AAO Annual Meeting

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Caesars Superdome represent two of the most iconic and significant event venues in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, established in 1985, is the sixth largest convention center in the United States and features 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space on one level under one roof, making it the largest single exhibit space in the country. Named after Ernest N. Morial, the city's first African American mayor, the facility includes 140 meeting rooms, a 4,000-seat theater, a 60,300 square foot divisible column-free ballroom with 25,000 square feet of pre-function area, and a 30,000 square foot ballroom. The convention center has achieved LEED Gold certification, making it the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance. The facility consistently ranks in the country's top ten venues that host the most conventions and tradeshows annually, having produced over 90 billion dollars in economic impact since its opening. The Caesars Superdome, originally opened in 1975 and rebranded in 2021 through a 20-year naming rights partnership with Caesars Entertainment, is a state-of-the-art multipurpose stadium that serves as the home of the New Orleans Saints NFL team. The Superdome has hosted eight Super Bowls, more than any other facility, and features 153 suites with a seating capacity that can accommodate various configurations for different events. The venue has undergone over 450 million dollars in recent renovations to maintain its position as one of the world's premier spectator sports and entertainment venues. Both facilities are located in downtown New Orleans within the Central Business District, offering convenient access to the French Quarter, numerous hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The venues serve diverse industries including healthcare, technology, automotive, energy, and entertainment, hosting everything from major trade shows and conventions to concerts, sporting events, and cultural celebrations. Together, these venues provide comprehensive event hosting capabilities with extensive parking facilities, advanced technology infrastructure, and world-class amenities that support events ranging from intimate corporate meetings to large-scale international conventions and major sporting events.