Cajundome

The Cajundome is a 13,500-seat multi-purpose arena located in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is home to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's and women's basketball programs in addition to hosting various University events and commencement ceremonies including high school graduations.

Cajundome
Location444 Cajundome Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
OwnerUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
OperatorCajundome Commission
CapacityBasketball: 11,550
Ice Hockey: 11,433
Concerts: 13,500[1]
Pro Wrestling: 12,121
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 27, 1982[2]
OpenedNovember 10, 1985[3]
Construction cost$60 million
($143 million in 2019 dollars[4])
ArchitectNeil Nehrbass
Structural engineerWilliam J. Mouton [5]
General contractorBlunt Brothers Corp.[6]
Tenants
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball (NCAA) (1985–present)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball (NCAA) (1985–2018; doubleheaders) (2019–present; regular)
Louisiana IceGators (ECHL) (1995–2005)
Lafayette SwampCats (EISL) (1997–1998)
Lafayette Roughnecks (af2) (2001)
Louisiana IceGators (SPHL) (2010–2016)
Lafayette Wildcatters (SIFL) (2010)
Cajundome

The arena hosts many regional concerts (seating for concerts 8,481 to 13,500) and special events, such as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events and the annual outdoor Cajun Heartland State Fair, an eleven-day state fair that attracts over 175,000. The arena also hosts the annual Jr. Beta Club Louisiana state conventions for middle and elementary school students and previously held the Sr. Beta Conventions for high schoolers. The facility is a recognizable Lafayette landmark that was built by the State of Louisiana, funded by the City of Lafayette, and is owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and managed by the Cajundome Commission.[7]

Currently, the Cajundome is the largest basketball arena in the Sun Belt Conference[8], the largest college basketball arena in Louisiana[9], the second largest overall indoor arena in Louisiana (behind the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City)[10], one of the largest mid-major college basketball arenas, and in the top 10 largest college basketball arenas in the deep south.

History

Development

The stadium was first proposed in 1978 by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, then headed by journalist Ron Gomez, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1980 to 1989. The project was authorized during the administration of Governor David C. Treen and completed in 1985, during the administration of Mayor William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr., at a cost of $64 million.

Gomez envisioned a building for both university and municipal needs. In his autobiography, Gomez describes the project and its architect, Neil Nehrbass of Lafayette, accordingly:

Several of his peers openly questioned Nehrbass' ability to handle such an immense project. They had a good basis for their anxiety since Neil had never taken on such a colossal building. He was known, rather for his non-traditional and sometimes avant-garde designs. Nehrbass and I had been acquainted many years, and he recognized my passion for this project. We talked at great length about the building and the uses for it. Neil was the consummate artist. He dressed flamboyantly, chain smoked gold-tipped, pastel-colored cigarettes which he imported from England and was definitely not a sports fan. He had never attended a USL [since UL Lafayette] basketball game. But he was enthusiastic about this new project and visited the recently-opened domed facility in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Madison Square Garden in New York City to gain insight on how he would make the Lafayette structure unique.[2]

Renovations

The arena underwent a $20 million renovation in 2016, providing seating, concession, accessibility and signage upgrades to the venue.

Sports

Arena football

Lafayette Roughnecks

The Lafayette Roughnecks of the af2 played at the Cajundome in 2001.[11]

Lafayette Wildcatters

The Lafayette Wildcatters of the Southern Indoor Football League played at the Cajundome from 2009 to 2010.[12]

Basketball

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns basketball

The Cajundome is home to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball programs.[13]

Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournaments

It hosted the 1998, 1999, and 2007 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournaments.

Boxing

On April 27, 2019, Regis Prograis defeated Kiryl Relikh in the sixth round by TKO to win the WBA super-lightweight championship.[14]

Ice hockey

Louisiana IceGators

The Louisiana IceGators of the East Coast Hockey League played host in the Cajundome from 1995 to 2005.[15] During that time, the arena earned the nickname 'The Frozen Swamp'. In 2005, the franchise folded due to financial problems and drops in attendance after the IceGators were in the Top 4 for attendance in the ECHL. In 2009, Danny Smith, a local businessman, decided to bring back the Louisiana IceGators but this time in the Southern Professional Hockey League. [16] A few months after Smith bought it, the franchise was sold to E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo, Jr. and E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo, III. In their first season, the IceGators played at Blackham Coliseum. In their second season, the IceGators moved to the Cajundome. In early 2016, the Louisiana IceGators and the SPHL announced that the IceGators would suspend operations for the 2016–17 season citing that the arena renovations would not be completed in time for the season.[17]

