM Zone will give young Pelicans fans the chance to learn about the connection between basketball and some of their favorite school subjects related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.  We are eager to partner with Chevron to give our fans a unique connection to their game experience–and one that will keep children learning through fun and engaging basketball examples after school hours.”

As part of its commitment to social and economic development in the cities where its employees live and work, Chevron takes pride in supporting educational activities and initiatives for the children of greater New Orleans.

About Chevron
Based in Covington, LA, Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit works with over 2,100 employees and approximately 900 contractors daily. Chevron is one of the largest producers and second largest leaseholder on the Gulf of Mexico shelf; and one of the top leaseholders in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.  More information is available at www.chevron.com.

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Chevron Celebrates Smoothie King Center Grand Opening with Interactive Chevron STEAM Zone

Jim Eichenhofer

When the city of New Orleans was awarded the NBA’s 2014 All-Star Game, the local and state economy was expected to receive a significant boost from hosting professional basketball’s midseason showcase event. As it turns out, that impact was even larger than initially anticipated.

After projecting 2014 NBA All-Star to generate $89.6 million, a recent study by the University of New Orleans’ Hospitality Research Center found that the economic impact proved to be $106.1 million. A total of $60.4 million came in direct spending, with another $45.7 million in secondary spending.

Visitors spent an average of $904 during their mid-February trip to New Orleans, according to UNO’s study. As a result of such a large influx of out-of-town attendees at the event, roughly $4.9 million in tax revenue was generated for the state of Louisiana, with $3.2 million in tax revenue going to governments in the New Orleans area.

“NBA All-Star 2014 was a tremendous success that our city can be proud of, and the impact of the week’s events will be felt throughout the community for some time to come,” said Host Committee Co-Chair and Pelicans Owner/Vice Chair Rita Benson LeBlanc. “We’ve received fantastic feedback from the league, media, fans and sponsors and are already working on plans for a third All-Star Game in New Orleans.”

“This type of high-profile event that brings visitors to New Orleans has a lasting effect on future visitation,” said John A. Williams, Director of UNO’s Hospitality Research Center, as well as its Dean of the College of Business Administration. “It is a major reason that New Orleans enjoys a 58 percent visitation rate. Not only is the All-Star Game one of the finest sporting events of the year on a national basis for those who attend, but it allows them the opportunity to enjoy our sensational restaurants, hotels and other venues.” 

Williams noted that the tremendous national and international exposure of NBA All-Star provides another benefit to New Orleans. Basketball has now joined soccer as a global game, followed by fans all over the world.

“Because of media coverage of the events showcasing our great city, it also inspires visitation by those who have not visited New Orleans previously,” Williams said. “While visitors came from all over the nation to attend, attendees also came from 15 other countries. Events such as this are pivotal as New Orleans seeks to expand its international visitation.”

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Local economic impact of 2014 NBA All-Star even greater than projected

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2014 HoopLA Event - House vs. Senate

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