Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – Overview

If there’s a major event taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, chances are it’s being held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Better known as simply the New Orleans Convention Center, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, or New Orleans Morial Convention Center, this facility spans a whole 11 blocks in the heart of the Big Easy. Because of the convention center’s central location, attendees can enjoy many of the wonderful experiences the New Orleans has to offer, from sampling the local cuisine at renowned restaurants like Brennan’s to watching jazz bands perform in dimly lit clubs.

As one of the top 10 largest convention centers in the U.S., the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center encompasses a variety of meeting spaces. In addition to over one million square feet of exhibit space, the convention center also features 140 meeting rooms, the largest ballroom in New Orleans, a 4,000-seat theater, and more. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s reputation as the Crescent City’s de facto convention destination is further cemented by amenities like free Wi-Fi and an on-site UPS Store, along with food and beverage services provided by industry leader Centerplate. Whether you’re hosting an event or attending one, you clearly can’t go wrong with the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

 

Overview

  • 3.1 million total square feet: At 3.1 million square feet of total space, you could count the number of convention centers in the U.S. that are larger than the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on just one hand. If that figure doesn’t sound impressive to you now, just wait until you see this massive facility in person.
  • 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space: That’s right; one-third of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s total square footage is designated exhibit space. The facility’s 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space is divided amongst 11 exhibit halls. The halls are interconnected, allowing for them to be combined as needed.
  • 140 meeting rooms: For small gatherings such as breakout sessions and the like, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center features a total of 140 meeting rooms. These rooms are equipped with plenty of cutting-edge amenities, such as digital signage and key card access.
  • 60,300-square-foot Great Hall: Unveiled in 2013, the Great Hall is one of the most recent additions to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This expansive ballroom offers 60,300 square feet of divisible, column-free space complete with carpeted floors. It also features 25,400 square feet of multi-use pre-function space, the 4,660-square-foot Rivergate Room, and a 3,420-square-foot rooftop terrace. The Great Hall can be divided into four separate sections depending on the needs of the event taking place.
  • 36,448-square-foot La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom: In addition to the Great Hall, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center also features the La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom. At 36,448 square feet, this second ballroom is almost half the size of the Great Hall, making it well-suited for more moderately sized gatherings. Like the Great Hall, the La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom can also be divided into separate sections; albeit only three.
  • 4,032-seat New Orleans Theater: From concerts to seminars, the New Orleans Theater is equipped to host performances of all kinds. It can seat over 4,000 people, or be divided into three acoustically separate sections if fewer seats are needed. State-of-the-art features like computerized lighting controls and an expertly trained full-time staff ensure that every performance at the New Orleans Theater goes off without a hitch.
  • Ma Maison VIP Dining Suite: One of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s most unique features is the Ma Maison VIP Dining Suite. With stately furnishings like its old-world tapestries and grand archway adorned with beveled glass, this elegant space transforms receptions and banquets into unforgettable events. The Ma Maison VIP Dining Suite can accommodate anywhere from 15 to 50 guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, and 15 to 150 for stand-up receptions.

 

Tips

  • Take advantage of the many amenities offered at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. With so many amenities to enjoy, it sure is nice to be an attendee at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Some of the convention center’s more run-of-the-mill amenities include free Wi-Fi and dining options like cafes and concession stands. There’s also a UPS Store on site in Lobby F, which provides attendees with helpful services like packing, printing, and shipping. They sell plenty of supplies too if you need to stock up.
  • Avoid renting a car if you can. New Orleans is littered with narrow one-way streets and parking lots that charge way more than they should. On the plus side, it’s also home to an extensive network of public transportation options, which includes buses, taxis, and even streetcars! When it comes to getting around the Big Easy quickly and cheaply, public transportation is your best bet.
  • If you can’t, ample parking is available at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Sometimes you just have to rent a car for one reason or another. If that’s the case, at least you can look forward to not having to worry about finding a place to park when you arrive at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. There are more than five lots adjacent to the facility, each with a considerable amount of parking space. You can park in these lots for a daily fee that varies based on demand. Overnight parking at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is prohibited.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. Don’t try to break in a new pair of shoes during your visit to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, no matter how snappy they make you look. You’ll regret it big time with all of the walking you’ll be doing. Instead, go with a tried-and-true pair of shoes that won’t leave your feet aching by the end of a long day spent shuffling around the exhibit hall floor.
  • Eat where the locals do. When in Rome, right? New Orleans is home to a staggering amount of legendary eateries, including Commander’s Palace, the Bon Ton Café, Acme Oyster House, Café Du Monde, and of course, Brennan’s, the restaurant credited with the creation of a deliriously delicious dessert known as Bananas Foster. If you don’t have the time to grab a bite to eat at one of these institutions while in New Orleans, make time. You’d be remiss to pass up on this opportunity to experience a true taste of Crescent City cuisine.

 

Trivia

  • The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was named in honor of Ernest Nathan Morial, one of the city’s former mayors. In addition to being the first African-American mayor of New Orleans, Morial also championed the construction of the convention center. The convention center’s name didn’t always include Morial’s however. It was originally just called the New Orleans Convention Center back when it opened in 1985 after serving as the Louisiana Pavilion during the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. The facility’s name was then changed to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in 1992 and again in 2008, when it became the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The reason for the most recent name change was simply to emphasize the convention center’s desirable location.
  • In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center served as an unofficial evacuation center. Amidst the chaos and confusion that Hurricane Katrina left in its destructive wake, thousands of evacuees were directed to the convention center by word of mouth and law enforcement. Many were wrongly told that provisions, aid, and evacuation buses would be provided there, though no such resources were available for several days. This dire lack of supplies and transportation, coupled with minimal police presence at the convention center, led to incidents of crime and gang activity. Multiple deaths were reported as well, from causes including violence, dehydration, and lack of medication. However, much like the rest of the Big Easy, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center bounced back bigger and better than ever after Katrina. By November of the following year, the facility had been renovated from top to bottom and the New Orleans Theater was added to its ever-growing roster of venues.