Soccer

Lafayette SwampCats

The Cajundome was home to the Lafayette SwampCats of the EISL from 1997 to 1998.[18]

Top 10 sports crowds at the Cajundome
  1. 11,479 vs. Loyola Marymount (12/16/92)
  2. 11,137 vs. New Orleans (02/01/92)
  3. 10,802 vs. New Orleans (01/18/90)
  4. 10,651 vs. Massachusetts (10/06/90)
  5. 10,487 vs. Georgia (11/22/85)
  6. 09,715 vs. Western Kentucky (02/05/94)
  7. 09,153 vs. New Orleans (01/05/91)
  8. 09,121 vs. South Alabama (03/03/98)
  9. 09,121 vs. Western Kentucky (02/26/03)
  10. 09,086 vs. Lamar (03/01/86)

[19]

Convention Center

In 2002, a new convention center addition to the arena was built.[20] The new addition added 37,301 square feet (3,465 m²) of exhibit hall space to the Cajundome's 40,000 square feet (3,716 m²) of arena floor space plus 39,685 square feet (3687 m²) of meeting space including a 15,682 square foot (1457 m²) ballroom, 12,159 square feet (1130 m²) of prefunction space and a 17,590 square foot (1630 m²) outdoor mall holding up to 2,118 for outdoor events.

The Cajundome Convention Center offers multiple meeting space options ranging from a small board room of 10 guests to a 4,000 guest general session. These spaces can accommodate a number of events including corporate and leisure trade shows, corporate meetings and events, theater style presentations, private or public receptions and banquets, non-profit fundraising events, school dances and graduation ceremonies and celebrations, just to name a few. Rentals include assistance from our experiences and knowledgeable staff, easy load-in and access, and free on-site parking.

Artisan Catering is the exclusive caterer for the Cajundome Convention Center. Artisan's experienced and award winning culinary team is ready to plan your next event, and no matter how elaborate your vision is, can coordinate its culinary efforts with other local vendors to streamline the entire process for you.

The Cajundome Convention Center is also home to the annual Lafayette Home and Garden show and the Louisiana's Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference.

Use as a shelter

In 2005, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and soon after Hurricane Rita, the Cajundome became one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's evacuee shelters. Staffed by Red Cross, Salvation Army, Americorp and a host of local charities, the facility became a center of relief for thousands. The recently opened Convention Center addition was also utilized as a distribution logistics point and also housed a Special Needs Clinic. This clinic served those needing additional care not deemed urgent or emergency by local area hospitals.

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See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2016-10-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Gomez, Sr., Ronald J. (2006-11-16). "8". My Name Is Ron, and I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative. Lafayette, LA: Zemog Publishing (published 2000). pp. 73, 95. ISBN 0-595-86001-X. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  5. Weingardt, Richard G. (May 1, 2013). "William J. Mouton: Tube Structure Pioneer and Foundation Innovator". Structure Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. "A Concrete Achievement". Engineering News-Record. New York City: McGraw-Hill. 213 (1): 77. 1984. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  7. "Mission Statement of Cajundome". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  8. "Sun Belt Conference". Wikipedia. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  9. "List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas". Wikipedia. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  10. "Category:Indoor arenas in Louisiana". Wikipedia. 2 April 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  11. "Lafayette Roughnecks". arenafan.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  12. "Lafayette Wildcatters Minor League Football". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns School History". sports-reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. "Winning the big one has been elusive for New Orleans pros lately, but Regis Prograis changed that". nola.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  15. "Louisiana IceGators Statistics and History (ECHL)". hockeydb.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  16. Burgess, Richard (August 17, 2010). "IceGators to chill at the 'Dome'". The Advocate. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  17. "Louisiana IceGators suspend operations for 2016-2017 season". SPHL. May 16, 2016.
  18. Crossley, Andy (September 5, 2013). "1997–1998 Lafayette SwampCats". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  19. "Cajundome". Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Department.
  20. "Cajundome and Convention Center". Cajundome. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.

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