The Senator Nat G. Kiefer University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena (commonly Lakefront Arena) is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

 and was built in 1983. It is named in honor of Nat G. Kiefer

Nat G. Kiefer

- Political career :Mr. Kiefer of New Orleans carried a brash style into the Louisiana State Senate to become one of Gov. Edwin Edwards' most effective floor leaders. He was instrumental in the construction of the Lakefront Arena.-Family:...

, the late state senator who aided UNO’s efforts to obtain state funding for the building. It is part of the university's East Campus, where most of the school's athletic facilities are located.

It is home to the University of New Orleans

University of New Orleans

The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...

 Privateers basketball team. It hosted the 1991 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament

1991 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament

-West Regional - Las Vegas, NV:-East Regional - Philadelphia, PA:-Midwest Regional - Austin, TX:-Final Four - New Orleans, LA :-References:...

, where the University of Tennessee beat University of Virginia, for their 3rd national title, as well as the 2002 Sun Belt Conference

Sun Belt Conference

The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...

 men’s basketball tournament. It is also notable for hosting Larry Bird

Larry Bird

Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...

's career-high of 60 points on March 12, 1985, against the Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

, who were hosting a series of special "home" games in New Orleans during the 1984-1985 season.

It also hosts graduations, concerts and other events, including Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice

Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from...

, Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street Live is the live touring show based on the children's television show Sesame Street.Produced by Minneapolis-based VEE Corporation, the show opened on September 17, 1980, with a production of Sesame Street Live "Missing Bird Mystery" playing at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota...

, WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...

, Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby

William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...

 and Robin Williams

Robin Williams

Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...

, among others.

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

 celebrated mass to over 150,000 people on the grounds of the arena.

Prominent political figures such as Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

 and John Kerry

John Kerry

John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...

 have also spoken at the arena.

Large festivals, including Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...

 and Steel Pony Express have also been held on the grounds.

In August 2005, as a result of massive damages sustained during Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...

, the building closed for substantial repairs and renovations for nearly three years. During this time, the school's men's and women's basketball teams played their home games in their former home, the Human Performance Center

Human Performance Center

Human Performance Center is a 1,200-seat multi-purpose arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. The venue, known to fans as the "Chamber of Horrors", has been since the 2005–06 season the temporary home to the University of New Orleans Privateers basketball teams while Lakefront Arena is being repaired...

 (or "The Chamber of Horrors" as it grew to be known during the late '70s and early '80s).

The arena held its grand re-opening May 2, 2008. Disney's "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" was the first show to take the stage.

As of May 2, 2008, the events area was the only portion of the Arena completed, although officials said that the remainder of the facility would be completed shortly thereafter.

The arena celebrated its 25th Anniversary on November 1, 2008.

Sting performed during his Symphonicities

Symphonicities

Symphonicities is the tenth studio album by English musician Sting, released on 13 July 2010 on Deutsche Grammophon. The album is a companion piece to the tour of the same name, in which Sting, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, reinterprets some of his songs as classical...

 Tour on June 26, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...

.